Come ‘Holi’ and a platter of colours and tunes pop up in one’s mind. With the festival here again, Bengalureans are looking forward to spending the day in the best possible manner.
     
Pallavi Gambhir Syal from Madhya Pradesh, who lives here with husband Nitesh and daughter Advika, is very excited. “Back home, the big celebrations are on the day of ‘Holi’. After five days, we celebrate it again as ‘Rang Panchami’. The whole festival signifies the victory of good over evil. The night before ‘Holi’, we observe ‘Holika Dahan’ symbolising the burning of Holika and we light a pyre or bonfire,” she narrates.

This year, she will be celebrating the festival with her apartment mates. “There’s going to be a rain dance with sprinklers and many interesting stalls. Though the festival isn’t so big here, we will still be celebrating it true to the spirit of the day.”

Pallavi recalls that back home, ‘Bura na mano Holi hein’ is also observed on this day, when the day turns into an occasion for pranks. “We pull practical jokes on each other. This is the day to just let go of everything and enjoy the colourful moments of life,” she says. This ‘festival of colours’, which marks the arrival of spring, also symbolises new beginnings.

Rajesh Singh, a professional dancer, who hails from Muzaffarpur, Bihar and wife Eshita Bagchi, who is from West Bengal, celebrate the day like they would back home. Rajesh says, “The night preceding ‘Holi’, we make ‘besan ka bada’ which is offered later to god. On the day of ‘Holi’, we start the festivities by smearing colours on the feet of the elders of the family.”

 Pooja Pal, a student of BMS College for Women, who’s from Kolkata, shares, “In Bengaluru, the festivities are done in smaller gatherings. “This year, we celebrated the festival on Sunday as on ‘Holi’, most people will be busy. From ‘pichkaris’ to dry colours — everything was ready in advance,” she details. “The colours symbolise the celebration of life,” points out Ruchika Lunkar, a second-year interior design student from Jain University, who has her roots in Rajasthan. “The moment I think of ‘Holi’, playing with colours and the joy associated with it, comes to my mind. We always celebrate the festival with our extended family and visit at least 15 houses on the day. From ‘namkeen’ to sweets, we have it all,” she says.

‘Holi’ always brings a smile to the face of Muskan Banthia, a diploma student. She says that the pool parties here always add to the zing of the day. “Apart from the traditional festivities, most youngsters like going for rain dance events and pool parties,” she says. Though wastage of water is a concern during the celebrations, Muskan says the festival brings together people from all communities. “It has taught me that life is colourful just like the festival,” she adds.