In an age where we watch topics and events that are trending, people might want to keep an eye on the colorful celebration of Holi.
Holi — called “The Festival of Colors,” with origins to Hinduism — has slowly transformed into a nondenominational celebration, and it’s sweeping the United States, The Huffington Post reported. People up and down the coasts and across the Midwest are finding time and reasons to celebrate the holiday that commends good winning over evil, HuffPost reported.
“As played out in America, entire families show up in white or light-colored clothes and sprinkle, spray or smear one another with bright red, pink, green, yellow, purple, magenta and blue colors,” HuffPost reported. “Colors cover not only the clothes, but the faces, arms and hair in a bacchanalian burst of boundless delight. Upbeat Holi songs from Bollywood movies and high-calorie foods from India’s diverse ethnic regions are the backdrop of everyone hugging one another.”
The holiday is very popular in India and Nepal, as well as other southeastern Asian countries. Pictures of those celebrating can be seen across multiple platforms, like ABC News, BBC News and Mashable. Google India lit up as well with a special decoration for the festival, and Indian celebs have been announcing their joy over the holiday, too.
But even as the holiday continues to make waves in India, it’s pushing past boarders and resonating internationally. DNA India reported that the festival is now “multi-religious, multifaceted and largely global tradition.” Is this a good thing for the holiday? DNA writer Surabhi Subramonian doesn’t think so, as other countries have brought in traditions and changes that don’t suit the holiday’s origins.
“What was once a perfect setting to express love has now turned a haven for hooligans and trouble-makers,” Subramonian wrote. “The food has changed and so has the mentality. Is this a good thing or bad? Globalization and the ‘One world, One life’ phenomenon has taken over the world.”
Bringing people together is a part of the holiday, though, The Observer-Reporter reported. In Pittsburgh, the Indian-American community comes out in droves to celebrate the holiday, bringing people together on a large scale.
“We have unity and diversity, and this keeps our community together also,” said Ravindra Mehta, a psychiatrist that practices in Pennsylvania. “We have the same goal, basically, to keep the culture alive wherever you are.”