Although Holi is a Special Occasion for all Hindus, it is observed by different communities all around the world. But the real sense of this festival can only be felt in India, where it is celebrated with a unique pomp and zeal. This festival of colours is said to be related to numerous mythological stories and the one that is widely popular depicts the story of an evil king Hiranyakashyapu, his sister Holika and an ardent Vishnu devotee Prahlad.

But the lesser known fact about Holi is how scientifically crafted this festival is! The celebration might seem religious but the motive behind it is scientific in nature. So let’s dive into it and discover them:

1. To ward off harmful bacteria

Holi is celebrated on a full moon night in the month of March which is the month of ‘Phalguna’ as per the Hindu calendar. It marks the end of winters and beginning of summers and is cited as a festival which brings about a transformative phase. Spring season encourages the growth of bacteria in our body as well as the surroundings. Hence, to kill the bacteria in and around us, ‘Holika’- made out of dried cow dung and wood pieces, is burnt. People are traditionally made to circle around
Holika in order to experience the heat which cleanses our body.

Some people even apply the ashes of the burnt Holika to their foreheads and consume the paste of sandalwood (chandan) mixed with mango leaf to improve their immunity.

2. Physical Exuberance

With the change of weather from cold to warm, most people get lazy and indulge into sluggish behaviors. To combat this, people often sing folk songs, dance and play conventional instruments on the holi night. This practice revitalizes the mind and body. On the next day, people play with colours with high energy which promotes physical activity and exuberance.

3. Transformative phase

Holi also symbolizes “The Victory of good over evil”. This belief encourages psychological well-being of the people while making them aware of their cerebral capabilities. Burning of Holika also marks the occasion of burning our bad habits, self-destructive patterns and non-serving attitudes away.

This transformative period gives us a chance to heal ourselves with good thoughts and to develop a positive state of mind. Thus, holi can be called as a form of a healing therapy.

4. Colour Therapy

In olden days, people traditionally made use of natural colours to play holi. These colours not only exhibited beautiful vibrant shades but also had healing properties. The colours were mostly made out of turmeric, gram flour, neem leaves, sandalwood, variety of flowers and leaves. These natural colours help with immunity, reinforce ions in the body and make our skin look beautiful.

Unfortunately, the synthetic colours that we widely use today, are not just devoid of healing properties but they instead harm our health, immunity and skin. They are made out of harmful chemical compounds like lead oxide, sulphate, aluminium bromide, mercury sulphide, etc. These compounds cause stubborn pigmentation, eye problems, skin irritation, hair damage, and countless allergies. It is hence advisable to use natural colours to prevent these health adversities.

Some natural sources of holi colours:

Bright Yellow – Turmeric powder. Kasturi turmeric mixed with besan (gram flour) can be used to avoid stains. Amaltas, Marigold, Sunflower or flowers of similar species can be used to obtain a bright yellow colour.

Robust Red – Red roses, beetroot, pomegranate, red sandalwood, red hibiscus are all excellent sources to create a red shade.

Fresh Green – Spinach, mint leaves, coriander, gulmohar tree leaves, henna leaves.
Beaming Blue- Jacaranda flowers or Neeli gulmohar, blue hibiscus, indigo, etc.
Captivating Crimson- Saffron(kesar) mixed with roses, tesu or palash flowers.

Conclusion:
Science is an integral part of Indian culture. Indian traditions and festivals are not just derived out of religious reasons but they also have a strong scientific standpoint to them. Acknowledging the scientific reasons behind the festivities make the celebrations even more meaningful. So this year, celebrate holi in the most traditional way possible to reap all the health benefits. Have a happy and Healing Holi!