Google Doodle celebrates Holi with Chennai artist Chaaya Prabhat's colourful illustration

Google Doodle on Thursday celebrated the Festival of Colours --- Holi that marks the advent of spring. The doodle has been created by Chennai-based artist Chaaya Prabhat. The doodle showcased festivities and splashing of colours, which are the highlights of the festival. On Holi, people smear each other with colours and hurl water balloons at one another. They also dance to celebratory tunes and gorge on lip-smacking sweets and savouries.

Her website says: "Chaaya Prabhat is a graphic designer, illustrator and lettering artist. After completing her M.A in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design, she is now working independently in Chennai, India. She has worked with several clients such as Snapchat, Google and  The Obama Foundation. She has previously received awards for her portfolio and projects from Behance and Adobe."

The Holika Dahan ritual was observed on Wednesday night when the effigy of Holika was burnt. On Holika Dahan, holy bonfires are burnt on open spaces, signifying the victory of good over evil. The legend of Prahlad, Holika and Hiranyakashyap is associated with it. Roasted cereals are offered to the bonfire and people sing and dance around it.  Devotees offer water, turmeric, coconut to the bonfire and seek blessings for a joyous life (the offerings may vary from region to region).