Holi: Significance Of Colors In Indian Culture

What is the festival of Holi and how does it represent the significance of colors in India? The Hindu festival, observed primarily in India, is an annual celebration commemorating the beginning of spring. The two-day celebration constitutes of a bonfire the evening of the first day and dinner parties and dancing on the second day. However, the most momentous event of this celebratory occasion is the color festival. The color festival transpires on the second day, preceding the dancing and dinner parties. During this festival, large groups of people chase each other and spray assortments of dry color and water each other, using water guns, water balloons, or even their bare hands. Furthermore, the color festival during Holi is one of many events that portrays the significance of colors in India. The importance of colors in the Indian tradition is represented by Holi’s legendary origin, the significance of the color festival during Holi, and India’s interpretation of colors. Holi is an exciting festival filled with laughter, but how was this festival developed? There are various legends answering this question depending upon the regional parts of India. Regardless, there is one renowned legend that is retold in many regions of India. The tale states that an evil Multan King was granted a boon that made him supposedly indestructible. In the greed of power and importance, his arrogance befell him and he ordered all citizens to worship him like a God. However, the King’s own son disobeyed his orders, leading the young man’s subjection to harsh punishments and cruelty. Nevertheless, the good son, Prahlada, was never harmed. Through desperation and anger, Holika, the King’s sister, and the King formulated a plan to trick Prahlada. She tricked him to step into a blazing fire, in which Holika was protected by a blanket and Prahlada was not protected. However, as soon as they walked in the fire, the blanket flew off of Holika and wrapped around Prahlada, ultimately killing Holika. The basis of the legend is to convey that good always …show more content…
Are there certain colors which are rarely used? For example, a common color, red has many connotations in India. Red signifies violence and disruption, but it also symbolizes fertility, marriage, and commitment. In weddings, the bride’s choice of color for her garment is red. Typically during the end of the sermon, the groom will apply a red powdered substance, known as tilak, to the bride’s forehead; this represents commitment. Regardless, Goddess Durga, similar to the Ares in Greek mythology, has a red tongue, symbolizing violence and disruption. Another popular color in India is white. White shows purity and peace, as represented in the Indian flag. However, it also represents widows; in Indian culture, it is tradition for wives to wear only white garments after the death of their husband. On the other hand, yellow depicts sanctity and holiness, but it is also an essential herbal (turmeric) that is applied on the face and body by women. Meanwhile, blue has a universal connotation in India: Lord Krishna. While green, another universal symbol, represents agriculture and the harvest, it is also the color of Islam, one of the predominant religions followed in India. In the Indian flag, the color green symbolizes faith and fertility. Furthermore, in similarity of the American representation of purple, Indians connect deep shades of purple to wealth, luxury, and royalty. Orange, or better known as saffron, represents