The Festive occasion of Holi is celebrated at the onset of Spring. We usually play with colours during Holi which are a reflection of the myriad hues of the spring season. We celebrate Holi with enthusiasm and happiness on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun that is usually the month of March. Gulal, Pichkaris and Abeer are very typical of this festival. A lot of planning goes in deciding what to wear, what to eat & drink, how to play Holi and the other associated activities that come along with it.
The Relevance of Ayurveda during the Holi:
Celebrating Holi, the festival of colours not only brings joy but revitalizes you from within. Ayurveda plays very important role in this. The traditional Holi customs are a flawlessly tailored for body-rejuvenation therapy. One may find it difficult to believe in our ever dynamic Cosmopolitan culture. We always follow a pre-Holi and Holi regimen.
Pre-Holi:
One of the common norms are to apply coconut oil or almond oil all over the body, so that later it is easy to remove the colours. This body oil massage can be termed as Abhyanga in Ayurveda. Getting body oiling done, can help in nourishing and protecting the skin from all types of irritants. Often, skin dryness is seen after application of colours, leaving it dehydrated. But one can avoid skin dehydration easily by pre-conditioning of body using various oils.
Holi Celebrations:
Colours/Aabir used in Holi are always soothing and eye-pleasing. In fact, it had been observed that colours help in reviving and healing our body. Gulal or colours are also linked to the 7 chakras of the body which influences our body energies. They aid in restoring positivity while clearing off the negativity. Nevertheless, colours are useful in restoring the three doshas. Moreover, each Aabir is related to the five basic elements of Ayurveda, any turbulences lead to an imbalance in body, mind and soul. The five elements in Ayurveda are linked to one colour each.
- Prithvi – Yellow colour
- Jala – Deep blue colour
- Aakash – Light blue colour
- Vayu – Green colour
- Agni – Red colour
Traditionally, colourful powders are prepared from Beneficial Ayurvedic herbs and ingredients like Henna leaves, Hibiscus flowers, Turmeric, Sandalwood, Kesar and many more. Most of the colours used during Holi can be correlated with the herbs. For Example, Neem and Henna is represented by Green, Kumkum and Raktachandan stands for red, Haldi is associated with yellow & Blue with Jacaranda flowers. These colours not only act gently on the skin but also help in cleansing and clearing the dead skin. Majority of the ingredients mentioned above are utilized in Ayurveda for invigorating body and giving it a healthy glow. Also, if we use natural organic colours then they act as Ubtans.
The fact remains that colours are crucial for a healthy body. There are multiple benefits that mind and body experience when we soak in the vibrant colours of Holi. Playing with red colour can activate your breathing & heart beat while invoking love. One usually feels happy when they are surrounded with yellow colour and blue colour casts a calming effect on your senses. So indulge yourself with colours this Holi for a healthier you!
