Holi the spring festival of colours comes in a day after the full moon in March according to the lunar calendar followed by the Hindus. It signals the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The harvesting of the winter crop is done and it is time to relax and be happy.
Bonfires are lit to mark the end of Holika * and the people celebrate Holi on the next day with much gaiety and enthusiasm. Coloured powder and water is thrown on each other in fun. Water balloons are also thrown on revellers and people enjoy it. The coloured powder signifies the different colours found in nature in the flora and fauna. Children fill long pistons with coloured water to spurt on others. Normally, people wear old clothes in the war of colours. It is all in fun and people enjoy it a lot. People get wet and get liberal splashes of different colours all over their bodies.
We burn dry twigs and branches the night before symbolising that we are burning Holika and all that is evil. We offer coconuts to the Fire God. And the next day, we play Holi with the coloured powder and small water balloons. Children throw water through water pistons. Oh, it is full of fun,laughter and enjoyment.
Everyone is wet and sport a myriad of colours on their faces and bodies.
Holi brings Indians close to the Hindu religion and the mythological significance of Holi is connected with various legends. The most important of them is the legend associated with Prahlad and Hiranyakshyap. It is from there that burning the Holika tradition generated.
* Here is the legend of Holika.....
There was once a demon king by the name of Hiranyakashyap who won over the kingdom of earth. He was so egoistic that he commanded everybody in his kingdom to worship only him.
Only, to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana and refused to worship his father.Hiranyakashyap tried several ways to kill his son Prahlad but Lord Vishnu saved him every time.
Finally, he asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. For, Hiranyakashyap knew that Holika had a special boon [blessing], whereby, she could enter the fire unscathed.
Treacherously, Holika coaxed young Prahlad to sit in her lap and she herself took her seat in a blazing fire.
The legend has it that Holika had to pay the price of her sinister desire by her life. Holika was not aware that the boon worked only when she entered the fire alone.
Prahlad, kept chanting the name of Lord Naarayana all the time and he came out of the furnace unharmed, as the lord blessed him for his extreme devotion.
Thus, Holi derives its name from Holika and, is celebrated as a festival of victory of good over evil.
Holi is also celebrated as the triumph of a devotee. As the legend depicts that anybody, howsoever strong, cannot harm a true devotee. Those who dare torture a true devotee of god shall be reduced to ashes.
Bonfires are lit to mark the end of Holika * and the people celebrate Holi on the next day with much gaiety and enthusiasm. Coloured powder and water is thrown on each other in fun. Water balloons are also thrown on revellers and people enjoy it. The coloured powder signifies the different colours found in nature in the flora and fauna. Children fill long pistons with coloured water to spurt on others. Normally, people wear old clothes in the war of colours. It is all in fun and people enjoy it a lot. People get wet and get liberal splashes of different colours all over their bodies.
We burn dry twigs and branches the night before symbolising that we are burning Holika and all that is evil. We offer coconuts to the Fire God. And the next day, we play Holi with the coloured powder and small water balloons. Children throw water through water pistons. Oh, it is full of fun,laughter and enjoyment.
Young boys fly kites in the sunny weather. Kites of different colours can be seen high up in the sky and many kites get cut in the competition of the kites leading to loud shouts of glee from all sides.
Everyone is wet and sport a myriad of colours on their faces and bodies.
Holi brings Indians close to the Hindu religion and the mythological significance of Holi is connected with various legends. The most important of them is the legend associated with Prahlad and Hiranyakshyap. It is from there that burning the Holika tradition generated.
Thus ends Holi, one of the colourful festivals of India.
* Here is the legend of Holika.....
There was once a demon king by the name of Hiranyakashyap who won over the kingdom of earth. He was so egoistic that he commanded everybody in his kingdom to worship only him.
Only, to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana and refused to worship his father.Hiranyakashyap tried several ways to kill his son Prahlad but Lord Vishnu saved him every time.
Finally, he asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. For, Hiranyakashyap knew that Holika had a special boon [blessing], whereby, she could enter the fire unscathed.
Treacherously, Holika coaxed young Prahlad to sit in her lap and she herself took her seat in a blazing fire.
The legend has it that Holika had to pay the price of her sinister desire by her life. Holika was not aware that the boon worked only when she entered the fire alone.
Prahlad, kept chanting the name of Lord Naarayana all the time and he came out of the furnace unharmed, as the lord blessed him for his extreme devotion.
Thus, Holi derives its name from Holika and, is celebrated as a festival of victory of good over evil.
Holi is also celebrated as the triumph of a devotee. As the legend depicts that anybody, howsoever strong, cannot harm a true devotee. Those who dare torture a true devotee of god shall be reduced to ashes.
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| The coloured powder for Holi in the market |
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| People playing Holi |
