Festival Of Colours: Are You Ready For Holi?

After the austere winter, spring ushers in a riot of colours, synonymous with exuberance, effervescence, fun and frolic. And the festival that brings to life all these and more is the festival of colours or Holi. Holi is just around the corner and it’s now time to gear up and join your gang in revelry. Let your inner joy spread around. Decorate your home, adorn the outdoors and stock up your fridge with everything that shouts – you are ready for Holi. Here are a few suggestions.

Deck up your lawn, backyard and terrace
Think Holi and the first thing that comes to one’s mind is gulal-smeared faces and bodies drenched in colours. But with colour powders and liquids all over the place, celebrating Holi indoors could mean a messy house for days. That’s why playing Holi outdoors is always a smart idea. Take all the fragile objects off your terrace, balcony and lawn and deck up those areas with floral rangoli, colourful buntings and festoons. Garlands can be used to decorate the entrances and also the area where you plan to serve food. Place eco-friendly colours in bright containers in every nook and corner – so that no one can stay away from merry-making.

Brighten up the interiors
Yes, Holi is best celebrated under the open sky. But that shouldn’t stop you from soaking your home in the hues of festivities. Swap those beige cushions with bright pinks and jazzy blues. Let the cream curtains get a breather and colourful ones take charge. Go for colourful wall hangings and garlands to mark the festive spirit. In short, let there be colours all around!

Peppy dance & music
Holi celebrations are incomplete without shaking a leg to some foot-tapping music. So don’t forget to make your playlist well in advance. Keep your guests’ choice and your preference in mind, but also make sure that you have the most popular Holi numbers. To add some desi tadka, keep a dholak handy and watch your Holi party go crazy.

Lip-smacking snacks & drinks
What’s Holi without some yummy foodie delights? If you intend to treat your guests with traditional delicacies, you can’t miss the likes of dahi bhalla, kachoris, pakoras, gujiya, mal pua and laddoos. As for drinks, you can’t miss the classic thandai. Soft drinks and fruit juices are also perfect for a Holi party. Serve everything in disposable plates and glasses to avoid the cleaning mess.

Colours & water
Colours and Holi go hand-in-hand; so get some good quality, eco-friendly and organic colours that don’t harm your skin. If you want to play a mess-free Holi, go for flower petals in varied hues, instead of using real colours. While your guests would love the exotic flower shower, you could save yourself from the colourful chaos caused by the gulal and abeer. Also, keep big buckets of water nearby – so that people can clean up easily before sampling the sumptuous festive food.