Just as Diwali has been dubbed the “festival if lights”, Holi has come to be known as the “festival of colors” because on this day, people celebrate by throwing colored powder and water on each other, build a bonfire, and have a jolly time all the while- festive and colorful, right?
As a person who likes [...]
Every Indian holiday or celebration begins or is centered around a Puja or worship ritual. Many of us live in or grew up in homes in which there is special room with an altar for a daily puja. With this being such a central part of how we celebrate our heritage and traditions, it is [...]
Diwali is one of the most well known festivals celebrated by Hindus all over the world. The holiday lasts five days (although in some areas of India it only lasts four days), each day highlighting a different auspicious event. The holiday is celebrated in different ways across India, and depending on the region you are in [...]
As a child, I remember always loving rakhi for a very specific reason: getting a gift from my brother. But, there was also something else besides getting the loot that made it special- it celebrates the often unspoken bond between siblings and allows a moment to express how important they are to you and how [...]
Mehndi: the art of the henna tattoo
What is mehndi?
Mehndi is the art of tattoo using a flowering plant, henna (lawsonia inermis), as the “ink”. Beautiful and intricate patterns inspired by traditional Indian designs are most used to decorate brides- it is said to bring love and luck.
One belief is that the darker the mehndi [...]
Row of Colors
The word Rangoli is a combination of two words: rang (colors) +avalli (rows). When put together, they form Rangoli, or “rows of colors”. A rangoli is a colorful, geometric art that is typically drawn near the main entrance of a home in order to ward off evil spirits, to celebrate a purification of spirit, or [...]
