How do you celebrate Holi :) ?

Hello Friend Thank you for this question. It has given me a chance to put forth my feelings to the world. I believe that we should see Holi with a new perspective. Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of 'good' over 'bad'. The colourful festival bridges the social gap and renews sweet relationships. Holi celebration begins with lighting up of bonfire on the Holi eve. Numerous legends & stories associated with Holi celebration makes the festival more exuberant and vivid. People rub 'gulal' and 'abeer' (coloured powder) on each others' faces and cheer up saying, "bura na maano Holi hai". People take extreme delight in spraying colour water on each other Holi helps to bring the society together and strengthen the secular fabric of our country. For, the festival is celebrated by non-Hindus also as everybody like to be a part of such a colourful and joyous festival. The most enjoyable tradition of Holi, of course, apart from the play of colours is the tradition of breaking the pot of buttermilk hung high on the streets. Men form a huge human pyramid and one on the top breaks the pot with his head. What enhances the spirit of Holi though is the tradition of consuming the intoxicating bhang. But there is the ---UGLY SIDE--- to this beautiful festival which cannot be ignored. Traditionally, the colours used by those "playing" Holi came from the flowers of trees which bloomed at the beginning of spring and some other organic dyes like Henna, Marigold, Hibiscus and Jacaranda or Turmeric powder The bonfires use forests of wood, while the water games present a huge draw-down of potable water. But worst of all are the colours themselves. The dyes used are industrial dyes which contain heavy metals, asbestos, lead oxide, copper suphate, aluminum bromide, mercury suphite, cadmium, chromium and lead These chemicals can have dramatic health effects on the people who get smeared and covered in them, but in the volumes in which they get used, they also present a secondary environmental health risk. India is an extremely water constrained country, and the pollution that washes off the streets and into sewers eventually finds its way into the waters which people will need to drink and cook and wash and irrigate crops. Celebrations are one of the greatest parts of being alive and human. They ought to be not the times when we leave behind a trail of our worst actions, but the days we shine at our best. Holi Hai! ******EDIT******* I was led to this question only coz of Batman. I love reading his answers. Just saw his 360 Blast. It is true that he has answered precisely. How do *you* celebrate Holi. Even I have given his answer a thumbs up rating. He is my very sweet tiny brother. Do bring a smile to his face by selecting his answer as BEST for he deserves it. His smile and his friendship is more precious to me than 10 points. May he soar up to the skies and make India proud of him.

Holi is a great Holiday It is more of a War day and the streets of Mumbai look as though the police have imposed curfew and bandhs all over the city Hooligans celebrate Holi and give the Law & Order Cops a busy time During the 3 days of Holi women and senior citizens of the city prefer to stay indoors in order to protect their eyes, hair and bodies from becoming soft targets Have you ever travelled by Mumbai's local train on the harbour line during Holi? If yes then you will know how it feels to be suddenly bombed by terrorists playing on the innocent lives of their own countrymen The situation on the city's roads during Holi are similar to the communal riots during Bombay Blasts of 93. People take advantage of Holi and inflict damage on public property and private lives

Holi is a festival of Hindus but celebrated by almost everyone. The first day is Holika for doing worships & the second day is for playing with colors & water. Though in India second day starts weeks before the first day........lolz I played Holi after 3yrs this time wid my son, hubby, sis, friends & neighbours with lot of colors & water. No wonder, India looks like a rainbow. Any good story- I was in my final year of graduation & was coming back to home after group study. I saw a group of 10-12 kids with water balloons in their hands. I asked them, if they r going to hit me with those & no doubt all of them said 'Yes'. I kept my books on one side & then turned back & told them to shoot. Those kids must have thrown almost 30-40 balloons on me. My red pullover was completely wet. But after that, when ever I used to pass from there, no body hit me wid a balloon. It was a waste for them, how can somebody enjoy it willingly. the real fun is when people refuse to play Holi & others forcibly throw water or colors on them.........lolz

well...i haven't celebrated holi for a few years now..but it's so much fun...i remember the whole family would get together and all the kids(small and big) would just go crazy..throwing coloured water baloons and smearing everyone with all the colours..even strangers on the street...there's just a LOT of noise..everyone laughing and yelling, and trying to avoid getting drenched...then a biiig lunch...actually, i like the part after holi the best, when the colours don't wash off from the skin completely..and everyone loooks like walking faded rainbow...lol.. *splash*..haha..hit you with a balloon...happy holi!!

omg! i remember that time when me and my family were playing holi and when i was washing my hair i found my littel brother. lol! im just kidding, i dont know what holi is and i dont have a littel bro :P