HOLI – FESTIVAL OF COLORS
Holi is a spring festival, also known as the festival of colors or the festival of love. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, and other regions of the world with significant population of Indian origin. The festival has, in recent times, spread to parts of Europe and North America as a summer celebration of love, frolic, and colors. The celebrations start with a Holika bonfire on the night before Holi where people gather, sing and dance. The next morning is a free-for-all carnival of colors, where participants play, chase and color each other with dry powder and colored water, with some carrying water guns and colored water-filled balloons for their water fight. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. The frolic and fight with colors occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes to throw colors on each other, laugh and chit-chat, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks. In the evening, after sobering up, people dress up, and visit friends and family.
Holi is celebrated as per the Hindu calendar typically comes in March. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair ruptured relationships.
“The first and most popular legend associated with ‘Holi’ is the well known story of ‘Vaishnava’ theology, where ‘Hiranyakashyap’, the king of demons had a Vishnu devotee son ‘Prahlad’. He tried to wane away his son from Vishnu. But when it failed, he ordered young ‘Prahlad’ to sit on a pyre in his sister Holika’s lap. ‘Holika’ had a shawl which prevented the fire from harming her,” said the astrologer. He went on to add that Prahlad happily sat on his sister’s lap but as the flames grew, the shawl flew from ‘Holika’ to ‘Prahlad’. From that day on, the burning of ‘Holika’ is celebrated as Holi.
It is believed that Lord Krishna was sad over his dark complexion and wondered why ‘Radha’ was so fair. One day, his mother Yashoda playfully suggested that he can smear color on Radha’s face and change her complexion to any color he wanted. Fascinated by the idea, Krishna proceeded to do so and thus, introduced the festival of colors.
“Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks on the ‘Gopis’. The Holi of Braj, Barsana, Mathura and Virandavan is famous all over the world for its intimate connection with the divine deities and their love.
Over recent years, this festival is getting more popular in western countries particularly USA. The Festival Of Colors is celebrated in USA during Summer with music, dance, yoga, and throwing of organic dry colored powders. The Festival of Colors is a family-friendly day full of fun to promote happiness, love, Friendship and Unity through Music and Colors. This event is about bringing colors to the life of people and throw their worries to the wind. It is to encourage unity in diversity, spread happiness all around and demonstrating younger generation that the pure bliss can be found without Smoke, Drugs or Alcohol. We all know that Great Music, dance and good laugh can cure just about anything! For that reason, this festival is also called as Happiest event on Planet. The colors used here are dry, organic, eco-friendly and stain-free. After the color play is over, there are blower stations where the colors are cleaned. Since they are stain-free, your car is safe when you get back from this festival. For the people with smoke or powder or dust allergy, mask is available so that everyone can participate in this fun event. Apart from Colors, it’s a feast for food lovers. There are many varieties of vegetarian food booths offering foodies a full day of pure heaven savoring some of the area’s finest food, experienced restaurants and gourmet. In addition, rhere are specialty products and ethnic shopping booths to experience Indo-American culture. There is finest collection of Handmade home decors, ethnic skirts, Sachels, Cushion tops and traditional jewelry. Overall the atmosphere is of compassion, love and purity. For many this festival is journey to discover oneself!
We are hosting this event in Michigan on Aug 8th, at Novi Civic Center from 11 AM to 5 PM. To learn more about the Festival of Colors and to book advance tickets, please visit www.mifestivalofcolors.com.
What to Expect:
Colors: Dry, organic, stain free colors thrown every 45 minutes in the air. Will provide the Blow dry option towards the end of the event. There will be a TOYOTO color throw. Watch our video to see what its going to be like – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCQSn3Jt0r4
Music: Live Rock bands from Utah, LA and NY with powerful Mantra meditation to keep you on your feet.
Dance : Wide range of live dance performances.
Food : A wide range of authentic spicy Indian food and vegetarianism.
Exhibits : Exhibits ethnic selling/showcasing Indian Jewellery, Arts & Crafts, Air Spray customized and personalized items.
Free Yoga: Performing and benefitting ancient Yogic poses.
Kids Activities: Come and Play colors with “Chucke”. There is Chucke Olympics and Lots of Free gifts from Chuck e cheese.
Free Gifts: As a part of Souvenir for our event to all the attendees.
Lucky Draw: Raffle from Best Buy for a free electronic Gift!
Free Parking: With shuttle service to the site.
Please register on www.mifestivalofcolors.com. Hurry, Special offer to receive 1 free color bag with registration prior 30th June 2015. Children under 10 years of age is Free entry. Hurry – Register Today!
Come with your family and Celebrate with us !!
Festival of Colors
Saturday, August 8
11am – 5pm
Fuerst Park, Novi Civic Center, Novi.
