Holi Festival – Festival of Colours
Holi the colourful festival is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima which comes in February end or early march with lighting up of bonfire on the Holi eve. There are many Legends and stories associated with Holi celebrations. People rub Gulal on each other faces and cheer others. Holi also gives a wonderful chance to send blessings and love to dear ones wrapped in a special Holi gift. Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of good over bad. This colorful festival bridges the social gap and renews sweet relationships. On this day, people hug and wish each other ‘Happy Holi’.
During Holi day people greet each other and exchange sweets and greetings with friends and relatives. It is said the spirit of Holi encourages the feeling of brotherhood in society and even the enemies turn friend on this day.
People of all communities and even religions participate in this joyous and colorful festival and strengthen the secular fabric of any nation. Holi is also called the Spring Festival as it marks the arrival of spring the season of hope and joy. The gloom of the winter goes as Holi promises of bright summer days.
The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. Thus, the playful throwing of the colored powders has a medicinal significance; the colours are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Āyurvedic doctors. Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami fifth day of the full moon, marking the end of festivities involving colours. The main emphasis of Hoil festival is on the burning of the holy fire or Holika. The origin of the traditional lighting of Holi is attributed by some to the burning of demonesses like Holika, Holaka and Putana who represent evil, or to the burning of Madan according to others.
Holi Celebrations in India
Holi Festival of Colours is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India. In West Bengal, it is known as Dolyatra (Doljatra) or Boshonto Utsav. Burning of the demoness Holika, Hiranyakashipu’s sister, in huge bonfires at night. It is called Kama dahanam in Andhra Pradesh. Holi also known as Holla Moholla in Punjab, In Maharashtra, Holi Paurnima is also celebrated as Shimga, Manipuris in northeastern part of India celebrate Holi for six days , Traditionally, youths at night perform a group folk dance called ‘thaabal chongba’ on the full moon night of Phalgun along with folk songs and rhythmic beats of the indigenous drum. Boys have to pay money to the girls for playing ‘gulal’ with them.
In Gujarat, a pot of buttermilk is hung high on the streets and young boys try to reach it and break it by making human pyramids while the girls try to stop them by throwing colored water on them to commemorate the pranks of Krishna and cowherd boys to steal butter and ‘gopis’ trying to stop them. The boy who finally manages to break the pot is crowned the Holi King of the Year for that community. Holi in south India is largely an outcome of the influence of media, movies, marketing and migration. In Kashmir Civilians as well as the Indian security force officers celebrate Holi throwing of colored water and powder and singing and dancing. Folk songs are sung at high pitch and people dance to the tune of dholak and the spirit of Holi.
Holika Dahan
On the eve of Holi, called Chhoti or Small Holi people gather at important crossroads and light huge bonfires, the ceremony is called Holika Dahan. 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.
Express of love during Holi
According to Popular legend Naughty and Mischievous Lord Krishna started the trend of playing colors. Lord Sri Krishna applied colour on beloved Radha and the trend soon gained popularity among the masses.
Holi Bhang
On Holi Festival day there is also a tradition of consuming the very intoxicating Bhang on this day to further enhance the spirit of Holi.Even though it is fun watching people who have consumed Bhang, however some take Bhang in excess and spoil the spirit and make it ugly. Caution should therefore be taken while consuming bhang.
India has always amazed the world with her uniqueness. India stands for its incredible culture, spectacular forts & places, great traditions and rituals. People of India celebrate many festivals with joy and pride.Even Muslims and Christians celebrate Holi Festival. The day of Holi is also one of the national holidays in Nepal. It is believed that the combination of different colours played at this festival take all the sorrow away and make life even more colourful.
An alleged environmental issue related to the celebration of Holi is the traditional Holika dahan bonfire, which is alleged to contribute to deforestation. Several methods of preventing this consumption of wood have been proposed, including the replacement of wood with waste material or lighting of a single fire per community, rather than multiple smaller fires.If you have any articles related to Holi send to our webmaster to Publish in this website. You can also send your holi celebration Photos to be displayed in our website.