Holi 2023: Indian Railways has announced special trains on the occasion of the upcoming festival of Holi. The step has been taken for the anticipated rush during the holiday season.

Holi 2023: Indian Railways has announced special trains on the occasion of the upcoming festival of Holi. The step has been taken for the anticipated rush during the holiday season. These special trains will operate on several routes in order to manage the sudden surge in travellers during the Holi season. This year Holi will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 8. Around this time, there is a sudden increase in travel demand and to counter that, these special trains are launched around this time every year. These trains will run in the Indian states where Holi is celebrated in full swing like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and others. Holi Special Trains: Full Schedule From March 9 to March 23, train number 03255 Patna-Anand Vihar Superfast Holi Special will depart Patna every Thursday and Sunday at 10:00 pm, arriving in Anand Vihar at 3:00 pm the following day after making stops at a number of stations. From March 10 through March 24, 2023, at 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Mondays, train number 03256 will depart Anand Vihar and travel to Patna, arriving at 5:20 p.m. the following day. From March 10 to March 24, every Friday at 3:30 PM, train No. 05271 Muzaffarpur-Yesvantpur Holi Special will depart from Muzaffarpur and go via several stops before arriving at Yesvantpur on Sunday at 4:30 PM. Train no. Holi Sepcial Trains Route Special Trains Name 04053/04054 Anand Vihar Terminal to Udhampur Anand Vihar Terminal Reserved AC Express 04672/04671 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to New Delhi Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Reserved Festival Special Express train 04530/04529 Bathinda to Varanasi Bathinda Festival Special Express train 04052/04051 Anand Vihar Terminal to Varanasi Anand Vihar Terminal Reserved Festival Special Express train 04048/04047 Anand Vihar Terminal to Muzaffarpur Anand Vihar Terminal Reserved Festival Special Express 04518/04517 Chandigarh – Gorakhpur Chandigarh Reserved Festival Special Express train 04412/04411 Anand Vihar Terminal to Saharsa Anand Vihar Terminal Reserved Festival Special express train 04060/04059 Anand Vihar Terminal to Jaynagar Anand Vihar Terminal Reserved Festival Special Express train 04062/04061 Delhi to Barauni Delhi Reserved Superfast Festival Special express train 04064/04063 Anand Vihar Terminal to Jogbani Anand Vihar Terminal Reserved Festival Special express train 04070/04069 Anand Vihar Terminal to Sitamarhi Anand Vihar Terminal Reserved Festival Special Express Train 04068/04067 New Delhi to Darbhanga New Delhi Reserved Festival Special Express Train 04066/04065 Delhi to Patna Delhi Superfast Festival Special Express 03251/03252 Rajgir to Anand Vihar Rajgir Superfast Bi-weekly Express Special 05577/05578 Saharsa to Ambala Cantt Saharsa Bi-weekly Express Special 05269/05270 Muzaffarpur to Valsad Muzaffarpur weekly Express Special On March 9 and March 16, 2023, the 12.10 p.m.-departing Barauni-Pune Weekly Holi Special would arrive in Pune around 10.30 p.m. the next day after stopping at a number of stops. On March 11 and March 18, 2023, Saturday, train number 05280 from Pune to Barauni will depart at 5:00 am and arrive at Barauni at 1:00 pm. Every Monday from March 13 to March 27 2023 at 7:30 am, train No. 05272 Yesvantpur-Muzaffarpur Weekly Holi Special will depart and arrive at different stops until arriving in Muzaffarpur at noon on Wednesday. Holi Special Trains: How to book Holi Special Trains? Passengers can book tickets for the special trains on the official website of Indian Railways or through authorized travel agents. It is advisable to book tickets well in advance to avoid last-minute rush and inconvenience. Here are the links to the official website of Indian Railways where you can book your trains beforehand: https://www.indianrail.gov.in/ https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/

Holi Special Trains 2023: IRCTC launches trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai to UP

I was born in a place which is near to Ayodhya and in a year which is remembered as the demolition of Babari. So it was quite normal for me to know about &#39;Ram&#39; and the festival of lights, Diwali but had a little less idea about the festival of colours.

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Holi is rightly said to be the festival of colours. (Zee News Network)
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I was not much aware of the fact that why we celebrate Holi. While writing essays in primary schools, my first line used to be, &quot;Holi is the festival of colours and sharing the love&quot; and yes it is indeed.

Holi is not a one-day festival, it is celebrated for continuous three days. The festival starts with Holi Purnima, people begin the celebration when the eldest male member sprinkles colour on the members of his family.

The then second day is known as &#39;Puno&#39; or &#39;Holika Dahan&#39; on this day Holika&rsquo;s images are burnt to celebrate the victory of good over evil. The third and last day is the main day when people play with coloured powder &#39;abeer&#39; or &#39;gulal&#39; and water is poured on each other. Apart from colours and love, Holi is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving day for the good spring harvest.

Holika Dahan is celebrated for the victory of good over evil, people ignite a bonfire to commemorate the death of a witch - Holika.&nbsp;

As per an ancient story, a brutal king Hiranyakashyap wanted to be revered as God himself and establish his own supremacy everywhere but his own son Prahalad refused to worship his father and remained a true devotee of Lord Vishnu.

He thought to kill Prahalad but failed every time. Then he called his sister Holika. She planned to kill him as she was blessed with a drape that protected her from burning into the fire. When she sat with Prahlad in a huge bowl with the intention to kill him then suddenly heavy winds started to flow and she herself was burnt in the fire.

If the festival is marked as a celebration of good over evil then how colours became part of it?

The reason behind the use of colours is related to the love story of Krishna and Radha. Krishna being envious of Radha&rsquo;s fair complexion complained to his mother Yashoda. His mother told him that he could colour Radha&rsquo;s face with whatever colour &#39;abeer or gulal&#39; to remove the differences and the legacy continued since then.

Social gatherings such as parties with food are organised at several places. Spending time with friends, family and other loved ones are also a part of this festival. Moreover, giving out sweets and delicacies is another important part of the festival&rsquo;s celebrations.

The most popular dish of this festival is Gujjia. It is a sweet dumpling made with maida flour wheat flour and stuffed with khoya and dry fruits.

&nbsp;

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Festival of Holi is incomplete without Kesar Milk and Gujjiya (Indian sweet dumplings). (Others)
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&nbsp;

It is easy to see why this festival is known too as the festival of spreading joy. Remember the most iconic Holi song from a Bollywood movie Sholay:

होली के दिन दिल खिल जाते हैं रंगों में रंग मिल जाते हैं...गीले शिकवे भूल के दोस्तों दुश्मन भी गले मिल जाते हैं

(On the day of Holi, we are happy, as the colours blend with each other.&nbsp;Friends let&#39;s keep aside our resentment, even enemies hug each other.)

My grandmom told me about this festival, the ancients stories and her own sagas of celebration, and while growing up I myself did some research by reading about this colourful and joyous festival but nowhere to be found that how the Bhang culture got its alliance with Holi.

Associated with Lord Shiva, bhang has now become synonymous with Holi. It is an excuse to get intoxicated and roam the streets creating mischief. Bhang drinks have now become an official Holi drink, but why?

With continuous modernisation, bhang is being replaced by alcohol. Many of us have noticed few bands of drunken hooligans roaming the streets and creating nuisances. The day after Holi comes with thousands of accidental cases, eve-teasing, molestation, robbing, looting and also some serious crimes of rapes and murders, which are happened under the influence of alcohol.&nbsp;

&quot;Bura Na Mano Holi hai&quot; will not pacify the ill effects that arrive with the &#39;other&#39; facet of Holi celebrations.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Let's revive the traditional essence of Holi by spreading colours and love, and staying away from the influence of Bhang and alcohol.

I was born in a place which is near to Ayodhya and in a year which is remembered as the demolition of Babari. So it was quite normal for me to know about 'Ram' and the festival of lights, Diwali but had a little less idea about the festival of colours. Holi is rightly said to be the festival of colours. (Zee News Network) × I was not much aware of the fact that why we celebrate Holi. While writing essays in primary schools, my first line used to be, "Holi is the festival of colours and sharing the love" and yes it is indeed. Holi is not a one-day festival, it is celebrated for continuous three days. The festival starts with Holi Purnima, people begin the celebration when the eldest male member sprinkles colour on the members of his family. The then second day is known as 'Puno' or 'Holika Dahan' on this day Holika’s images are burnt to celebrate the victory of good over evil. The third and last day is the main day when people play with coloured powder 'abeer' or 'gulal' and water is poured on each other. Apart from colours and love, Holi is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving day for the good spring harvest. Holika Dahan is celebrated for the victory of good over evil, people ignite a bonfire to commemorate the death of a witch - Holika. As per an ancient story, a brutal king Hiranyakashyap wanted to be revered as God himself and establish his own supremacy everywhere but his own son Prahalad refused to worship his father and remained a true devotee of Lord Vishnu. He thought to kill Prahalad but failed every time. Then he called his sister Holika. She planned to kill him as she was blessed with a drape that protected her from burning into the fire. When she sat with Prahlad in a huge bowl with the intention to kill him then suddenly heavy winds started to flow and she herself was burnt in the fire. If the festival is marked as a celebration of good over evil then how colours became part of it? The reason behind the use of colours is related to the love story of Krishna and Radha. Krishna being envious of Radha’s fair complexion complained to his mother Yashoda. His mother told him that he could colour Radha’s face with whatever colour 'abeer or gulal' to remove the differences and the legacy continued since then. Social gatherings such as parties with food are organised at several places. Spending time with friends, family and other loved ones are also a part of this festival. Moreover, giving out sweets and delicacies is another important part of the festival’s celebrations. The most popular dish of this festival is Gujjia. It is a sweet dumpling made with maida flour wheat flour and stuffed with khoya and dry fruits. Festival of Holi is incomplete without Kesar Milk and Gujjiya (Indian sweet dumplings). (Others) × It is easy to see why this festival is known too as the festival of spreading joy. Remember the most iconic Holi song from a Bollywood movie Sholay: होली के दिन दिल खिल जाते हैं रंगों में रंग मिल जाते हैं...गीले शिकवे भूल के दोस्तों दुश्मन भी गले मिल जाते हैं (On the day of Holi, we are happy, as the colours blend with each other. Friends let's keep aside our resentment, even enemies hug each other.) My grandmom told me about this festival, the ancients stories and her own sagas of celebration, and while growing up I myself did some research by reading about this colourful and joyous festival but nowhere to be found that how the Bhang culture got its alliance with Holi. Associated with Lord Shiva, bhang has now become synonymous with Holi. It is an excuse to get intoxicated and roam the streets creating mischief. Bhang drinks have now become an official Holi drink, but why? With continuous modernisation, bhang is being replaced by alcohol. Many of us have noticed few bands of drunken hooligans roaming the streets and creating nuisances. The day after Holi comes with thousands of accidental cases, eve-teasing, molestation, robbing, looting and also some serious crimes of rapes and murders, which are happened under the influence of alcohol. "Bura Na Mano Holi hai" will not pacify the ill effects that arrive with the 'other' facet of Holi celebrations. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Dear all, do not celebrate the 'other' Holi

With Holi just a day away, it is imperative that you indulge in all the festivities keeping your health in mind. Our skin and hair take the maximum hit during Holi celebrations. Harmful chemicals and agents present in Holi colours are difficult to remove and damage skin and hair.&nbsp;

What is really damaging is the repeated cleaning that people indulge in post-Holi to get rid of all the colour. Experts suggest repeated cleaning highly detrimental as soaps and shampoos are also laced with chemicals that can strip our hair and skin of its sheen and moisture.&nbsp;

This Holi, we suggest you make an extra effort and ensure that your skin and hair is protected from all the damage. Simple tricks can go a long way in protecting you&nbsp;this Holi and add more sparks to the festive season, take a look.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/holi-2018-choose-health-this-festive-season-simple-ways-to-spot-food-adulteration-at-home-34271">Holi 2018: Choose health this festive season, simple ways to spot food adulteration at home</a>

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Things to keep in mind&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
1.&nbsp;It is important to moisturise your skin and hair before exposing yourself to colours. Choose from a range of oils like coconut and mustard and apply it properly on to your skin and hair. Oil application will keep Holi colour from seeping into the skin and will also facilitate easy removal of colour.

2. Apart from oiling your hair, you can also protect your hair and scalp by wearing a cap while playing Holi. It is advisable to wear full-sleeved clothing and keep your body as covered as possible.&nbsp;

3. In case you are expected to be exposed to the sun for long, don&#39;t forget to apply a sunscreen.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
4. Organic colours are easily available and are better for the health of your skin and hair. Choose these over the chemical laden ones. Playing with dry colours is always better than playing with water, however, asthmatics should steer clear of dry colours.&nbsp;

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5. People usually fall prey to dehydration while playing Holi owing to prolonged exposure to the sun -- one of the reasons why thandai is offered during and after people are done playing Holi. Make sure you are hydrated well.

6. Cold water is always better to get rid of Holi colours. Moisturising lotion or oil can also work well for the same purpose.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
7. Go herbal this Holi, not only in the choice of colours but also for products. Herbal, chemical-free soaps and shampoos will help you get rid of the Holi colour without harming your hair and skin. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
8. Women should avoid getting any facial treatments -- like facial, cleansing or bleaching -- one week before and after Holi.&nbsp;

9. Those with acne-prone skin or who already suffer from breakouts must avoid application of colour on the face.&nbsp;

10. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses, in case of eye irritation, splash cold water and see a doctor in case the problem persists.&nbsp;

Just a little bit of planning can help you enjoy the festival of colours better and save you from all the post-Holi drama. We hope this Holi is filled with colours and brings joy and good health to one and all.

Happy Holi!&nbsp;

This Holi, we suggest you make an extra effort and ensure that your skin and hair is protected from all the damage

With Holi just a day away, it is imperative that you indulge in all the festivities keeping your health in mind. Our skin and hair take the maximum hit during Holi celebrations. Harmful chemicals and agents present in Holi colours are difficult to remove and damage skin and hair. What is really damaging is the repeated cleaning that people indulge in post-Holi to get rid of all the colour. Experts suggest repeated cleaning highly detrimental as soaps and shampoos are also laced with chemicals that can strip our hair and skin of its sheen and moisture. This Holi, we suggest you make an extra effort and ensure that your skin and hair is protected from all the damage. Simple tricks can go a long way in protecting you this Holi and add more sparks to the festive season, take a look. Also read: Holi 2018: Choose health this festive season, simple ways to spot food adulteration at home A post shared by Yashodhara (@yashodharaghosh) on Mar 1, 2018 at 4:03am PST × Things to keep in mind 1. It is important to moisturise your skin and hair before exposing yourself to colours. Choose from a range of oils like coconut and mustard and apply it properly on to your skin and hair. Oil application will keep Holi colour from seeping into the skin and will also facilitate easy removal of colour. 2. Apart from oiling your hair, you can also protect your hair and scalp by wearing a cap while playing Holi. It is advisable to wear full-sleeved clothing and keep your body as covered as possible. 3. In case you are expected to be exposed to the sun for long, don't forget to apply a sunscreen. 4. Organic colours are easily available and are better for the health of your skin and hair. Choose these over the chemical laden ones. Playing with dry colours is always better than playing with water, however, asthmatics should steer clear of dry colours. A post shared by #jaskirat☺???? (@photography_jaskirat) on Mar 1, 2018 at 4:08am PST × 5. People usually fall prey to dehydration while playing Holi owing to prolonged exposure to the sun -- one of the reasons why thandai is offered during and after people are done playing Holi. Make sure you are hydrated well. 6. Cold water is always better to get rid of Holi colours. Moisturising lotion or oil can also work well for the same purpose. 7. Go herbal this Holi, not only in the choice of colours but also for products. Herbal, chemical-free soaps and shampoos will help you get rid of the Holi colour without harming your hair and skin. 8. Women should avoid getting any facial treatments -- like facial, cleansing or bleaching -- one week before and after Holi. 9. Those with acne-prone skin or who already suffer from breakouts must avoid application of colour on the face. 10. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses, in case of eye irritation, splash cold water and see a doctor in case the problem persists. Just a little bit of planning can help you enjoy the festival of colours better and save you from all the post-Holi drama. We hope this Holi is filled with colours and brings joy and good health to one and all. Happy Holi!

Holi 2018: How to keep your skin and hair damage-proof

The festival of colours is upon us and its time to bring out your white kurtas, gujjias, gulaals and pichkaaris to go all out during this auspicious day. Although, several parts in India celebrate the festival with absolute rigour, people around the world equally go all out. From Bollywood dances to marathons to the age old water and colour fights, people in these countries are no strangers to the festivities.

This is how some countries celebrate Holi:

Nepal

Nepal holds a vast majority of Hindu population which is why Holi is a celebrated with much grandeur in the country. In Kathmandu, the streets of Thamel and Durbar Square hold the best celebrations. Children and adults, everyone dedicatedly play Holi to their heart&rsquo;s content. Durbar Square can be absolutely packed with people whereas the small streets of Thamel are filled with kids looking to sneak up with water-guns and balloons.&nbsp;

Traditional natural dyes were used such as turmeric and sandlewood paste mixed with extracts of Neem, Haldi and Bilva to give the pasts colour.

United Kingdom

The presence of Indians in England is widespread, Indians are said to be the second largest ethnic majority in the UK. Major cities like Birmingham, Leicester and Newcastle see people stepping out with spray cans and tons of gulaal. There are Holi parades in the streets. Manchester usually puts up several food stalls and dance sessions, while Redaing will have singing and a Holika play.

One can get a taste of Holi in London, where &#39;The Colour Run&#39; festival takes place. Participants run in a five-kilometre street, wearing a white shirt and as the colours are sprayed at them they, get covered from head to toe with every kilometre of the course. The event takes place in the cities of London, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham.

&nbsp;

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The Colour Run festival (Others)
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United States

The United States also sees a vast majority of Indian population which is why Holi is celebrated across different states with full enthusiasm. A number of festivals are organised throughout the country - one of the biggest colour festivals, &quot;Life In Colour&quot; started out as a college festival in Florida in 2011, later progressing into a worldwide colour party, another famous event is &quot;Colour Music Festival&quot; in Texas.

Religious groups in Utah organise the festival on a big scale to provide a platform to the young to have fun, but in an untainted way. People from all walks of life are welcomed to play with colours to the tunes of music.

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Life in Color festival (Photo Courtesy: www.lifeincolor.com) (Others)
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Mauritius

Just as the many other major Hindu festivals, the large Indian majority, (about 63 per cent) celebrate Holi with a lot of enthusiasm in the island of Mauritius. Hindus, here duly perform the tradition of Holika Dahan or lighting of bonfire on the eve of Holi and celebrate the victory of good over evil. Next day people revel and play with colours and drench everybody with water jets called pichkaris that are from Mauritian bamboo stalks.

The crowds sing and dance to music, which is accompanied by jhal (cymbals) and dholak (drums). In the evening, people greet each other with tilak and exchange sweet dumplings like gujjia.

Australia

This one day in the whole time span of 365 days has the power to leave behind memories to rejoice and fill colour in your life. Not only the those who are in India enjoy this festival of colours wholeheartedly but the Indian Diaspora residing in different parts of the world, equally take pleasure in celebrating this festival of colours in the similar manner.

One such country, where the people of India are present in a quite large numbers, is Australia. Melbourne specifically organizes for the Holi festival event which is the best way for the Indians to quench their desire to be drenched in multi colours. Holi is celebrated in the Victorian capital for it being kaleidoscopic in nature.

Spain

There is&nbsp; a town in Spain that has been celebrating Holi for the past seven years. Sadabell, a town located 20 kilometers north of Barcelona, receives almost 10,000 people from all ethnicities for the Holi festivities. The town doesn&rsquo;t have a large Indian population, but members from Indian communities in nearby cities like Barcelona, Olot and Llort de Mar stop by.

The most popular one being the &quot;Holi Garden Festival&quot; which termed the brightest festival in Ibiza and goes on throughout the summer, with events taking place as long as the warmth lasts. It stays true to its origins with colour, white outfits, music and food. A huge crowd participates in dances, where choreographed groups perform moves to bhangra and Bollywood beats.

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UAE

Same as in many parts of the world, Holi is additionally celebrated by individuals having a place with the Hindu people group living in UAE. The festival there in UAE incorporates trading welcome by conveying blessings and desserts with each other, heaving different sorts of hues on each other both in fluid and powder shape. Individuals move on the colorful Bollywood numbers and numerous conventional Holi melodies. The Indian ostracizes here in UAE, turn out in a greater part, wearing conventional Indian garments; white Kurta Pajama for men and delightful Salwar kamij and sari for ladies.

Alongside the playing with hues individuals in UAE likewise appreciate flavorful Indian dishes which are renowned especially for Holi festivity which incorporate malpuas, gujiya, Puran, dahi vadas, and policy.

Trindad and Tobago

Holi is said to have come to Trinidad around 1845 by the Hindus who relocated from Bihar as authoritative workers on the sugarcane field. From that point forward it is being raised each year with incredible eagerness.Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago praise the celebration with hues, tunes, music, and move. An assortment of water hues are blended and splashed on each one of the individuals who take an interest in the festivals, till they end up noticeably unrecognizable. Individuals trade desserts and welcome with each other

A unique sort of people melody called Chowtal is sung throughout the celebration and the music is generally played with just two instruments. The dholak (a hand drum) and the jeera (cymbals or percussion instrument) are the main two instruments utilized. Chowtal tunes are sung rather uproariously and are piercing. Quick paced music welcomes individuals to shake their hips and influence the cadence.

South Africa

The energetic Gujarati&rsquo;s and other Indians settled in South Africa have made it a point to keep the custom of observing Holi alive in the nation. They play hues, light blazes called Holika, sing Holi melodies and make joyful.

It might be noticed that South Africa is situated at the southern tip of the landmass of Africa. It had the biggest worker Indian people group on the planet 10 years before the colonisation by the United States of America. Indians record of right around one million in the nation. The vast majority of them are packed in the eastern locales of Natal and Transvaal of the nation. Around 65% are Hindus, 15% Muslims and 20% of Christians live here.

The &ldquo;Holi Festival of Colors&rdquo; festival takes place in cape town each year. It is an international festival with dance, music and colours. This two-month festival happens every year at different locations across the world every week of its run. Every year has a different theme. The &ldquo;Holi One&rdquo; festival is also one of the famous events in the country.

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Festival of Colours Tour (Photo Courtesy: www.holifestival.com) (Others)
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The festival of colours is upon us and its time to bring out your white kurtas, gujjias, gulaals and pichkaaris to go all out during this auspicious day. Although, several parts in India celebrate the festival with absolute rigour, people around the world equally go all out. From Bollywood dances to marathons to the age old water and colour fights, people in these countries are no strangers to the festivities. This is how some countries celebrate Holi: Nepal Nepal holds a vast majority of Hindu population which is why Holi is a celebrated with much grandeur in the country. In Kathmandu, the streets of Thamel and Durbar Square hold the best celebrations. Children and adults, everyone dedicatedly play Holi to their heart’s content. Durbar Square can be absolutely packed with people whereas the small streets of Thamel are filled with kids looking to sneak up with water-guns and balloons. Traditional natural dyes were used such as turmeric and sandlewood paste mixed with extracts of Neem, Haldi and Bilva to give the pasts colour. United Kingdom The presence of Indians in England is widespread, Indians are said to be the second largest ethnic majority in the UK. Major cities like Birmingham, Leicester and Newcastle see people stepping out with spray cans and tons of gulaal. There are Holi parades in the streets. Manchester usually puts up several food stalls and dance sessions, while Redaing will have singing and a Holika play. One can get a taste of Holi in London, where 'The Colour Run' festival takes place. Participants run in a five-kilometre street, wearing a white shirt and as the colours are sprayed at them they, get covered from head to toe with every kilometre of the course. The event takes place in the cities of London, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham. The Colour Run festival (Others) × United States The United States also sees a vast majority of Indian population which is why Holi is celebrated across different states with full enthusiasm. A number of festivals are organised throughout the country - one of the biggest colour festivals, "Life In Colour" started out as a college festival in Florida in 2011, later progressing into a worldwide colour party, another famous event is "Colour Music Festival" in Texas. Religious groups in Utah organise the festival on a big scale to provide a platform to the young to have fun, but in an untainted way. People from all walks of life are welcomed to play with colours to the tunes of music. Life in Color festival (Photo Courtesy: www.lifeincolor.com) (Others) × Mauritius Just as the many other major Hindu festivals, the large Indian majority, (about 63 per cent) celebrate Holi with a lot of enthusiasm in the island of Mauritius. Hindus, here duly perform the tradition of Holika Dahan or lighting of bonfire on the eve of Holi and celebrate the victory of good over evil. Next day people revel and play with colours and drench everybody with water jets called pichkaris that are from Mauritian bamboo stalks. The crowds sing and dance to music, which is accompanied by jhal (cymbals) and dholak (drums). In the evening, people greet each other with tilak and exchange sweet dumplings like gujjia. Australia This one day in the whole time span of 365 days has the power to leave behind memories to rejoice and fill colour in your life. Not only the those who are in India enjoy this festival of colours wholeheartedly but the Indian Diaspora residing in different parts of the world, equally take pleasure in celebrating this festival of colours in the similar manner. One such country, where the people of India are present in a quite large numbers, is Australia. Melbourne specifically organizes for the Holi festival event which is the best way for the Indians to quench their desire to be drenched in multi colours. Holi is celebrated in the Victorian capital for it being kaleidoscopic in nature. Spain There is a town in Spain that has been celebrating Holi for the past seven years. Sadabell, a town located 20 kilometers north of Barcelona, receives almost 10,000 people from all ethnicities for the Holi festivities. The town doesn’t have a large Indian population, but members from Indian communities in nearby cities like Barcelona, Olot and Llort de Mar stop by. The most popular one being the "Holi Garden Festival" which termed the brightest festival in Ibiza and goes on throughout the summer, with events taking place as long as the warmth lasts. It stays true to its origins with colour, white outfits, music and food. A huge crowd participates in dances, where choreographed groups perform moves to bhangra and Bollywood beats. × × UAE Same as in many parts of the world, Holi is additionally celebrated by individuals having a place with the Hindu people group living in UAE. The festival there in UAE incorporates trading welcome by conveying blessings and desserts with each other, heaving different sorts of hues on each other both in fluid and powder shape. Individuals move on the colorful Bollywood numbers and numerous conventional Holi melodies. The Indian ostracizes here in UAE, turn out in a greater part, wearing conventional Indian garments; white Kurta Pajama for men and delightful Salwar kamij and sari for ladies. Alongside the playing with hues individuals in UAE likewise appreciate flavorful Indian dishes which are renowned especially for Holi festivity which incorporate malpuas, gujiya, Puran, dahi vadas, and policy. Trindad and Tobago Holi is said to have come to Trinidad around 1845 by the Hindus who relocated from Bihar as authoritative workers on the sugarcane field. From that point forward it is being raised each year with incredible eagerness.Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago praise the celebration with hues, tunes, music, and move. An assortment of water hues are blended and splashed on each one of the individuals who take an interest in the festivals, till they end up noticeably unrecognizable. Individuals trade desserts and welcome with each other A unique sort of people melody called Chowtal is sung throughout the celebration and the music is generally played with just two instruments. The dholak (a hand drum) and the jeera (cymbals or percussion instrument) are the main two instruments utilized. Chowtal tunes are sung rather uproariously and are piercing. Quick paced music welcomes individuals to shake their hips and influence the cadence. South Africa The energetic Gujarati’s and other Indians settled in South Africa have made it a point to keep the custom of observing Holi alive in the nation. They play hues, light blazes called Holika, sing Holi melodies and make joyful. It might be noticed that South Africa is situated at the southern tip of the landmass of Africa. It had the biggest worker Indian people group on the planet 10 years before the colonisation by the United States of America. Indians record of right around one million in the nation. The vast majority of them are packed in the eastern locales of Natal and Transvaal of the nation. Around 65% are Hindus, 15% Muslims and 20% of Christians live here. The “Holi Festival of Colors” festival takes place in cape town each year. It is an international festival with dance, music and colours. This two-month festival happens every year at different locations across the world every week of its run. Every year has a different theme. The “Holi One” festival is also one of the famous events in the country. Festival of Colours Tour (Photo Courtesy: www.holifestival.com) (Others) ×

This is how the world celebrates Holi!

As Holi arrives, we hear the verse &ldquo;Bura na mano, Holi hai!&rsquo; quite often.&nbsp;

Perhaps, there are people who get irritated, agitated and easily offended when someone sprays colours on them.&nbsp;

Personally speaking, it&rsquo;s an all-time fun to watch colourful streets, trays full of sweets, pyramids of boys trying to break the pot full of buttermilk, the splash and sprinkles of coloured water on the pure white tee, making it the most flamboyant attire I could possibly have. In a snap, the daily busy casual surrounding turns into a radiant canvas of colours. &nbsp;&nbsp;

If we keep aside all the mythological and religious slants of celebrating this day, then Holi is prominently associated with colours and, so, rightly called the festival of colours.&nbsp;

However, the core essence of this frolic festive day seems to be lost somewhere between partying on Honey Singh&rsquo;s rap songs and smearing colours onto someone as if they were the missed out targets from long that you finally get your hand on this day. We find wild hordes of youngsters wandering around the streets screaming and chasing. And once the target is in hand, the street fight begins.&nbsp;

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Holi, the frolic festival for youngsters. (Others)
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&nbsp;

What bothers me is the irony that Holi, the festival for celebrating nature and its colours in all its hues, does not look colourful and mollifying anymore. Rather, today it is celebrated largely with water-based commercial pigments, leaving behind the dark stains of prickly magenta or green colour on our face and entire body.&nbsp; 
The unnatural toxic chemicals, which we proudly say as &lsquo;Pakka Rang&rsquo; (synthetic Holi colours) and fashion of using grease not only harms the body or ecology but also exterminates the core principle of celebrating Holi.&nbsp;

One must question that why Holi is celebrated particularly at this point of the year.&nbsp;

Well, it is that time of the year when we bid a sweet farewell to winters and blissfully welcome the spring. With a change in weather comes the viral fever and cold. But to the human relief, it brings along an abundance of fruits.&nbsp;

Now if knitting the threads together, along with religious reasons, Holi holds the significance of celebrating and using seasonal fruits as a medicinal option to keep away contagious virus. &nbsp;

Making colours from the extracts of natural herbs, and throwing them on each other is actually a playful medical practice, which needs to be retained and revived today.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Playing Holi with the extracts of Sandalwood, dried Mehendi, Palash, and Indigo (Others)
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Dried Palash and Hibiscus flowers, powdered fragrant sandalwood are the typical source of vibrant red and orange colours. And if mixed with a pinch of Haldi (turmeric) creates a dazzling saffron colour, which if mixed in water sweeps the soothing odour all around. While winter is turning its back, it leaves with us the dried leaves Mehendi and Gulmohur Tree, offering the source of green colour. &nbsp;Indigo plant, blended with the paste of Indian blueberries and blue hibiscus, are the traditional sources for the blue pigment that adds a tint of contrast to the already coloured face.&nbsp;

We love the perception of long-lasting stains of colours and enjoy the most when it comes to pushing friends in the tub full of coloured water. It somewhat shows the strong bond amongst the near and dear ones. It is just as if the nostalgia for belongingness rolls over. I guess this is why we say &lsquo;daag ache hai&rsquo; (stains are good).&nbsp;

So, to retain and keep alive the bond shared, why not add Turmeric or Kumkum in a tub along with freshly scented petals of Marigold and Rose. This makes the Holi wet, colourful, long-lasting. Moreover, one won&rsquo;t have to repeatedly say &lsquo;Bura na mano, Holi hai!&rsquo; while smearing colours to others.&nbsp;

Enjoying the colours and aroma of fresh flowers and herbs, and simultaneously attaining the medicinal benefits from nature, well what more our mother earth can offer. In return, if not much, than at least we can thank the nature by celebrating its precious gifts and making the Holi festival as colourful as possible.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Use of synthetic colours leave behind green and pink stains, and don’t even make Holi look colourful. We should relearn to use sources of natural colour.

As Holi arrives, we hear the verse “Bura na mano, Holi hai!’ quite often. Perhaps, there are people who get irritated, agitated and easily offended when someone sprays colours on them. Personally speaking, it’s an all-time fun to watch colourful streets, trays full of sweets, pyramids of boys trying to break the pot full of buttermilk, the splash and sprinkles of coloured water on the pure white tee, making it the most flamboyant attire I could possibly have. In a snap, the daily busy casual surrounding turns into a radiant canvas of colours. If we keep aside all the mythological and religious slants of celebrating this day, then Holi is prominently associated with colours and, so, rightly called the festival of colours. However, the core essence of this frolic festive day seems to be lost somewhere between partying on Honey Singh’s rap songs and smearing colours onto someone as if they were the missed out targets from long that you finally get your hand on this day. We find wild hordes of youngsters wandering around the streets screaming and chasing. And once the target is in hand, the street fight begins. Holi, the frolic festival for youngsters. (Others) × What bothers me is the irony that Holi, the festival for celebrating nature and its colours in all its hues, does not look colourful and mollifying anymore. Rather, today it is celebrated largely with water-based commercial pigments, leaving behind the dark stains of prickly magenta or green colour on our face and entire body. The unnatural toxic chemicals, which we proudly say as ‘Pakka Rang’ (synthetic Holi colours) and fashion of using grease not only harms the body or ecology but also exterminates the core principle of celebrating Holi. One must question that why Holi is celebrated particularly at this point of the year. Well, it is that time of the year when we bid a sweet farewell to winters and blissfully welcome the spring. With a change in weather comes the viral fever and cold. But to the human relief, it brings along an abundance of fruits. Now if knitting the threads together, along with religious reasons, Holi holds the significance of celebrating and using seasonal fruits as a medicinal option to keep away contagious virus. Making colours from the extracts of natural herbs, and throwing them on each other is actually a playful medical practice, which needs to be retained and revived today. Playing Holi with the extracts of Sandalwood, dried Mehendi, Palash, and Indigo (Others) × Dried Palash and Hibiscus flowers, powdered fragrant sandalwood are the typical source of vibrant red and orange colours. And if mixed with a pinch of Haldi (turmeric) creates a dazzling saffron colour, which if mixed in water sweeps the soothing odour all around. While winter is turning its back, it leaves with us the dried leaves Mehendi and Gulmohur Tree, offering the source of green colour. Indigo plant, blended with the paste of Indian blueberries and blue hibiscus, are the traditional sources for the blue pigment that adds a tint of contrast to the already coloured face. We love the perception of long-lasting stains of colours and enjoy the most when it comes to pushing friends in the tub full of coloured water. It somewhat shows the strong bond amongst the near and dear ones. It is just as if the nostalgia for belongingness rolls over. I guess this is why we say ‘daag ache hai’ (stains are good). So, to retain and keep alive the bond shared, why not add Turmeric or Kumkum in a tub along with freshly scented petals of Marigold and Rose. This makes the Holi wet, colourful, long-lasting. Moreover, one won’t have to repeatedly say ‘Bura na mano, Holi hai!’ while smearing colours to others. Enjoying the colours and aroma of fresh flowers and herbs, and simultaneously attaining the medicinal benefits from nature, well what more our mother earth can offer. In return, if not much, than at least we can thank the nature by celebrating its precious gifts and making the Holi festival as colourful as possible. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Relearn to be colourful this Holi!

The festival of colours&nbsp;Holi is just around the corner and while we are all very excited about the long weekend and all we are going to have this week.

But before all that, we must also know the&nbsp;significance of the festival and why it is celebrated.

Like all of Hindu festival, Holi also signifies victory of good over evil, justice over injustice. It is celebrated in Falgun month of Hindi calendar which falls between the end of February and the middle of March in the general calendar.

The festival is commonly celebrated as a Two-day festival but traditionally it is a three-day festival.

It starts with Holi Purnima then followed with &#39;Puno&#39;&nbsp;or Holika Dahan, and the third is Dhulandi the last and final day of the celebrations.&nbsp;

There are many reasons for celebrating this festival among them is a very common legend of Prahlada and king Hiranyakaship.

According to the legend in Bhagwata Purana an Asur king Hrianyakaship grew arrogant thinking he was a god due to the boons he received from the gods.

Hrianyakaship demanded to be to worship as a god from his people but his own son was a devotee of Vishnu and refused to worship his own father.

To make Prahlad understand of his highness, Hrianyakaship gave various kind of punishment to his son. Finally, he tricked his son to sit on a pyre with his aunt Holika thinking that Prahlad would get burned and Holika would be saved but due to&nbsp;Prahald&#39;s faith, dedications and purity of his heart&nbsp;he was saved from the fire instead his aunt Holika was burned and died; signifying win of justice over injustice.

Since then the second day of Holi is celebrated as Holi Dahan People with their families take five rounds of the bonfire to seek the blessing of God in the evening of Holika Dahan.

It is also celebrated as a commemoration of the divine love of Radha and Krishna.

&nbsp;Another legend that surrounds the festival is that Krishna was a dark-skinned boy and it is said that conscious Krishna about his skin colour used to complain to his mother regarding whether fair skinned Radha would like him or not.

His mother, tired of the questions asked Krishna to colours Radha&#39;s face with any colour he wanted.&nbsp;

Ever since the playful colouring of Radha&#39;s face has been commemorated as Holi.

The Holi is&nbsp;such an ancient Hindu festival that it&#39;s being celebrated since Krishna&#39;s time. It is also mentioned in the 7th-century Sanskrit drama Ratnavali as well.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

Like all of Hindu festival, Holi also signifies victory of good over evil, justice over injustice

The festival of colours Holi is just around the corner and while we are all very excited about the long weekend and all we are going to have this week. But before all that, we must also know the significance of the festival and why it is celebrated. Like all of Hindu festival, Holi also signifies victory of good over evil, justice over injustice. It is celebrated in Falgun month of Hindi calendar which falls between the end of February and the middle of March in the general calendar. The festival is commonly celebrated as a Two-day festival but traditionally it is a three-day festival. It starts with Holi Purnima then followed with 'Puno' or Holika Dahan, and the third is Dhulandi the last and final day of the celebrations. There are many reasons for celebrating this festival among them is a very common legend of Prahlada and king Hiranyakaship. According to the legend in Bhagwata Purana an Asur king Hrianyakaship grew arrogant thinking he was a god due to the boons he received from the gods. Hrianyakaship demanded to be to worship as a god from his people but his own son was a devotee of Vishnu and refused to worship his own father. To make Prahlad understand of his highness, Hrianyakaship gave various kind of punishment to his son. Finally, he tricked his son to sit on a pyre with his aunt Holika thinking that Prahlad would get burned and Holika would be saved but due to Prahald's faith, dedications and purity of his heart he was saved from the fire instead his aunt Holika was burned and died; signifying win of justice over injustice. Since then the second day of Holi is celebrated as Holi Dahan People with their families take five rounds of the bonfire to seek the blessing of God in the evening of Holika Dahan. It is also celebrated as a commemoration of the divine love of Radha and Krishna. Another legend that surrounds the festival is that Krishna was a dark-skinned boy and it is said that conscious Krishna about his skin colour used to complain to his mother regarding whether fair skinned Radha would like him or not. His mother, tired of the questions asked Krishna to colours Radha's face with any colour he wanted. Ever since the playful colouring of Radha's face has been commemorated as Holi. The Holi is such an ancient Hindu festival that it's being celebrated since Krishna's time. It is also mentioned in the 7th-century Sanskrit drama Ratnavali as well.

How Holi got associated with colours from Hiranyakashyap myth

With the festivals of colours just around the colour, we can only imagine the pace of your final preparations. As most of us get into the last leg of the festive planning, let us not compromise on the quality of food that we bring home, cook with or offer others.

This Holi, it doesn&#39;t matter if you are planning to make those sumptuous gujjiyas at home or are thinking to buy a stack full of yumminess from the nearest store; what does matter is to ensure that the raw material or the finished delicacy is pure pleasure without any trace of adulteration. For those who think that spotting adulteration is nothing short of rocket science, we bring to you some simple points listed out by the national food standards watchdog Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI)&nbsp;on how to spot adulteration in the commonest of ingredients, take a look!

Khoya, chenna and paneer 
Boil the sample in water and add let it cool. Add two-three drops tincture of iodine, if the sample turns blue in colour it is adulterated with starch.&nbsp;

Honey 
One of the most commonly found adulterants in a jar of honey is sugar; in case you want to test the authenticity and the purity of your honey, follow the following:

Take a transparent glass and fill it with water and drop a spoonful of honey into it. Pure honey will not disperse, if it does, it contains sugar.&nbsp;

Sugar, pithi sugar, jaggery

It is easy to detect if the sugar or jaggery is adulterated with chalk powder. In a transparent glass pour water and dissolve sugar/jaggery sample, the adulterant matter will begin to settle down at the bottom.

Sweet curd

Add 10 drops of hydrochloric acid in one teaspoon of curd, mix well. If the mixture turns red, it indicates the presence of vanaspati in the curd.

Milk

Add &frac12; teaspoon of soybean or arhar powder to a teaspoon of milk, mix well and leave for 5 minutes. Dip a red litmus paper in it, remove after 30 seconds. If the litmus paper turns to blue it is indicative of the presence of urea in the milk sample.

Undeniably, food is intrinsic to life, something that no celebration or festivity can ever be devoid of. We bet you must be ready with jars full of snacks and traditional goodies like papads, gujjiyas and other delectable treats. This Holi, pay a little attention to what you bring home and serve at the table.&nbsp;

Choose health, choose happiness! Happy Holi!&nbsp;

(Inputs from Detect Adulteration With Rapid Test, FSSAI)

This Holi, ensure that the raw material or the finished delicacy that you bring home is pure pleasure and free from adulteration

With the festivals of colours just around the colour, we can only imagine the pace of your final preparations. As most of us get into the last leg of the festive planning, let us not compromise on the quality of food that we bring home, cook with or offer others. This Holi, it doesn't matter if you are planning to make those sumptuous gujjiyas at home or are thinking to buy a stack full of yumminess from the nearest store; what does matter is to ensure that the raw material or the finished delicacy is pure pleasure without any trace of adulteration. For those who think that spotting adulteration is nothing short of rocket science, we bring to you some simple points listed out by the national food standards watchdog Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) on how to spot adulteration in the commonest of ingredients, take a look! Khoya, chenna and paneer Boil the sample in water and add let it cool. Add two-three drops tincture of iodine, if the sample turns blue in colour it is adulterated with starch. Honey One of the most commonly found adulterants in a jar of honey is sugar; in case you want to test the authenticity and the purity of your honey, follow the following: Take a transparent glass and fill it with water and drop a spoonful of honey into it. Pure honey will not disperse, if it does, it contains sugar. Sugar, pithi sugar, jaggery It is easy to detect if the sugar or jaggery is adulterated with chalk powder. In a transparent glass pour water and dissolve sugar/jaggery sample, the adulterant matter will begin to settle down at the bottom. Sweet curd Add 10 drops of hydrochloric acid in one teaspoon of curd, mix well. If the mixture turns red, it indicates the presence of vanaspati in the curd. Milk Add ½ teaspoon of soybean or arhar powder to a teaspoon of milk, mix well and leave for 5 minutes. Dip a red litmus paper in it, remove after 30 seconds. If the litmus paper turns to blue it is indicative of the presence of urea in the milk sample. Undeniably, food is intrinsic to life, something that no celebration or festivity can ever be devoid of. We bet you must be ready with jars full of snacks and traditional goodies like papads, gujjiyas and other delectable treats. This Holi, pay a little attention to what you bring home and serve at the table. Choose health, choose happiness! Happy Holi! (Inputs from Detect Adulteration With Rapid Test, FSSAI)

Holi 2018: Choose health this festive season, simple ways to spot food adulteration at home

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