Where to celebrate Holi
Many of us know the Holi festival as that event where you gather in huge crowds to throw powdered dye at each other, but it’s much more than that. Holi or Spring Festival is an important Hindu festival that marks the arrival of spring, and is celebrated all over the world. The festival’s roots lie in one Hindu legend that features the demon king Hiranyakashyap, who believed he was superior to all the gods. His son, Prahlad, rebelled and worshiped the god Vishnu, so Hiranyakashyap conspired to burn his son alive with the help of his sister Holika, supposedly immune to the flames. Prahlad was saved by Vishnu, while Holika burned to death. Holi, whose name comes from Holika, commemorates this legend by celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Although Holi originated in India, the festival has exploded in popularity and spread throughout the world. If you can’t make it to India for this colorful festival on March 20 and 21, here are some of the best places to celebrate Holi in 2019.
1. Spanish Fork, Utah
The world’s biggest Holi celebration isn’t even in India. Just outside the city of Spanish Fork, Utah, around 70,000 people regularly attend the “Festival of Colors,” which began back in 1989. The event was started by the local Hare Krishna temple and is still run by it today. The official website promises two days of lively, color-filled activities, including interactive dance, bands, DJs, yoga classes, vegan and vegetarian food, and good cheer. Live performances range from hip hop and soul to traditional Bhakti fusion dance and BollyPop. Environmentally friendly colors will be available for $3 per bag, and dust masks and bandanas will also be sold. The event takes place at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple on Saturday March 30 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the Sunday after from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A multi-entry wristband costs $6.50, but there are various registration options available on the event’s website.
2. Mauritius
Mauritius is a small island nation east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, and it is home to a large Hindu presence. Most of the population of Mauritius, of which two-thirds are of Indian ancestry, considers itself Hindu — so Holi is widely celebrated on the island. In commemoration of Prahlad’s triumph over Hiranyakashyap and Holika, people build beach bonfires to kick off the celebration that includes folk singing and dancing. The next day, massive crowds descend upon the streets to throw handfuls of colored powder and water on each other. Beyond paint-slinging, participants exchange gifts with their loved ones and give gifts of sweets. This year, Mauritius is celebrating Holi from March 20 to 21.
3. Guyana
In Guyana the celebration goes by the name of Phagwah, because it was originally celebrated during the month of Phagun, the twelfth month of the Hindu calendar. On Basant Panchmi, 40 days before the start of the Hindu Festival of Colors, the Guyanese, many of them from Indian ancestry, plant a castor oil tree to honor Saraswati Devi, the goddess of knowledge. On Phagwah, a pyre is built and lit around the tree, and fire consumes it like it consumed the evil Holika. Guyanese also celebrate by throwing dye in the form of water and powder, as well as with processions, traditional songs called chowtals, and the exchange of foods like gulab jamun, gulgula, and pholourie.
4. Nepal
In Nepal, Holi is also known as also known as Phagu Purnima. Although a predominantly Hindu nation, Nepal celebrates Holi somewhat differently than India, with the erection of the chir, a wooden pole decorated with colorful strings of cloth, in a public space one week prior to the start of the festival. In Kathmandu, the pole is set in Durbar Square, the center of the entire festival in the capital city. Throughout the course of the festival, participants throw powdered dyes and water balloons at each other, dance, pray, and exchange food. On the festival’s final day, the chir is burnt to ashes. This year, in most of Nepal, Holi will begin on Wednesday, March 20, but some regions will start celebrating one day later.
5. Trinidad and Tobago
This Caribbean island has a large Indian diaspora, making Holi or Phagwa one of the country’s most important celebrations. Hindus are said to have brought the holiday to Trinidad and Tobago around 1845, after migrating there from Bihar, India. Since then the holiday has been observed every year, though now it’s celebrated by citizens of all faiths. Like everywhere else, Hindus in Trinidad ring in spring with a festival of colors, folk songs, and dance, though their celebrations feature music played on dholaks (two-headed hand drums) and manjeeras (hand cymbals). Trinidad is celebrating Holi on March 21 this year. 
The post The 5 best places to celebrate Holi outside of India appeared first on Matador Network.
