Event| Celebrating Holi With Our Indian Weavers
March 26, 2019
The ancient Holi festival of India, also known as 'The Festival of Colours' and 'The Festival of Love,' took place on March 21st. The festival traditionally marks the last day of the year in the Indian calendar and the full moon, known as Phalguna Purnima. The celebrations continue to the next day, marking the beginning of the New Year and the welcoming of spring, referred to as Vasanta-ritu.
Today, Holi is recognised worldwide for the joyous and vibrant colours thrown during its celebration. This tradition stems from the legend of the Indian god, Lord Krishna, and his soul mate Radha. Krishna had been jealous of Radha’s skin and complained to his mother, who recommended he apply colour to Radha’s face to his liking. The playful act gained popularity and is still used in Holi festivals today. Inspired by the legend, the colours are now seen as an expression of love.
Holi also has roots in the legend of the demon King Hiranyakashyap. When his son, Prahlad, worshiped Lord Naarayana and not his father, the King commanded the boy be sent into a blazing fire. The demon King’s sister, Holika, was to carry his son, knowing she could survive doing so. Her blessing, however, only worked when entering fires alone. Holika met her fate and Prahlad survived for his devotion to Lord Naarayana. This, among other legends, depicts another central theme of the festival; the triumph of good over evil.
We wish a very Happy Holi to all of our wonderful artisans in India! Special thanks to, Nitesh (pictured above with the colourful wig!), his family and team of weavers for transporting us to the celebrations in spirit, by sharing these brilliant pictures of celebrations at the factory he runs in his home village outside of Jaipur.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Journal
February 24, 2020
Shrove Tuesday, celebrated yearly in the UK by skilfully throwing fried batter mixtures into the air and hoping for the best. It is also known as Pancake day or Mardi Gras to Catholics. It signifies the last day of eating traditionally fatty foods such as milk, butter and eggs before fasting, 40 days for lent. Pancakes, however have been a staple food in many cultures for years, so we thought we'd investigate some famous pancake recipes from around the world.
Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
London Fashion week has come under scrutiny in the past few years, with questions about sustainability sitting front row. It is no longer acceptable for fashion to be disposable. We believe that the most impactful of fashion statements are those that are timeless, effortless and desired to be re-worn.
Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Planning our dream wedding was incredibly challenging and wonderful. Finding suppliers that aligned with our values of being kind to people and the planet took a lot of research, it wasn't always successful. On the day all the effort that had been put in made it feel really personal, not just to us but to the many friends and family members who had been so heavily involved in creating our vision.
Continue Reading
