As we celebrate Holi in India, similarly celebrations of colours take place in different countries in different ways at different times of the year. In India, Holi is celebrated based on many mythological and traditional beliefs like the arrival of spring in India, celebrating the eternal love of Radha Krishna or the victory of good over evil. The entire country gets drenched in colours, which becomes a captivating sight and allures people from all over the world.
The festival of colours is also celebrated all around the globe with its distinctive styles and enthusiasm. Here’s looking at six celebrations of colours from different countries:
RIO DE JANIERO CARNIVAL, BRAZIL
Another festival of colours to add to the bucket list is the Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Brazil. This is the world’s biggest fiesta, where the streets of Rio wear an electrifying atmosphere with glitter and vibrant feather costumes in abundance. More than three bandas (troops of musicians) perform in Samba beats in these street parades with huge and colourful floats. The Rio de Janeiro Carnival marks the largest carnival celebration in the world.
HANAMI, JAPAN
Hanami, which literally means “flower viewing” is the Cherry Blossom festival, which is a centuries-old tradition where the Japanese enjoy the beautiful and ephemeral blossoms of cherry trees.
CHINESE NEW YEAR, CHINA
Celebrating the arrival of the lunar year, Chinese New Year erupts with colourful decorations across Chinese cities and towns. From rainbow-coloured dragon dances, red paper lanterns which illuminate the whole country to various sorts of firecrackers, China welcomes the new year with joy and prosperity, and lots of colours.
DAY OF THE DEAD, MEXICO
How can a day related with the dead relate with the festival of colours? Here’s why: This macabre festival is celebrated somewhere in November, where Mexico honours the deceased who have a 24-hour window to return from heaven and reunite with their loved ones. This involves parades brimming with decorated colourful skulls, multicoloured quirky costumes and lots of good vibes.
MARDI GRAS, NEW ORLEANS
Dating back thousands of years ago, Mardi Gras is celebrated as a Christian holiday to welcome the pagan spring and fertility rites. Cancelled for two years due to the pandemic, the host city, New Orleans, witnessed a week-long celebrations of Mardi Gras last month on Tuesday, February 21, which they call “Fat Tuesday”. Revellers and tourists wear colourful costumes, notably in purple, green and gold, and adorn themselves in long colourful beads which are thrown at them from the parade floats.
LA TOMATINA, SPAIN
All thanks to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara for making us add this festival to our bucket list. La Tomatina festival in Spain is a week-long celebration in honour of the town Buñol’s patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Virgin Mary, where participants take to the streets to throw over-ripe tomatoes at one another under the scorching sun, purely for a fun time.