BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – Louisiana is known for its good food, cultural variety and festive atmosphere. One of spring’s most festive events will be celebrated in Louisiana’s capital area this year on March 6 and March 11 during an event called Holi.
Also known as the “festival of colors” or “festival of love,” Holi is a celebration of good winning over evil, unity and peace, as well as the arrival of spring.
What is Holi?
Manisha Patel, an organizer of this year’s Holi Festival of Baton Rouge, describes the holiday as originating in India hundreds of years ago and said most of the ancient customs associated with Holi have not changed much, meaning that the way it’s celebrated today is very similar to how it was commemorated centuries ago.
Patel said the customs are joyous and explained that participants have “colored powder thrown on each other,” in an atmosphere of “happiness and love, while dancing and playing!”
Holi’s mythology: Deities interact with humans
Nidhi Sthanki, a volunteer with Datta Temple in Baton Rouge, shed more light on the significance of the color throwing and the celebratory atmosphere. “Most people see Holi as a popular Indian festival which requires throwing colors at each other however there’s huge significance and great history behind it.”
The customs associated with Holi come from the worship of Hindu deities Krishna, the god of protection, compassion and tenderness; Krishna’s love interest Radha; and the god Vishnu, the Preserver.
Sthanki explained that the holiday commemorates a day of historical significance in Hindu mythology. According to the story, an ancient king named Prahalad was a devoted worshiper of the god Vishnu and one day, when the king’s life was in great danger, Vishnu stepped in to save him.
“Holi marks the day where Lord Vishnu’s reincarnation (Narsimha) slayed the demon (Hiranyakashpu). This day celebrates the triumph of good over evil and Prahalad’s devotion to Lord Vishnu,” Sthanki explained.
But Holi is also all about love. “It also celebrates the happiness and love of Lord Krishna and Radha whose love for each other was so pure and spiritual,” Sthanki said.
Local school plans modern twist
According to Shruti Saini, a local teacher from Baton Rouge, per ancient scriptures and paintings found, the festival of Holi was founded around 300 BC in India’s Vindhya province and was originally referred to as “Holika.”
The holiday was typically celebrated for two days, and the bonfire that was held on the first day highlighted the victory of good over evil. The second day was when people smeared colored, organic sand or Holi colors on each other.
The purpose of blending and smearing colors on everyone was to make everyone look the same as a way of emphasizing the principle that everyone looks the same to the creator.
Saini said, “Over the centuries the celebrations have been modernized, with the choices of music being played, people will cheer with beer in some areas while some maintain a bit of traditional value. In summary, it’s turned more into a party atmosphere over the years. But nonetheless, the spirit of the festival is still prevalent.”
One modern take on the ancient tradition will take place Friday at Glasgow Middle School when the students participate in a Holi Festival of Colors Celebration.
Usha Iyer, a treasurer for Glasgow’s Parent Teacher Organization said the event aims to raise money for the school. Funds will go to Glasgow’s talented art supplies, Science Olympiad, teacher appreciation day, holiday luncheons, etc.
Iyer, whose son is a seventh grader at Glasgow said after she collaborated with a talented art teacher, Mrs. Dave and the PTO president, Mrs. Patel for a brainstorming session, they decided to have the students carry out the festival of color tradition in a way that would be especially fun for the kids while creating a unique piece of art.
Iyer said Glasgow’s principal, Ms. Howard, hired a contractor to “build a wooden plank across the D building wall so that the kids can throw the water balloons filled with paint and color blasters to create a 8 foot by 20-foot mural that depicts or resembles Jackson Pollock’s art.”
Why do participants throw colors?
The colors that are thrown represent Lord Krishna and Radha’s love and happiness, and they celebrate Lord Krishna’s time in the Indian city of Vrindavan with his love interest Radha and her fellow gopis, or cowherds/milkmaids.
Sthanki said, “There’s a specific meaning to each color that we throw.”
They are:
- Red: purity, love, passion and fertility
- Yellow: happiness, meditation and peace
- Blue: calm and otherworldliness (Krishna’s skin color)
- Green: nature, spring and new beginnings
- Pink: youth, good health and playfulness
- Orange or Saffron: courage and sacrifice
- Purple: supreme peace and wisdom
- No white or black: black means evil and white is in funerals
In the past, these colors were used for a specific reason.
Holi celebrations in Baton Rouge
In ancient times, those who participated in Holi were worshippers who focused on the event’s religious significance. They showed their devotion by going to a Hindu temple to pray and participate in Holi rituals.
Sthanki said, “Now, times are changing, and the significance is getting lost behind all the fun activities.”
But at the Datta Temple, participants experience both.
“Spiritually, the priest performs a ritual called ‘homa,’ which is a religious fire signifying the burning of evil during the time. They pray to the fire to cleanse us from all evil and we take fruit offerings from the priest,” Sthanki said.
This year, members of the public are invited to the rituals at the Datta Temple on March 6 and March 11. They are also welcome to attend a separate March 11 Holi festival in downtown Baton Rouge that Patel is organizing.
Want to go?
Holi at the Datta Temple of Baton Rouge
Datta Temple of Baton Rouge is a place of worship that is always open to the public. Congregants and guests will celebrate Holi at 6 p.m. Monday, March 6 and 6 p.m. Saturday, March 11.
- When: 6 p.m. Monday, March 6 and Saturday, March 11
- Where: 6221 Equity Drive, Baton Rouge
- Contact: (225)-751-8949
- Organizers: Sri Phani Kumar Sharma Yedida and volunteers
The Holi Festival of Baton Rouge
The Holi Festival of Baton Rouge continues to grow annually and attracts people from many different cultures and backgrounds.
This free, family-friendly festival is open to the public and guests are encouraged to wear white. Organizers say food, drinks and color powder will be available for purchase on-site.
Participants will enjoy music, Indian/cultural dances, henna art, face painting and throwing vibrant color powders in an open-air setting.
- When: 2-5 p.m.Saturday, March 11
- Where: Repentance Park, 275 S. River Road Baton Rouge
- Contact: holifestivalbr@brproudnews
- Organizers: Colors of the World
Holi Festival of Colors Celebration
The school event, which is open to the public, will feature additional fun for all ages, including face painting and an art show.
- When: 9-11 a.m. Friday, March 10
- Where: Glasgow Middle School, 676 Glasgow Ave, Baton Rouge
- Contact: Anyone who’d like to donate to the fundraiser can do so by calling 225 205-8495 or emailing uiyer1234@gmail.com.
