Let the vibrant colours of empathy and understanding radiate from your heart, painting the world around you with warmth and compassion. Just as confetti brings joy and liveliness to a celebration, your acts of kindness have the power to uplift spirits and spread positivity wherever you go. With each gesture of kindness, you are creating a ripple effect of goodness that has the potential to brighten someone’s day and inspire others to do the same. So keep on sprinkling kindness like confetti, and watch as the world becomes a more beautiful and harmonious place because of your gentle touch.

Holi is a festival that symbolizes the victory of good over evil and the divine love shared between Lord Krishna and Radha. It is also observed as a harvest festival to mark the onset of spring and the end of winter. According to Hindu mythology, Radha had a fair complexion while Lord Krishna had a dark one.

This vibrant festival is a public holiday in India and is one of the most prominent Hindu festivals in the country, alongside Diwali. Elaborate festivities took place across various regions on Monday, and the celebration extends to Nepal, which boasts a large Hindu community.

In the Holi celebrations, people light bonfires on the first night and throw roasted grains, popcorn, coconut, and chickpeas into them. The following day, individuals of all ages hit the streets for playful activities and colourful paint-throwing. It’s a joyous occasion that engages everyone!

During Holi, individuals in India and worldwide partake in the tradition of throwing coloured water and powders at each other, fostering a sense of unity and joy. On this special day, distinctions of caste, gender, age, and status are set aside as everyone joins in the revelry, making it a festive free-for-all.

The customs of Holi vary across regions and are rooted in Indian lore. In many areas, the festival is linked to the tale of Hiranyakashipu, an ancient Indian demon king. Hiranyakashipu sought to eliminate his son, Prahlada, a devoted Vishnu worshipper, with the help of his sister, Holika. Holika, wearing a fire-proof cloak, sat with Prahlada on a pyre intending to burn him, but the cloak shielded Prahlada, and Holika perished instead. Later, Vishnu defeated Hiranyakashipu, signifying the victory of good over evil. In several places in India, a large pyre is ignited the night before Holi to commemorate this event.

In other regions, the narrative of Krishna and Radha takes centre stage. According to this story, Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, adored the milkmaid Radha but was self-conscious about his dark blue skin compared to her fair complexion. To remedy this, he mischievously coloured her face during a playful interaction, leading to the tradition of throwing coloured water and powders. The general jubilation mirrors Krishna’s playful and prankster nature.