Festivals Like Holi

• Charu Chhitwal
• 10 Mar 2016
• Crafts/activities ,Cultural

Do you know about Holi like festivals that are equal or more fun? Kids love playing with water, and as I say that I can hear my twins washing their hands in the bathroom for the 100th time. Normally, I would have lectured them on water wastage, catching viral and all things mother by now. But with Holi, the Colourful Indian Festival around the corner all is forgiven. Or as they say in India ‘Bura Na Mano, Holi Hai’ or ‘Don’t mind, it’s Holi’. This festival has everything that the child in me loves: colours, water, fun dressing-up and my loved ones. Interstingly here are Holi like festivals that turn us into kids.

                                        

Songkran Water Festival, Thailand: This is as close to Holi, as it can be. There are guns, water guns I mean. Then of course the easily available buckets and hoses. I am not sure if they use water-balloons but that is something I loved as a kid. Thai people even add menthol to water to make a paste that cools one down. Importantly this festival is the New Year’s Festival in many Southeast Asian countries and people sprinkle water on each other as a sign of respect and for good luck. As it falls during hottest months, people cannot help but play with water. Just like we play Holi here in India.

La Tomatina, Spain: This week long festival in Spain can start only after someone brings down the ham, placed upon a cockaigne pole (a large, greased pole). Quite similar to Dahi Handi in India, people try and climb atop each other to reach the ham. And then almost some 50,000 people play with over-ripe tomatoes on every street and every corner across the town. It makes for a huge playground with the colour red bringing the kid in every person out to play. For more information on this Holi like festival, visit www.latomatina.org

Boryeong Mud Festival, Korea: This has to be the best marketing idea ever. Yes it is true that in the late 90’s this festival germinated to highlight the quality and health benefits of the BoreYeong Mud cosmetics. Today it is one of the biggest festivals in the world and attracts some crazy number of revellers every year. So if you want to refresh your childhood memories of getting dirty in the mud, this is where you head pal. Oh and while you are busy playing Holi with mud, soak in the benefits of germanium and bentonite for that extra healthy and shiny skin.

Battle of the Oranges, Italy: This one can get a bit rough sometimes thanks to the history of its origin. It represents the fight of the oppressed against the ruler. But nevertheless people juice out some serious fun here. What else can you do with 500,000 kilograms of oranges, if not play Holi?

Chinchilla Watermelon Festival, Australia: A drought stricken community started a watermelon festival and now people want more and more of it. Squash it, eat it, wear it, dunk it and even enjoy watermelon-skating. It is up to you to have as much fun as possible. Visitors have been swelling over the years to this small little town some 300Kms from Brisbane and painting it red, literally.

Isn’t it fascinating how festivals cut across cultures? India celebrates Christmas and Canada lights up on Diwali. People from different cultures are harmoniously living, eating and enjoying their differences together. This is the flavour of life we all need to celebrate. And if you want to add some Indian music to that we recommend some Punjabi songs and Bollywood actress Sridevi's hits.