How do you celebrate Holi :) ?

Question

What Holi means to you and your family?

Any good stories from your past?

Thank you for sharing! Happy Holi! :)

Some great answers here! :)

Thank you to all who took the time to answer, and share your stories and different views and experiences. I very much enjoyed learning more about you, your culture and your wonderful country! :)

Answer 1

Hiya Moon!

Thanks for asking this question! Happy Holi to you too. *A little Gulal (colored powder) on your cheeks* *charan-sparsh*

Holi, the festival of colours, is the one that raises most heartbeats, I think. The spirit of Holi is the same as the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of Eid, the spirit of Diwali, the spirit of Lohri etc. It is just that the spirit of Holi is coupled with naughtiness, lots of unrestrained human joy and temporary insanity.

I celebrate Holi with friends, running after them with a bucket full of freshly prepared violet colour solution, getting chased and having fun.

The day begins with a caution from mom to apply oil on by body so that their is no difficulty in removing the wet colors later on. I'd jump off the bed and begin the Holi insanity in home.

First of all, a little gulal on everyone's forehead in home, some gulal on my cheeks and forehead too. Touching elders' feet i.e. charan-sparsh.

Knock on the door! Whoa! Be prepared! Get drenched, prepare for the friendly revenge. Run around in the colony.... chase people you never even talk with and paint them purple!

Everyone is a friend on this day. What milkman, what Doctor, what domestic servant-- everyone is just a face to be painted. No one is excused.

Holi is the festival of meeting of hearts and as I am growing up, I am beginning to realize how easy it is to *ahem* get naughty on Holi. Of course, one has to take care of the limits but, Holi is one day when you can slightly cross the limits.

The beautiful girl that stares at you every day from her balcony-- this is the day when you can remove the blushing red of her cheek with the yellow of your love or friendship.

Holi is an expression of the unchained romance. A celebration of life!

Stories from the past? Umm..... Every holi I used to see my Dad gaining a whole lot of patience. He'd sit and allow everyone to paint him with layers and layers of color. Neighbouring "Aunties" would come only after mom has taken her bath and is preparing to sleep in the noon. I used to feel sorry for mom. Someone hand a bucket of colours to mom, quick please!

I used to be afraid, double-minded etc etc....

First I used to hide in the house, then come out, then regret coming out, then chased around and finally join the "toli" (gang).

I remember once that girl from the house in the other lane chased me inside my house jumping from bed to bed, sofa to sofa.... whew! I managed to escape and later regretted it. Oh! the dilemmas of Holi.

Some people act really nasty and wild on Holi though. They do not understand the spirit of Holi and use force on unwilling people. That is just not the right spirit. Good thing is, you can easily spot the person who wants to throw you in the mud-tank by his looks. He'd be painted in wild colours like silver, gold etc., be wearing clothes torn in the holi insanity, would have an evil twinkle in his eye and will have a huge gang to help him out.... Just RUN and do not turn back! Remember to chuckle while doing so! It's Holi after all!

My best Holi wishes to you and everyone in your family. Charan-sparsh to the elders.

Holi Hai! (It's Holi!!)

Answer 2

Holi is a great Holiday
It is more of a War day and the streets of Mumbai look as though the police have imposed curfew and bandhs all over the city
Hooligans celebrate Holi and give the Law & Order Cops a busy time
During the 3 days of Holi women and senior citizens of the city prefer to stay indoors in order to protect their eyes, hair and bodies from becoming soft targets
Have you ever travelled by Mumbai's local train on the harbour line during Holi? If yes then you will know how it feels to be suddenly bombed by terrorists playing on the innocent lives of their own countrymen
The situation on the city's roads during Holi are similar to the communal riots during Bombay Blasts of 93. People take advantage of Holi and inflict damage on public property and private lives

Answer 3

Guest list: It can make or break any party. "Make sure all your guests are at least acquainted with each other so that they have a good time and you don't have to spend all your time introducing them to each other. The main idea should be to enjoy the party as much as your guests," said event planner Aman Chopra of The Party People. If it is a by-invitation-only party, make sure the invites mention it in bold. While inviting people through social media, ensure that it reaches only the ones it is intended for. (Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images)

Answer 4

well...i haven't celebrated holi for a few years now..but it's so much fun...i remember the whole family would get together and all the kids(small and big) would just go crazy..throwing coloured water baloons and smearing everyone with all the colours..even strangers on the street...there's just a LOT of noise..everyone laughing and yelling, and trying to avoid getting drenched...then a biiig lunch...actually, i like the part after holi the best, when the colours don't wash off from the skin completely..and everyone loooks like walking faded rainbow...lol..

*splash*..haha..hit you with a balloon...happy holi!!

Answer 5

Holi is a festival of Hindus but celebrated by almost everyone. The first day is Holika for doing worships & the second day is for playing with colors & water. Though in India second day starts weeks before the first day........lolz
I played Holi after 3yrs this time wid my son, hubby, sis, friends & neighbours with lot of colors & water. No wonder, India looks like a rainbow.
Any good story- I was in my final year of graduation & was coming back to home after group study. I saw a group of 10-12 kids with water balloons in their hands. I asked them, if they r going to hit me with those & no doubt all of them said 'Yes'. I kept my books on one side & then turned back & told them to shoot. Those kids must have thrown almost 30-40 balloons on me. My red pullover was completely wet. But after that, when ever I used to pass from there, no body hit me wid a balloon. It was a waste for them, how can somebody enjoy it willingly. the real fun is when people refuse to play Holi & others forcibly throw water or colors on them.........lolz

Answer 6

Hello Friend

Thank you for this question. It has given me a chance to put forth my feelings to the world. I believe that we should see Holi with a new perspective.

Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of 'good' over 'bad'. The colourful festival bridges the social gap and renews sweet relationships.

Holi celebration begins with lighting up of bonfire on the Holi eve. Numerous legends & stories associated with Holi celebration makes the festival more exuberant and vivid. People rub 'gulal' and 'abeer' (coloured powder) on each others' faces and cheer up saying, "bura na maano Holi hai". People take extreme delight in spraying colour water on each other

Holi helps to bring the society together and strengthen the secular fabric of our country. For, the festival is celebrated by non-Hindus also as everybody like to be a part of such a colourful and joyous festival.

The most enjoyable tradition of Holi, of course, apart from the play of colours is the tradition of breaking the pot of buttermilk hung high on the streets. Men form a huge human pyramid and one on the top breaks the pot with his head.

What enhances the spirit of Holi though is the tradition of consuming the intoxicating bhang.


But there is the ---UGLY SIDE--- to this beautiful festival which cannot be ignored.

Traditionally, the colours used by those "playing" Holi came from the flowers of trees which bloomed at the beginning of spring and some other organic dyes like Henna, Marigold, Hibiscus and Jacaranda or Turmeric powder

The bonfires use forests of wood, while the water games present a huge draw-down of potable water. But worst of all are the colours themselves. The dyes used are industrial dyes which contain heavy metals, asbestos, lead oxide, copper suphate, aluminum bromide, mercury suphite, cadmium, chromium and lead

These chemicals can have dramatic health effects on the people who get smeared and covered in them, but in the volumes in which they get used, they also present a secondary environmental health risk. India is an extremely water constrained country, and the pollution that washes off the streets and into sewers eventually finds its way into the waters which people will need to drink and cook and wash and irrigate crops.


Celebrations are one of the greatest parts of being alive and human. They ought to be not the times when we leave behind a trail of our worst actions, but the days we shine at our best.

Holi Hai!

******EDIT*******
I was led to this question only coz of Batman. I love reading his answers. Just saw his 360 Blast. It is true that he has answered precisely. How do *you* celebrate Holi. Even I have given his answer a thumbs up rating. He is my very sweet tiny brother. Do bring a smile to his face by selecting his answer as BEST for he deserves it. His smile and his friendship is more precious to me than 10 points. May he soar up to the skies and make India proud of him.

Answer 7

omg! i remember that time when me and my family were playing holi and when i was washing my hair i found my littel brother. lol!
im just kidding, i dont know what holi is and i dont have a littel bro :P