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,” an 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.
Stahnki 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,” Stahnki 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.
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.
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
Location: Repentance Park, 275 S. River Road Baton Rouge
Contact: holifestivalbr@brproudnews
Organizers: Colors of the World
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