Global - Technology - Review

Holi is a festival celebrated by Hindus across Mauritius. This festival which is usually celebrated in March commemorates the spring harvest and the Earth’s fertility. Although the festival has religious roots, it is seen by many as more of a fun festival than a religious one. This colourful festival is celebrated through singing and dancing and the throwing of powder paint and coloured water. 

During the evening of the full moon communities will light bonfires and roast food offerings. The bonfire not only purifies the air of evil spirits, but also marks the religious roots of the festival. Some believe that this occasion is derived from the very mischievous Lord Krishna as a young boy, who used to throw coloured water over the milk maids, whilst others believe in the story of Holika and Prahalad, and the moral of good prevailing over evil.

The next day after the bonfires, Hindus take to the streets for a fun filled celebration of colour, singing and dancing. Coloured water and powder paints at thrown at each other in good humour, and paints smeared on one another! 

Holi is a messy festival and there’s no avoiding that. But it’s an opportunity for communities to come together, for distinction of caste, class, age and gender to be disregarded in the spirit of celebration.