 A Very Popular Indian Spring Festival  Celebrated all over India  Many Colors & Flavors.

Happy When is it Celebrated ?

• Celebrated on the ( Day) of Indian Lunar Calendar

• Later part of February or early March

• March 17th, 2014

• Two Days: Holika (Bonfire), Dhulandi (Play with colors)

Happy Holi Significance of Holika

• Holika - A symbol of evil which will burn in fire.

• Collection of trash from houses collected during fall/winter season for several days till Full Moon.

• Burning the Neem leaves – Burning the bitterness of life and taking up the sweatened medicinal value of Neem.

• Welcoming the Spring season with the bonfire.

Happy Holi - Bonfire

Happy Holi Dhulandi: Holi Play

• Second day is celebrated in most part of India.

• People go around until afternoon sprinkling Gulal (colored powder) and water at each other.

• A special drink is prepared called thandai which can be laced with bhang (mild intoxicant)

• At noon, the craziness comes to an end and everyone heads to either the river, the bathtub or swimming pool.

• People invite each other to their houses for feasts and celebrations later in the evening Happy Holi Gulal and Colored Powders

Happy Holi Medical Significance

• The festival occurs at the onset of Spring. • Weather change Prone to cause viral fever and cold. • Gulal (Colored Powder) - Made of medicinal plants like • Neem – Azidaricta Indica • Kumkum – Colored Turmeric • Haldi - Turmeric • Bilva – Fruit bearing medicinal tree

Happy Holi Economic Significance

• A Festival to Celebrate Good Harvest and Fertility of Land

• New Seasonal Crop comes home during spring.

• A Festival of Farmers

• India was a land of farmers/villagers

• Importance for business community as new purchases are made on this occasion.

Happy Holi Social Significance

• Gathering of people from different sections of society irrespective of their social and economic status • Coming together of males and females to sprinkle colors on each other • Enacting divine love of Radha-Krishna • Forgiving enmities and shed differences • Teenagers spend the day celebrating in the streets • Adults extend the hand of peace and friendship • People enjoy sprinkling abir, gulal and colored water on each other • Distribution of sweets and having feast together. • Family Get-Together

Happy Holi Happy Holi