After the auspicious rituals of the day before with the burning of Holika, today is the day to have a gala time throwing colours and splashing coloured water at each other. Holi, like every festival celebrated in the state, is celebrated without distinction. Regardless of religion,
people from different communities get together in colonies and wards to celebrate Holi. Last night saw the rituals of the festival where Hindu households built a bonfire performed the Holi Puja to Lord Krishna by offering a coconut, in remembrance of the legend
behind the festival of Holi. There are many legends which surround the actual reason for the festival, however, the most well known is of how Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, escaped a fire unscathed while his wicked aunt was consumed by the flames.
Though the festival is celebrated in Goa, boisterous celebrations like the ones in the cities of Mumbai and Delhi are unheard of and people here venture onto the streets without fear of being drenched or coloured up. Clinical Hypnotherapist Manisha Chadda has been living in Goa for the past seven years. She reminisces about her life in Delhi when she was part of a mischievous group during
Holi time. “Holi fun started in advance back in Delhi. We celebrated Choti holi and Badi holi. There was excitement in the air and it was a wonderful feeling. We would put eggs to rot at least ten days in advance. Even two days before Holi, it was difficult to stand in the balcony as
a water balloon could come flying towards you from nowhere. We also had farm parties with pichkaris and colour,” says Manisha who used to throw Holi parties a few years back at Pine Tree Shack, Candolim. Saurabh Khanna, Director, Operations at the Park
Hotel, Calangute, is celebrating Holi with his friends
and family in Goa. “I have been living in Goa for the
past four years. Back home, the entire colony used to
come together to celebrate Holi in a different way. The
neighbourhood would liven up with colours, water
balloons and pichkaris. It was more of a community
celebration which would begin with Choti Holi, dancing
around the bonfire and then the parties the next day,” says
Saurabh. “Now I celebrate Holi with my Goan friends with
a small get together. I have friends from different parts of
the country and we have a Goan celebration.”
For Bunty Nathani, Bombay is history as he has grown
into the Goan lifestyle over the last 21 years. Living in
Porvorim, he has been Holi every year for the past 8 years
with a party for his extended family which includes friends
he’s made in Goa. “I have a party for my close friends who
are like my own family in Porvorim. I have a lot of space
with a pool and garden area which is enough to run and
fool around with colours. Celebrating Holi with your
family has a warmth of its own. A celebration can be grand
anywhere you are,” says Bunty.
In Goa, you barely need a reason to party, and an
occasion that involves, water, colour, food and fun
is reason enough. 31 Jump Street in association with
Calangute is organising Rang Bharse 2015 Mall for the
first time in Goa with a Foam and Mist Dance inside a mall.
Savio Rodrigues, MD and CEO, 31 Jump Street, says, “Holi
is an amazing festival of the country, which brings families
and friends together. We wanted to provide people with an
opportunity to party after the traditional family fun in the
morning with the entire family at the mall. The event will
feature foam dance in the earlier part of the day and mist
dance post 7pm.”
