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Holi spring festival - 23rd March 2022

The colourful Hindu festival of Holi has returned to India and Nepal. For the last two years, the celebrations were banned because of the pandemic.

As a spring festival, Holi focuses on ideas of love and new beginnings. It's a chance to forgive people. Debts are paid back. The celebration's also a prayer that enough food will grow.

Coloured powders, each with special meanings, are thrown at each other. Red's a symbol of love. Green's for new beginnings and blue's the colour of Hindu god Krishna. Yellow's for turmeric and natural healing.

People used to make the coloured powders from natural ingredients. Most are now produced by businesses. Children make coloured water with the powders, which they put into balloons. Then, they throw the balloons into the crowds. Everyone's covered in water and paint and there's water everywhere.

Holi's become a global festival which is celebrated by Hindu people in many countries. More people are learning about its meaning.

The festival's also a time for families, who are now able to meet again. After Covid-19, this colourful celebration's brighter than ever.