Hindu Holi Day is Alive and Well in Cranbrook!

By Sharon Cross

It was a delight to have attended a local Holi Day festival on March 19th. A night of the full moon, which this year was 30% larger and brighter than the last twenty years.

Holi is a spring religious festival celebrated by Hindus. It is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are lit on the eve of the festival. The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Kiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holida was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion.


The origin of the modern Holi festival has been traced to ancient Bengal, where people went to Krishna temples, applied red colour to the idol and then distributed the red coloured powder along with Prasad (a sweet) to family and friends. Red signified the colour of passion and Lord Krishna is the king of desires. The ritual signified that all our desires should be diverted for the attainment of Krishna and for the well being of society.

The burning of wood and leaves on the full moon night already existed. This ritual was to signify the end of winter and full advent of spring. Old wood and leaves that had fallen were burnt to signify that it is time for new leaves and flowers. People later smeared their bodies with ash.

Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), which usually falls in the later part of February or March.

The food was a feast to behold! Typical East Indian sweets followed. Mmmm! About forty people converged at Vintee and Manoj Kaushal’s home to celebrate Holi Day and the coming of Spring.