Holi Celebrations - 2008

As per the Hindu calendar, Holi falls on the Phalgun Purnima (or Pooranmashi, Full Moon), which will occur on March 22, 2008.

Here in Michigan couple of Indian Associations have planned Holi Event:

Uttar Pradesh Association of Greater Detroit
"Rang Rangila" on Saturday, March 15th at Bharatiya Temple, 6850 Adams Road, Troy, MI 48098. The Event starts at 5.30 PM. For details check out upad website.

Gujarati Samaj of Detroit
"Holi Hai" on Saturday April 5th at Wylie E. Grove High School, 20500 W. 13 Mile Road, Beverly Hills, MI 48025. The Event starts at 1 PM. For details check out Gujarati Samaj of Detroit website.

What is Holi? Quote from Indian Express

Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi is now a symbolic commemmoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centres around an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king's sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges unscathed, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.

This exuberant festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura - the two cities with which Lord Krishna shared a deep affiliation. Apart from the usual fun with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality.

Today Holi is an excuse for Indians to shed inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever and Big Fun. Teenagers spend the day flirting and misbehaving in the streets, adults extend the hand of peace, and everyone chases everyone else around, throwing brightly colored powder (gulal) and water over each other.