Holi Festival, Holbrook, Massachusetts, April 2023.
According to the calendar, April is technically the first full month of spring. But in Massachusetts, Mother Nature doesn’t seem to rev up until mid May. Sometimes later. In April, the trees are bare, and the brown grass is still trying to wake up after being dormant for 6 months. I am always grateful that the season of snow is behind us, but we’re not exactly basking in warm temperatures and spring blooms. That’s one reason I was so delighted to attend a Holi Festival last week.
I had heard of Holi, and knew only that it was an Indian festival that involved throwing a lot of vibrantly colored powder on each other as they shout “Happy Holi!” The colors are a photographer’s dream. The powder is a nightmare.
It’s safe to say I didn’t really understand the significance until I experienced this event for myself. I’m not really sure I fully understand it now, since I got a slightly different explanation from everyone I talked to, but to summarize - among other things - it’s a true celebration of spring, victory of good over evil, and the harvest to come. A celebration that is manifested by playing, dancing, eating, and throwing colored powder. How awesome is that?
Holi is also referred to as the “Festival of Colors.” Blue, yellow, purple, green and pink powder is thrown everywhere, and I mean everywhere, until in the end there is kind of this ethereal haze in the air.
And everyone is just so happy! So much joy. You can’t help but smile and get caught up in it. What a great way to celebrate the start of spring.