Holi is a festival that is celebrated not only in India but all around the world. Here are some tips on celebrating, from what to wear, to which song to dance to.
Holi is not just a festival that we all enjoy, but it is a festival of colors, life, and most importantly, love. Not just in India, but due to its grand celebration, the entire world now celebrates Holi! The festival is full of life, energy, and excitement where besides vibrant colors, you will witness people dancing, eating, and laughing together. But what sets this festival apart is how people really celebrate it, what they wear, what they eat and drink, and what songs they dance to. So if you want to celebrate this year’s special day in a more exciting, and a bit nostalgic way. Here are the classics you need to incorporate into not just what you wear, but how you will behave.
Holi fashion:
When we talk about Holi fashion, it is not just about looking good, it is about feeling good and comfortable. People, especially in India dress up in either white, or in vibrant, and colorful traditional outfits. This reflects the festive and joyous mood of the occasion.
Men typically wear kurta pajamas or dhotis, whereas the women get dressed mostly in salwar suits or sarees. In recent years as globalization increased, the outfits have taken a more modern turn. Now women can be seen wearing traditional clothes along with crop tops, bohemian-inspired dresses, jumpsuits, or even shorts. On the other hand, men can be seen wearing t-shirts and shorts. Whether you want to wear something traditional, or you want to go with modern comfort, this is the perfect time to showcase your unique style, letting your personality shine through. Holi fashion nowadays has become a form of self-expression and mostly, creativity. At the end of the day, fashion is all about being comfortable with yourself, and with your clothes.
The good news is, in many parts of the country, Holi is celebrated throughout several days with multiple functions. So there will be plenty of opportunities to showcase your style and fashion. On top of that, now with social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, you can share your outfits and motivate others to get creative too.
Dressing up for Holikadahan:
Holika Dahan is also known as Chotti Holi where a bonfire is lit to celebrate the burning of all the evil, the demoness Holika. This ritual is symbolic of the winning of good over evil so the occasion demands to dress with grace and poise. This is a safe occasion to dress elegantly and beautifully. If you are thinking of going with the color white for the Holi celebration, then you can go for a top or dress with white and gold combination for the dahan. While white keeps the attire elegant, gold adds the required charm. The pro tip would be to go with embroidered and embellished Indo-western outfits – perfect for the occasion.
But if you want to go with floral dresses, you can certainly do so without any judgment. The number one rule is the more unconventional the better! Other than this, you can also get really comfy and opt for a top and jeans attire. However, if you want to stay traditional, yet feel comfortable in what you are wearing for the dahan, make sure to pick up the chikankari you have set aside.
Dressing for rangwaliholi
Now for the main event- here are some tips for women to stay comfortable and look stylish at the same time.
- Opt for comfy clothes: Holi is all about dancing and running around playing colors. So you need something to wear which you can move freely and stay comfortable. Traditional outfits like a kurta paired with palazzos, or even jeans, or salwar kameez would be the best choice for the day.
- Vibrant colors: the festival is all about colors. Many would prefer to go with white clothing, but if you don’t want your favorite attire to get drenched in color, wear something colorful, bright, and full of spirit. Different shades of yellow, pink, green, and blue, are the most-favored choices.
- Easy-to-clean fabric: Holi, the festival of colors, can surely get messy, so you need to choose something that is made with easy-to-clean fabric. This way the outfit will not be permanently damaged or ruined by the colored powder. Linen and cotton would be the perfect choice for this occasion.
- Comfortable shoes: as mentioned earlier, Holi is a festival where you will find yourself running around and playing with colors all day so wearing a shoe that will hurt your feet is absolutely a hard NO. Instead, opt for something comfortable, like a slipper, or a snicker that is soft on the feet, allows you to run and play around all day, and is easily washable.
- Simple accessories: dressing for the occasion requires you to wear accessories that are minimal and simple. You can add a colorful scarf or a bandana over your head to match the outfit and at the same time protect your hair from the chemicals in colored powder. You can also add some bangles, or even earrings in coordinating colors that match the outfit perfectly and elevate the entire look.
- Sunglasses are a must: Sunglasses not only protect your eyes from the sun, helping you see better in daylight, but it is also relevant when you are playing with colors all day. The glasses will protect your eyes from the colored powder and its chemicals that are extremely harmful if they come into contact with your bare eyes. You can also wear a cap or a hat to protect your face from the sun.
- Don’t forget sunscreen: using sunscreen every day in general is a good idea. But when you are playing Holi, it becomes especially important that you protect your skin from the harmful UV rays in the sun. If you don’t want the colors sticking to your skin, apply a generous amount of aloe vera gel or coconut oil all over your body.
- Minimal makeup: the rule is less is always more. This is something that you should follow in your everyday life, but especially during Holi, keep your makeup minimal as the colors will end up ruining all of it. Not only will your makeup look be destroyed, but it is also not a good idea to apply colors on top of your makeup. So keep it minimal with enough sunscreen to save your skin from any sun damage.
Now that we have talked enough about women, men should not feel left behind. Here are some great tips for men to style for the occasion and slay as hard!
- Comfortable menswear: being comfortable is the most prominent rule that applies to both genders. So on the day choose comfortable menswear, allowing you to move freely playing with colors all day. You can opt for a kurta, or a t-shirt that can be paired with shorts, or cotton trousers.
- Vibrant colors – similar to women’s clothing, you can also opt for different shades of pink, blue, green, and yellow that will make you look cool, and at the same time help you stand out.
- Experimenting with patterns: If you want to add something interesting to your outfit, you need to start experimenting with different patterns like checks, and stripes. Mixing and matching with different patterns in the outfit will also help you to make a statement at the party.
- Minimal accessories: not only do you need to protect yourself from sun damage, but also from the colored powder. So just wearing sunscreen is not going to be enough. Instead, you can opt for minimal accessories like a hat, a bandana, or a sunglass. These will keep your skin safe, and at the same time will make your entire look stand out.
What is the best fabric for the occasion?
Firstly, the most important thing is to wear something breathable, and comfortable for Holi. so it is important to select textiles that are environmentally beneficial and sustainable given the rise in popularity of eco-friendly Holi celebrations. Cotton is one of the most affordable and suitable fabrics for the Playing Colors Festival. It is also one of the most widely used materials for the occasion as it is simple, cozy, and breathable. Additionally, it is absorbent, which makes it a great option for soaking up all the colors. For the Holi celebration cotton chikankari salwar suits and dresses are the ideal option since they are lightweight comfy, and resistant to color damage.
Another Holi favorite material is linen because of all the same reasons as cotton. It is also breathable, lightweight, and easy to wash. As it is composed of natural fibers, it is also environmentally beneficial. For the celebration, linen kurtas and shirts are the best option as colors do not easily blend with the fabric.
Aside from cotton, and linen, Khadi is also a fan favorite. It is a hand-woven, and hand-spun fabric that is also kind to the environment. Holi usually comes during the hot and muggy season, so Khadi is breathable and ideal for the occasion. Khadi kurtas and sarees are popular choices for the celebration as they are breathable, easy to handle, comfortable, stylish, and easily resistant to colors.
On special occasions like Holi, synthetic is another ideal fabric. It also has a reputation for being comfortable and breathable as it has rayon. So while you play with colors with your friends and family, synthetic clothes will quickly absorb moisture from the weather. Moreover, they are also available in different colors and motifs, making rayon kurtas and dresses popular among people.
How to care for your clothes after a long, playful Holi?
While Holi is an excellent celebration of fun, colors, and life, it can leave your clothes messy, and color damaged. So it is important to take care of them after the day so that they can stay in good condition. Here are the tips on how you can care for your clothes after playing all day –
- The first step is to rinse your clothes immediately in cold water so that you can remove any excess colors.
- The second step is to soak the clothes in a bucket full of cold water with a gentle detergent. Leave them for a few hours before throwing them into the washing machine. It is best to avoid using bleach or even hot water as they can easily stain the clothes.
- After your clothes are fully washed, hang them away from the direct sunlight, in a shaded area. If the stains are still stubborn, you can use a stain remover yourself or take them to a professional cleaner.
How to take care of your skin and hair before Holi?
Since this year’s Holi celebration is upon us, the most asked question is how do you take care of your hair and skin? Since you already know sunscreen is unavoidable even if it is a cloudy day, but is that all? Well, if you add heat, water, and colors to that, the occasion needs a little more care.
As skin barriers can be destroyed due to multiple reasons, it is best to avoid harsh colors during Holi celebrations so that you can ensure the skin barrier is protected. According to dermatologists, you must also avoid treatments like using bleach, lasers, chemical peels, and other strong materials at least 10 days before the occasion. To improve your skin further, and make sure your skin is ready for the long day, you can opt for hydrating massages, jet facials, or LED light treatments. For your body, you can opt for cold-pressed oils that have lightweight formulas. Make sure to let the colors dry out before you hop into the shower. Dust the extra color powder and spread a thin layer of oil all over your body. It is also best to wait for at least 10 minutes before you finally take a shower.
Now let’s focus on your hair, it is best to chop off all the split ends before you go to a Holi party. You can also increase the amount of water intake to prevent dehydration of the scalp. On the hair ends, you can also apply a conditioner or a protective leave-in serum. You can also use coconut oil on the scalp along with strands to prevent the colors from entering the pores.
Top 10 Holi songs that will get you in the mood instantly!
- Rang Barse BheegeChunarwali – Silsila (1981)
- Do Me A Favour Let’s Play Holi – Waqt (2005)
- Ang Se Ang Lagana – Darr (1993)
- Holi Ke Din Dil Khil Jate Hai – Sholay (1975)
- Balam Pichkari – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
- Holi Khele Raghuveera – Baghban (2003)
- Aaj Na Chhodenge – Kati Patang (1971)
- Khadke Glassy – Jabariya Jodi (2019)
- Soni Soni – Mohabbatein (2000)
- Zingat – Dhadak (2018)
Remember, the most important thing is to stay comfortable on Holi and enjoy the celebration with your friends and family. So don’t worry much about your outfit, or how you look, or which song you are dancing to. So what are you waiting for? This year’s Holi is just around the corner!! Plan your party and enjoy!
