Event Announcement --- Holi Hai!!!

Last Year Festive Food celebrated all major festivals with a bang. This year was invited by celebrating Makar Sankranti. Let's welcome Spring with colourful event of Holi

Rang Barse Bheege Chunarwalli Rang Barse................Holi Hai!!!

Holi, one of the most important Hindu festivals, is a lively fiesta that is associated with India. It’s amongst the important festival of Hindus. Holi celebrates the spirit of life which is happiness and merriment. This festival is about letting go whatever has happened and enjoy life together with friends and family.

Holi is a festival that is usually celebrated right after winters. It is celebrated in the month of March-April. The dates vary every year due to the fact that the Hindu calendar is based on solar cycles. This is a colourful festival celebrated with much joy and fervour all over India. The most famous Holi is played in Vrindavan-Mathura regions of the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Holi is the festival of freedom from social norms. Colours and 'Gulal' are showered on the people dressed up in white clothes and the whole community seems to merge into one big fraternity under the guise of colours, without any distinction of caste, creed, colour or sex. Children with 'pichkaris' (big syringes to squirt coloured water) and faces smeared with colour look adorable. People exchange good wishes, sweets and gifts. Holi parties are organized in the grounds where people dance to the rhythmic beats of the drums and sing Holi songs. Light snacks and milk-based cool drink known as 'Thandai' are often served in these parties that may be intoxicated with 'bhaang'. Also known as 'Phagwah', Holi is celebrated with colours to welcome the Spring season.

In spite of being such a colourful festival, there are various aspects of Holi which makes it so significant for our lives. Though they might not be so apparent but a closer look and a little thought will reveal the significance of Holi in more ways than meets the eyes. Ranging from socio-cultural, religious to biological there is every reason why we must heartily enjoy the festival and cherish the reasons for its celebrations.

Guidelines for Celebrating Holi Hai Event

Prepare any dish traditionally prepared at your place to celebrate the festive spirit of Holi be it sweets, savoury snacks, curry, parathas etc . One can even participate by posting festive pictures, and description of Holi festival.

The last date of sending entries for Holi Hai is 23rd March 2009.

Bloggers need to add a link back to this event announcement. I would be glad if you can include the Vibrant and Colourful Holi logo. There are no restrictions on the number of entries.

Send in your entries at Indian.festivefood@gmail.com with the subject line
''Holi Hai'' along with the below mentioned information:

• Name:

• Dish Name:

• Blog’s Name:

• Blog URL:

• Post URL:

• Picture of the Dish:

Note ~ Entries without an email will not be included in the round up.

Non Bloggers need not get upset, email your recipe along with the picture. We will post it on your behalf and include it in the round up.

Old posts are accepted, provided they are republished by linking back this event announcement along with the logo.

So friends participate with full vigour and zest in this splash of joy and colourful festival of Holi!