Holi Festival: la festa dei colori in India – FOTO
Holi Festival (ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images)
In India è in corso in questi giorni l’Holi Festival, la tradizionale festa dei colori che saluta l’inverno e celebra l’inizio della primavera. Il festival, che è legato alla religione indù e si celebra soprattutto nell’India centro-settentrionale, ma anche in Bangladesh, Nepal e Pakistan, dura alcuni giorni, tra canti, balli, grandi falò, ma soprattutto i tantissimi colori che invadono le strade e soprattutto le polveri colorate che ricoprono interamente le persone, creando degli effetti molto suggestivi. Proprio per questo motivo il Festival è conosciuto anche come festa dei colori.
Durante le celebrazioni è usanza lanciare alle persone acqua, una specie dei nostri gavettoni, con polveri colorate e profumate, chiamate gulal. In questo modo le vie si animano di persone completamente colorate da capo a piedi. Uno spettacolo che attrae tantissimi turisti e fotografi.
La tradizione induista racconta così la nascita dell’Holi: il dio Krishna, dalla pelle scura, geloso della bellezza e del candore della pelle della amata Radha, un giorno le dipinse la faccia con dei colori. Per questo motivo l’Holi è anche la festa degli innamorati che si colorano il viso reciprocamente in segno di affetto.
Durante il Festival vengono meno le differenze sociali e tutti festeggiano insieme, uomini e donne, ricchi e poveri. Anche i membri del governo e i militari si lasciano coinvolgere dai festeggiamenti in questa sorta di carnevale indiano.
Ecco qui una fotogallery con le spettacolari immagini della festa.
An Indian woman has a face smeared with coloured powder during Holi celebrations in Hyderabad on March 24, 2016. The Hindu festival of Holi, or the 'Festival of Colours' heralds the arrival of spring and the end of winter. / AFP / NOAH SEELAM (Photo NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)more
Indian residents take part in Holi celebrations in Chennai on March 24, 2016 The Hindu festival of Holi, or the 'Festival of Colours' heralds the arrival of spring and the end of winter. / AFP / ARUN SANKAR (Photo ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images)more
An Indian man get his face smeared with colours as he take part in Holi celebrations in Chennai on March 24, 2016. The Hindu festival of Holi, or the 'Festival of Colours' heralds the arrival of spring and the end of winter. / AFP / ARUN SANKAR (Photo ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images)more
CHANDIGARH, INDIA - MARCH 24: Australian Cricketer Glenn Maxwell celebrates Holi Festival of Colours with Chandigargh locals ahead of the ICC WT20 match between Australia and Pakistan on March 24, 2016 in Chandigarh, India. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)more
An Indian student takes part in an event to celebrate the Holi festival in Kolkata on March 23, 2016. Holi, the Hindu spring festival or 'Festival of Colours' is celebrated with coloured powder and water and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. / AFP / Dibyangshu SARKAR (Photo DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)more
Indian revellers covered in coloured powder sit in the street during a Lathmar Holi celebrations in the village of Barsana on March 17, 2016. holi, also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month. / AFP / FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT (Photo FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images)more
Indian residents take part in Holi celebrations in Allahabad on March 23, 2016. The Hindu festival of Holi, or the 'Festival of Colours' heralds the arrival of spring and the end of winter. / AFP / SANJAY KANOJIA (Photo SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images)more
Indian shoppers buy coloured powder ahead of the forthcoming 'Holi' celebrations at a roadside stall in the old city of Allahabad on March 20, 2016. / AFP / SANJAY KANOJIA (Photo SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images)more
Indian revellers take part in celebrations for the Holi festival in Siliguri on March 23, 2016. Holi marks the welcoming of spring and is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, with people chasing each other and playfully splashing colorful paint, powder and water on each other. / AFP / DIPTENDU DUTTA (Photo DIPTENDU DUTTA/AFP/Getty Images)more
Indian revellers covered in coloured powder sit inside a temple during prayers held as part of the Lathmar Holi celebrations in the village of Nandgaon on March 18, 2016. Holi, also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month. / AFP / Francois Xavier MARIT (Photo credit should read FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images)more