The dry powder colors we use for Holi are called gulal, and colors mixed with water are called rang. In our celebrations, we set up tables with bags of colors and water balloons, pools filled with colored water, and water blasters or pichkaris. We party with upbeat Bollywood music, local brews or thandai, tasty mithais, and fun-filled chatter—all are essential elements of Holi. Since throwing color powder can be messy, Holi celebrations are hosted out of the home, in backyard or driveways or parks—not indoors. Kids especially enjoy playing with water balloons and jumping in colored-water kiddie pools. (And I have more tips for celebrating Holi with kids.) Water play is optional, but it is included in traditional Holi celebrations to help the color powder stay on longer. The combination of water and color powder stains clothing, so dressing accordingly is important. Traditionally everyone wears white to Holi, so the colors stand out. White T-shirts or kurtas (dresses) with a colorful scarf, or dupatta, make the perfect outfits for some beautiful family pictures. By celebrating Holi, we teach our kids about unity as a family. Holi is also the perfect outward expressions of infusing hope and optimism into our homes. Also, most of the traditional Holi colors hold some significance. Blue is for lord Krishna; green represents rebirth and new beginnings; red symbolizes love, marriage, and fertility; and yellow represents turmeric, which is an important ingredient across cultures for its medicinal properties. Arushi Garg is a full-time ad sales growth professional in the media industry, a content creator, and a half-marathon finisher who resides with her husband and 4-year-old son in Houston. Garg started her lifestyle and motherhood blog The Snazzy Mom and her Instagram page in 2016 after the birth of her son as a creative outlet to share and connect with other moms globally. Garg is passionate about diversity and inclusion in mainstream marketing and is an active advocate of the AAPI community in the Advertising and TV industry.
