Research Guides: Festivals for Spring: Holi and Basant Kite Festival: Holi

Introduction

This guide had been created for the Holi and Basant Kite Festival celebration sponsored by the Center for International Affairs, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Office of the Provost, and First Year Experience and Family Programs.

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Introduction

Holi, also known as Plagwa, Dol Purnima or Gaura Purnima, is an ancient Hindu festival. Today it is a festival of colors and is one of the most popular festivals in India. People toss powder and water balloons to welcome the arrival of spring. It begins on Purnima, full moon day, in the Hindu Month of Phalguni (Febaury/March) and can last from two days to as long as 16 days. Holi is an official holiday in all the states of India except those in the far south and far northeast.

During Holi, water guns and balloons filled with watercolors are squirted or thrown on family, friends and strangers. India's streets are "overtaken by crowds awash with colored powder," and people sing, dance and play to celebrate.

Bonfires are set up in many communities on the eve of Holi. An effigy of demoness Holika, sister of the king of demons, is burned. Holi is also a celebration for the God of Love and creates a perfect environment for young people to find mates and families to seal marital agreements.

Holi celebrates love, forgiveness, and triumph of good over evil, and is observed wherever there are people of Indian descent.

Image attributions:

Books @ KSL

Steve McCurry: India by Steve McCurry (Photographer); William Dalrymple
Call Number: DS408 .M33 2015
ISBN: 0714869961
Publication Date: 2015-10-26
Featuring 150 photographs highlighting the exotic places, rich colours and scintillating dramas of India, this new edition of Steve McCurry's work is devoted to one of the world's most fascinating countries. McCurry captures people going about their everyday business in ordinary circumstances and extraordinary settings: at the Ganesh festival on Chowpatty beach in Mumbai, before dawn at Kolkata railway station, in the flower markets of Kashmir, on the streets of Old Delhi. Introduced by William Dalrymple, author of many best-selling works on the history of India, this book is a sumptuous celebration of the life of the subcontinent.
India: a sacred geography by Diana L. Eck
Call Number: BL2001.3 .E25 2012
ISBN: 9780385531900
Publication Date: 2012-03-27
In India: A Sacred Geography, renowned Harvard scholar Diana Eck offers an extraordinary spiritual journey through the pilgrimage places of the world's most religiously vibrant culture and reveals that it is, in fact, through these sacred pilgrimages that India's very sense of nation has emerged.

NPR (National Public Radio) Reports

Festival Of Colors: The Celebration Of Holi
Holi festival at Stanford University.
For India's Widows, A Riot Of Color, An Act Of Liberation
A very touching story and amazing pictures that cannot be missed.
Bright Tastes And Colors Of India's Spring: Holi
Recipes for Holi food.
Holy Holi: Colored Powder Will Be Thrown But Splashing Might Be Illegal.
Effect of drought on 2016 Holi celebration.

Multimedia

Children's Books

Children's books, like the ones listed below, are available from nearby public libraries.

Amma, Tell Me about Holi! by Bhakti Mathur; Maulshree Somani (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9881502861
Publication Date: 2011-05-02
Here's the magical story of Holi--the Indian festival of colors in all its glory, as told to Klaka, a little boy, by his Amma, with a lot of joy. First, a story of colors and fun. Naughty young Krishna and Radha, his loved one. Next, we celebrate the end of an evil fraud. A monstrous king, who thought he was God. He threatened his own son, who did not think him divine, but against the evil king, faith and miracles did align. A story of faith, devotion, and love, passed down to children, from generations above.
The Little Book of Hindu Deities by Sanjay Patel (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0452287758
Publication Date: 2006-10-31
Pixar animator and Academy Award-nominated director Sanjay Patel (Sanjay's Super Team) brings to life Hinduism's most important gods and goddesses (and one sacred stone) in fun, full-color illustrations, each accompanied by a short, lively profile. The Little Book of Hindu Deities is chock-full of monsters, demons, noble warriors, and divine divas. Find out why Ganesha has an elephant's head (his father cut his off!); why Kali, the goddess of time, is known as the "Black One" (she's a bit goth); and what "Hare Krishna" really means. "Throw another ingredient in the American spirituality blender. Pop culture is veering into Hinduism."--USA Today
We Throw Color on Each Other! by Kavita Sahai
ISBN: 148275777X
Publication Date: 2013-03-20
A colorful tale of a brother and sister celebrating Holi with their family. Also, teaches colors in Hindi.
Holi by Lynn Peppas
ISBN: 0778747719
Publication Date: 2009-08-01
Each year during the beginning of spring, millions of Indian people celebrate Holi, also called the Festival of Colors. This two-day celebration includes important Hindu rituals and traditions. Students will love this fascinating introduction to one of the most colorful celebrations in the world!