Holi is the festival of
Colours. It is celebrated in the Hindi month of Phalgun. In English calendar it
comes in the month of March.
In Hindi It is known as Rangutsav (festival of
Colour) or Basantutsav (Festival of Spring). Holi or Basantutsav or Festival of
Spring comes on Full Moon Day.
Holi is celebrated in
South East Asia with all bangs. India, some parts of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and
Sri Lanka celebrate this festival with all bangs.
Generally this festival is
celebrated for two (2) days, but in Krishna’s place - Gokul, Mathura, Barsane
means in Brij reason in western Uttar Pradesh; it is celebrated for about 30
days with dance, music and pure vegetarian, milk foods of different variety or
can say 56 types of dishes.
In Brij
there are Holi with colour, Fruit holi,
Laddu Holi, Flowers Holi, Kesar Holi and many more Holi. In Brij it starts
after Basant Panchmi or Fifth day of spring from Hindi Calendar and ends one
week after Holi day.
Even in Kashi or
Varanasi its goes for 7 days, here Baba Visvanath or Shiva Sankar plays holi.
Shiv is seen as a living being.
Holi is observed in
full enthusiasm for full two days. First day of Holika, which is known as Agja
or Bonfire day, comes on Full Moon Day or Purnima in Hindi.
On bonfire day or
first day bonfire is lit and effigies of Holika, symbol of wickedness is burnt
commemorating an event of long ago. This Holika is prepared with full classic
way with a lot of worshiping and people Ladies, Gents, and children moves
around the fire and throw different sacred woods and paying their respect for
Fire which ended the wickedness.
This Holika reminds us that bad, wickedness,
evilness will not survive forever and one day Truth will win. To render gratefulness
to Agni, god of Fire, gram and stalks from the harvest are also offered to Agni
with all humility.
Ash left from this bonfire is also considered sacred and
people apply it on their foreheads. People believe that the ash protects them
from evil forces.
On second day people throw color, colour water on each other
in happiness that now they are free from evilness.
There is a story, a
legend. Once upon a time there was a demon King Hiranayakashyapu. He was
arrogant and vain in the extreme. He was powerful and defeated gods many times.
He ordered that people will worship only him and not Gods. The demon king had a
son named Prahalad. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Though Prahalad was
a child, he didn’t listen to his father. He continued his worshipping for Lord
Vishnu and didn’t obey his father’s order.
On this demon King Hiranayakashyapu got
angered he tried to convince his son, but he didn’t listen upon this king ordered
to kill his son, a child. He tried to
kill Prahalad through different means but failed in this. Lastly he asked the favor
of his sister, Holika who could not be burned by fire by virtue of a boon from
God.
They conspire and planned a new idea to kill Prahalad. Holika had a shawl,
which was given to her by God directing that if she wrapped her into that shawl
she couldn’t be burnt. Holika took his nephew Prahalad into her lap and sit on
the bonfire which was prepared for that purpose with wrapping only herself. But
by the grace of God, the Almighty Vishnu, exactly opposite happened. The shawl open
and wrapped Prahalad Holika burnt and Prahalad was intact.
Upon this King
Hiranayakashyapu run to kill Prahalad from his own sword. Almighty Vishnu took
the shape of a Lion Man and killed the king. Prahalad became the king with the
blessings of Vishnu. This was the victory of good over evil. People in memory
of this victory celebrate this day with all bangs.
Lovers wait for this
day with all sweet pain. They apply colours on their beloved. This has a
popular legend behind it. It is said that the naughty and mischievous Lord
Krishna started the trend of playing colours. He applied colour on her beloved
Radha to make her one like him. The trend soon gained popularity amongst the
masses. No wonder, there is no match to the Holi of Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsane
- the places associated with the birth and childhood of Radha and Krishna.
There is also a
tradition of consuming the very intoxicating bhang on this day to further
enhance the spirit of Holi. It is so much fun to watch the otherwise sober
people making a clown of them in full public display. Some, however, take bhang
in excess and spoil the spirit. Caution should therefore be taken while
consuming bhang delicacies.
Colour fascinates each
one child, women or men. They celebrate victory with colours, foods, different
juice, and drink.
Rest next part.
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