HOLI

Hindu spring festival celebrated on the full-moon day of Phalguna (FebruaryMarch). The festival, probably of ancient origin, has many characteristics of a saturnalia. Participants throw coloured waters and powders on one another, and, on this one day only, the usual restrictions of caste, sex, status, and age are disregarded. In the streets the celebrations are often marked by ribald language and behaviour. The festival is particularly enjoyed by the worshipers of Krishna; general frivolity is considered to be in imitation of Krishna's play with the gopis (wives and daughters of cowherds). The Dolayatra (swinging of the god) festival takes place during Holi; images of the gods are placed on specially decorated platforms and then are swung to the accompaniment of special songs.