HOLI: Festival of Colours
Holi is a popular ancient festival in India and is the most vibrant of all.Holi is popularly known as the Indian "festival of spring",the "festival of colours", or the "festival of love".The joys of Holi knows no bound.The festival is celebrated across the four corners of India or rather across the globe.The festival is filled with so much fun and frolic that the very mention of the word 'Holi' draws smile and enthusiasm amongst the people.The first evening is known as Holika Dahan (burning of demon holika) or Chhoti Holi and the following day as Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Phagwah.
Legends of Holi:
There are many interesting stories associated with the festival's origin as one moves across the different states from North to South and East to West.Paintings and scriptures depict the roots of the festival.The most popular stories of Holi origin relates to 'Holika Dahan'and Legend of Radha-Krishan.
Vishnu Legend:
There was very popular mythological legend about king 'Hiranyakashyapu' and his son 'Prahlad'.King Hiranyakashyapu,was the king of demonic Asuras and and had earned a boon that gave him five special powers: he could be killed by neither a human being nor an animal,neither indoors nor outdoors,neither at day nor at night,neither by astra (projectile weapons) nor by any shastra (handheld weapons),and neither on land nor in water or air.Hiranyakashipu grew arrogant,thought he was God,and demanded that everyone worship only him.The devil king used to hate God especially Lord Vishnu and threatened people in his kingdom to stop worshipping him.But this King's own son was a verdant devotee of Lord Vishnu.
He denied to obey his father command and this infuriated the king.Hiranyakashyapu instructed his sister 'Holika' to pulverize his own son Prahald.Holika had the boon to being immune to fire.She was absolutely sure that she would not get affected by the blazing fire and took seat on the fire with young Prahlad.Lord Vishnu rendered protection of his devotee Prahlad and he was alive but Holika was burnt into death.There of, the festival of Holi signifies the victory of good over evil.
Krishna Legend:
In the Braj region of India,where the Hindu deity Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated until Rang Panchmi in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna.The festivities officially usher in spring,with Holi celebrated as a festival of love.Young Krishna,who had a dark complexion was jealous of his beloved Radha's extremely fair skin.In a mischievous mood,he applied color on Radha's face.Following this ancient legend, lovers till date long to color their beloved as an expression of love.
When is Holi Celebrated?
Every year the festival celebrations begin on the evening of the full moon that comes in 'Phalguna'(between the end of February and the middle of March),carrying on into the next day.
Holi Celebrations In India:
Great excitement can be seen in people on the next day when it is actually the time for the play of colours.Shops and offices remain closed for the day and people get all the time to get crazy and whacky.Gulal, abeer and pichkaris are synonymous with the festival.Elaborate plans are made to color the loved ones.Everybody wants to be the first one to color the other.Colouful waters are sprinkled on people and kids are found playing with pichkari and water balloons.People exchange sweets,Thandai and snacks among neighbours and friends.Popular Holi sweets are Gujiya, Ladoo, Burfi and Imarti etc.Indian festive celebration is incomplete without delicious sweets.In the ensuing battle of colors,everybody is drowned not just in colors of gulal but also in love and mirth.People love to drench others and themselves in colored water.Gujiyas and other sweets are offered to everyone who comes across to color.
History of Holi Festival:
Holi festival has a very long history,which is mentioned in the Puranas(a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics),Dasakumara Charita(a prose romance in Sanskrit),and by Kalidasa(a Classical Sanskrit writer and poet)during the 4th century,and also mentioned in the Ratnavali(a Sanskrit drama)during the 7th century.However,it is believed that the meaning of earlier Holi festival is different from that of present Holi.
In earlier time,it was performed by married women to pray for happiness and health of their families.Now-a-days Kids and adults come out of their house and smear each other with bright shades of gulal.People also dance in the beats of Holi songs and popular folka's music.Exchange of holi gifts, snack hampers, dry fruits and greeting cards are also found.
What are the Rituals Performed?
The emphasis of Holi rituals is on the burning of demoness Holika.On this day,large bonfires are lit to mark occasion.This is known as Holika Dahan.As well as conducting a special puja (worship ritual),people sing and dance around the fire,and walk around it three times.In some parts of India,people even walk across the hot coals of the fire!Such fire walking is considered to be sacred.One place where it happens is Saras village near Surat in Gujarat.
Regional Celebrations:
Holi is of particular significance in the Braj region,which includes locations traditionally associated with the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh, and Barsana, which become touristic during the season of Holi.The festivities may last more than a week.The rituals go beyond playing with colours and include a day where men go around with shields and women have the right to playfully beat them on their shields with sticks.
In south India, some worship and make offerings to Kaamadeva, the love god of Indian mythology.The Banjara tribes of Andhra Pradesh celebrate Holi in their own way.Graceful dances are performed by the colourful Banjara gypsies.
The vibrant Gujarat reverberates with the chants of the folk song-'Govinda ala re,zara matki sambhal Brijbala..' So much energy can be seen amongst the boys and girls of this state as they move in processions 'tolis'.Drenched in coloured waters boys cheerfully warn people to take care of their pots of butter and milk.The tradition has its origin from the legend of Lord Krishna who was known to steal butter and milk from any accessible house in his village.
Holi in North India, especially in the Golden Triangle Tourist Circuit (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra) is more vivid and jubilant than that in the southern part of India,which is quite solemn and more focused on religion and temple rituals.The celebration is seen in every nook and cranny of these cities.
Today,the festival of colour gives us an opportunity to reunite with family,friends and dear ones.This festivity brings colours into the life of people,when they can take a break from their monotonous life and share the joy with loved ones.
Holi has become more popular with non-Hindus as well in many parts of South Asia,as well as people of other communities outside Asia.In addition to India and Nepal,the festival is celebrated by Indian subcontinent diaspora in countries such as Jamaica,Trinidad and Tobago,South Africa,Malaysia,the United Kingdom,the United States,Canada, Mauritius and Fiji.In recent years the festival has spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love, frolic and colours.
Holi is a popular ancient festival in India and is the most vibrant of all.Holi is popularly known as the Indian "festival of spring",the "festival of colours", or the "festival of love".The joys of Holi knows no bound.The festival is celebrated across the four corners of India or rather across the globe.The festival is filled with so much fun and frolic that the very mention of the word 'Holi' draws smile and enthusiasm amongst the people.The first evening is known as Holika Dahan (burning of demon holika) or Chhoti Holi and the following day as Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Phagwah.
Legends of Holi:
There are many interesting stories associated with the festival's origin as one moves across the different states from North to South and East to West.Paintings and scriptures depict the roots of the festival.The most popular stories of Holi origin relates to 'Holika Dahan'and Legend of Radha-Krishan.
Vishnu Legend:
There was very popular mythological legend about king 'Hiranyakashyapu' and his son 'Prahlad'.King Hiranyakashyapu,was the king of demonic Asuras and and had earned a boon that gave him five special powers: he could be killed by neither a human being nor an animal,neither indoors nor outdoors,neither at day nor at night,neither by astra (projectile weapons) nor by any shastra (handheld weapons),and neither on land nor in water or air.Hiranyakashipu grew arrogant,thought he was God,and demanded that everyone worship only him.The devil king used to hate God especially Lord Vishnu and threatened people in his kingdom to stop worshipping him.But this King's own son was a verdant devotee of Lord Vishnu.
He denied to obey his father command and this infuriated the king.Hiranyakashyapu instructed his sister 'Holika' to pulverize his own son Prahald.Holika had the boon to being immune to fire.She was absolutely sure that she would not get affected by the blazing fire and took seat on the fire with young Prahlad.Lord Vishnu rendered protection of his devotee Prahlad and he was alive but Holika was burnt into death.There of, the festival of Holi signifies the victory of good over evil.
Krishna Legend:
In the Braj region of India,where the Hindu deity Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated until Rang Panchmi in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna.The festivities officially usher in spring,with Holi celebrated as a festival of love.Young Krishna,who had a dark complexion was jealous of his beloved Radha's extremely fair skin.In a mischievous mood,he applied color on Radha's face.Following this ancient legend, lovers till date long to color their beloved as an expression of love.
When is Holi Celebrated?
Every year the festival celebrations begin on the evening of the full moon that comes in 'Phalguna'(between the end of February and the middle of March),carrying on into the next day.
Holi Celebrations In India:
Great excitement can be seen in people on the next day when it is actually the time for the play of colours.Shops and offices remain closed for the day and people get all the time to get crazy and whacky.Gulal, abeer and pichkaris are synonymous with the festival.Elaborate plans are made to color the loved ones.Everybody wants to be the first one to color the other.Colouful waters are sprinkled on people and kids are found playing with pichkari and water balloons.People exchange sweets,Thandai and snacks among neighbours and friends.Popular Holi sweets are Gujiya, Ladoo, Burfi and Imarti etc.Indian festive celebration is incomplete without delicious sweets.In the ensuing battle of colors,everybody is drowned not just in colors of gulal but also in love and mirth.People love to drench others and themselves in colored water.Gujiyas and other sweets are offered to everyone who comes across to color.
History of Holi Festival:
Holi festival has a very long history,which is mentioned in the Puranas(a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics),Dasakumara Charita(a prose romance in Sanskrit),and by Kalidasa(a Classical Sanskrit writer and poet)during the 4th century,and also mentioned in the Ratnavali(a Sanskrit drama)during the 7th century.However,it is believed that the meaning of earlier Holi festival is different from that of present Holi.
In earlier time,it was performed by married women to pray for happiness and health of their families.Now-a-days Kids and adults come out of their house and smear each other with bright shades of gulal.People also dance in the beats of Holi songs and popular folka's music.Exchange of holi gifts, snack hampers, dry fruits and greeting cards are also found.
What are the Rituals Performed?
The emphasis of Holi rituals is on the burning of demoness Holika.On this day,large bonfires are lit to mark occasion.This is known as Holika Dahan.As well as conducting a special puja (worship ritual),people sing and dance around the fire,and walk around it three times.In some parts of India,people even walk across the hot coals of the fire!Such fire walking is considered to be sacred.One place where it happens is Saras village near Surat in Gujarat.
Regional Celebrations:
Holi is of particular significance in the Braj region,which includes locations traditionally associated with the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh, and Barsana, which become touristic during the season of Holi.The festivities may last more than a week.The rituals go beyond playing with colours and include a day where men go around with shields and women have the right to playfully beat them on their shields with sticks.
In south India, some worship and make offerings to Kaamadeva, the love god of Indian mythology.The Banjara tribes of Andhra Pradesh celebrate Holi in their own way.Graceful dances are performed by the colourful Banjara gypsies.
The vibrant Gujarat reverberates with the chants of the folk song-'Govinda ala re,zara matki sambhal Brijbala..' So much energy can be seen amongst the boys and girls of this state as they move in processions 'tolis'.Drenched in coloured waters boys cheerfully warn people to take care of their pots of butter and milk.The tradition has its origin from the legend of Lord Krishna who was known to steal butter and milk from any accessible house in his village.
Holi in North India, especially in the Golden Triangle Tourist Circuit (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra) is more vivid and jubilant than that in the southern part of India,which is quite solemn and more focused on religion and temple rituals.The celebration is seen in every nook and cranny of these cities.
Today,the festival of colour gives us an opportunity to reunite with family,friends and dear ones.This festivity brings colours into the life of people,when they can take a break from their monotonous life and share the joy with loved ones.
Holi has become more popular with non-Hindus as well in many parts of South Asia,as well as people of other communities outside Asia.In addition to India and Nepal,the festival is celebrated by Indian subcontinent diaspora in countries such as Jamaica,Trinidad and Tobago,South Africa,Malaysia,the United Kingdom,the United States,Canada, Mauritius and Fiji.In recent years the festival has spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love, frolic and colours.
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