This year Holi happens March 28-29 in Canada and while there can't be large gatherings to celebrate we can bring this colourful festival that rings in spring at home with our kids. 

If you are unfamiliar with Holi, it is a popular Hindu festival, known by many as the 'festival of colours', or the 'festival of love'/'festival of spring'. It is marks the end of winter in India and thus the triumph of good over evil/darkness over light. With this day of fun people celebrate by throwing colours at each.

If you want to host your own colour fight at home you can order powders online OR make you own like in this video with cornstarch, water and gel food colouring (this Ooblak slime after its dried out).

Looking to teach your kids more about Holi and why coloured powder is thrown in the celebrations check out one or more of these stories you can find at the Winnipeg Library:

	Holi colors By Rina Singh A vibrant board book that introduces little ones to the Hindu festival of Holi with a rainbow of colors.
	Festival of colors by Kabir Sehgal Sibilings Chintoo and Mintoo collect flowers and press the petals into a fine powder as they prepare for Holi, the Indian springtime Festival of Colors. Includes author's note.
	Holi Festivals By Rebecca Pettiford "This photo-illustrated book for early readers describes the Hindu festival of Holi and the things people do to celebrate it. Includes picture glossary and index."--Provided by publisher.

Additional books you can buy online include:

	AMMA TELL ME ABOUT HOLI! by Bhakti Mathur Come let's hear the magical story, Of Holi in all its vibrant glory As told to Klaka, an eager little boy, By his Amma, with dollops of joy. First, a tale of colors and childhood fun: Naughty Krishna and Radha, his loved one. Next, an evil king who thought he was God, His son Prahlad refused to accept the fraud. He threatened his own son, who did not think him divine. But against the evil king, faith and miracles did align.
	GANESHA'S SWEET TOOTH by Sanjay Patel, Emily Haynes The bold, bright colors of India leap off the page in this fresh and funny picture book retelling of how Ganesha came to help write the epic poem of Hindu literature, the Mahabharata. Ganesha is just like any other kid, except that he has the head of an elephant and rides around on a magical mouse. And he loves sweets, but when Ganesha insists on biting into a super jumbo jawbreaker laddoo, his tusk breaks off! With the help of the wise poet Vyasa, and his friend Mr. Mouse, Ganesha learns that what seems broken can be quite useful after all. With vibrant, graphic illustrations, expressive characters, and offbeat humor, this is a wonderfully inventive rendition of a classic tale.
	THE MAGICAL ADVENTURES OF KRISHNA: HOW A MISCHIEF MAKER Saved the World by Vatsala Sperling Features Krishna, one of the most beloved characters of the Hindu pantheon, a spirited naughty boy who grows up to save the world • Based on original stories from India adapted for Western children • Illustrated throughout with glowing full-color paintings in traditional Indian style Long, long ago, the world was overrun by terrible demons. Even the Earth goddess, Bhumi, was unable to protect the land. She appealed to Vishnu, God of Preservation, who agreed to be born on Earth as Krishna, to save the world from destruction. Krishna is part superhero, part mischievous boy, and tales of his exploits--from childish pranks to death-defying
	LET'S CELEBRATE: HAPPY HOLI by Joyce Bentley Holi - the festival of colour - is celebrated by Hindus worldwide and this book lets children discover how people around the globe celebrate this important festival and what it means to them, with age-appropriate language. The history, preparation and celebration of the festival are all visualised with beautiful photography, capturing the many ways in which this festival is marked. This approach offers children a visually arresting and diverse introduction to one of the most celebrated religious festivals. Ideal for leisure reads, use in the classroom and to support cross-curricular studies.