Holi – The festival of Colors and Colorful Neighbors

Celebrating holi is fun and entertainment for people of all age. There is no age bar, sex or religion for celebrating holi. Playing holi gives you entertainment and happiness. There are number of things to keep you and others entertained. Holi is festival of colors, it brings people close to each other. Here are some tips to celebrate holi in your apartment.

• Natural Colors:

Celebrate this holi with natural colors. People use colors that are easily available in market at cheaper price. Most of people hesitates to celebrate holi as the color is made by mixing chemicals and end of festival it cause many health problems such as allergy to skin and eyes.

Natural color is one of the solutions for these problems. These are not only safe but also eco-friendly. Natural colors provide you entertainment for your festival of colors and glow to your skin and luster to your hairs as they are natural colors. Our ancestors used to celebrate holi festival following the benefits of using eco-friendly colors.

• Social celebration:

Holi is not only a festival of colors but also a social celebration. This is a time of celebration which brings people closer. This provides you an opportunity to know your neighbors in your locality. People of all religion, rich and poor all of them celebrate holi festival together with spirit of joy and brotherhood. Invite your friends and neighbors to make this festival more entertainment.

• Sweets and Gifts:

Holi is festival of exchanging sweets and gifts among friends, relatives and neighbors. During this occasion, people wish and greet each other which therefore strengthens relationship and bonds between people. It adds in flavors of joy and fun.

• Entertainment:

We should not miss an opportunity that provides entertainment in our life. Holi is one such festival which provide joy and fun with colors and games. You celebrate holi by playing games wherein all family members and neighbors participate in them. It will surely remain as an unforgettable moment in your life.

Games in your apartment

On the day of holi, you can plan any games which is more entertaining. Club in all your family members into such kind of events. Here are few entertainment and gaming ideas:

• Anthakshari: It is a musical game played in group. The word “anth” means “end” and “akshari” means “letter or word”. The game is simple! You can start the game with first two lines of some film songs and others have to continue with last word or letter of that same song.

• Know your neighbors in a minute: This is a very entertaining game where you get to meet all your neighbors and collect information like their name, work, their favorite game and so on. At the end of game each person has to say their neighbor names and details they know. The person who represents more neighbors name and details aptly is declared winner of the game. This is an entertainment game as well as game to know who your neighbor is. Try this game, it works great especially in your apartments.

• Passing the ball: Passing the ball is a simple game where people in the game will sit in circle. When the music starts, pass the ball to next person and when the music ends the person who holds the ball is considered out from the game.

• Musical chair: Musical chair is similar to passing the ball. This common game played by residents in apartments. In this game there will be one chair less than number of people in the game. When music begins all of them move round to chairs and when music ends all of them have to sit in the chairs and the person who stands last goes out from game.

• One minute game: This is a very entertainment game where participants will be given one minute time and they have to complete the given task. For example, balloon blowing. The participants are given one minute time and each has to blow as much as balloon as possible and one who blows more will be the winner.

History of Holi

Holi is one of the ancient festivals in India. Holi is known in some part as Holika which reminds the ancient story of demon king Hiranyakshyap who considered himself as god and ordered everyone to worship him but his son Prahlad was a devotee of Vishnu and used to worship Vishnu. The king tries his best to kill him and fails, at last he asked his sister Holika to enter blaze fire with Prahlad on her lap, as she had boon to enter fire unhurt. But Prahlad was saved for his devotion and Holika paid a price for her evil desire.

Legend of Holi

The legend says the name Holi came after the death of demon Holika but there are legends that Holi was also celebrated from the time of Lord Shri Krishna. It states that infant Krishna was tried to kill by a demon by giving poisoned milk. But Krishna did not die and the poison turned him into dark complexion. The demon shriveled into ashes.

One day Radha and other gopis tease Krishna of his dark complexion. Krishna complained this to his mother and Yashodha asked him to color them in which he wanted. This is believed to be celebrated as Holi festival with colors.

Holi Pooja

Holi pooja is also known as Holika Dahan. It represents the victory of good over bad. On the Holi pooja people light bonfire where model of Holika made of combustible material and Prahlad made of non-combustible material is made. On the eve of Holi the model of Holika and Prahlad is placed on heap of woods and set fire. The model of Holika will burn in fire and Prahlad is considered to escape from fire. This shows “good” wins and “bad” is turned into ashes. Left over ashes are collected next morning. Then festival of color Holi begins.

Play Holi safely

• Holi is the festival of entertainment and joy. Do not let your neighbors rude and use natural colors. If there are no natural colors available, ensure the quality of color.
• Prefer for red or pink colors which can be easily taken off and other colors more harmful chemicals.
• Try to cover your hair and remember to oil your hair so that colors do not stick on your hair.
• Make sure the colors do not get into the eyes.
• If you are attacked by face try to close your eyes and lip so that no colors get into your eye or any stains on your teeth.
• Avoid running or jumping as the floor will be wet and you don’t slip off.
• If you are traveling in car just close the windows and try to stay at safe distance.

Enjoy the holi with your relatives, friends and neighbors. Take precautions for safety from allergies of color. Enjoy the festival and make others happy. Celebrate this holi and be this a memorable holi in your life.