By Madhavi Nair
With the onset of spring, many South Asians who now call Frisco home will celebrate the cultural festival of Holi, which is also known as the Festival of Colors and the Festival of Spring.
The pandemic tempered Holi celebrations for many during the past couple of years. However, as some COVID protocols have relaxed in recent months, people are looking forward to a return to larger celebrations this year.
The Frisco Festival of Colors is scheduled from 2-5 p.m. March 26 at Independence Parkway Practice Field, 11955 Independence Parkway.
The event – to feature music, food and the Play Frisco Expo, among other activities – is being presented by the City of Frisco in collaboration with the Karya Siddhi Hauman Temple. Admission is free. Additional information is available at playfrisco.org/festivalofcolors.
Holi is an ancient two-day Hindu festival heralding the arrival of spring. Modern-day Holi celebrations have their roots in a couple of Hindu mythological stories.
One tale is about a demon who wants his son to worship him. The son, however, believes in another god and refuses to worship his demon father, who tricks his son to enter a bonfire as a way to teach him a lesson. The gods bestowed the son magical powers, and he emerges from the fire unscathed.
On the first day of Holi celebrations, some families get together and light a bonfire to symbolize the emergence of good over evil, which traces back to this legend.
Meanwhile, the story of Radha, a milkmaid, and the god Krishna explains the Holi traditions of colored powder and water. It is said that Radha and Krishna were lovers, and that young Krishna was jealous of Radha’s fair skin. Being the mischievous person he was, Krishna put color on Radha’s face.
The second day of Holi is traditionally celebrated by throwing powdered color and water at other people.
Although the roots of Holi go back to legends and mythological tales, its message and spirit are more relevant now than ever.
The lighting of a symbolic bonfire signifies the spread of hope and the overcoming of negativity as well as bad thoughts. People of all ages get together to throw powdered colors at one another and burst water balloons to symbolize the message that class, gender and age should not be barriers that prevent individuals from uniting.
Sonia Ahuja, a long-time Frisco resident, says that celebrating Holi with friends and family is an important ritual for her. Smearing colors on the faces of others makes everyone looks the same and demonstrates that, despite skin color and racial ethnicity, no differences exist between people.
Ahuja says she would like future generations to recognize the Holi celebration as a day to spread love and happiness.
Madhavi Nair is an IT professional and Frisco resident who is actively involved in organizing events within the local Indian community.
