Holi

Month : March
Place : India
Famous For : Religious Festival
Attractions : Colors, Bhaang (Festival Drink), Holika Dahan, Puja.

Holi is one of the most popular festivals in India. Popularly known as 'festival of colors', Holi is celebrated to mark the victory of good on evil. This festival is celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun which is the month of March as per the Gregorian calendar.

Holi is a two day Hindu spring celebration that takes place per the Hindu calendar based on a full moon in late February or early March. It is also known as the festival of colors, Bhojpuri, and Dolyatra in Bangladesh. Also, some people refer to Holi as Holika.

Preparations

The first day is marked by a bonfire that is lit at night to mark the end of winter and the death of evil. Some believe the bonfire originated to signify Holika, or the triumph of good over evil. Holika was a demon in Hindu mythology that had powers of being invincible against first. The king at the time, King Hiranyakashipu wished to be viewed as a god. His son, Prahlad, did not believe his father to be a god and refused to worship him. This angered King Hiranyakashipu so much that he made several attempts to kill Phralad. Finally, knowing that Holika was invincible against fire, he ordered Phralad to sit on Holika"s lap in a fire. Phralad chanted the name of Vishnu, another god, and was saved while Holika was burnt alive. This is an indication of the most probable origin of Holi.

Some of the best celebrations are said to happen in North India and Punjab (area in southeast Asia that Pakistan and India share). In Punjab, Hindus and Sikhs celebrate together often involving musical instruments as adults and children celebrate together.

Season of Bloom

Today, participants in Holi celebrate the day with the main event, the carnival of colors in which people throw colored powdered and water at each other. These colored powders contain special herbs such as Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, and Bilva and are made from dried seeds. The herbs also serve medicinal purposes and are provided by the Ayurvedic doctors. Celebrations also include making a special drink that contains bhang or marijuana. At the close of the first day, people celebrate with large feasts in their home. The fifth day of the full moon is Rangapanchami and marks the end of the festival.

Legends

A Hindu festival, Holi has various legends associated with it. The foremost is the legend of demon King Hiranyakashyap who demanded everybody in his kingdom to worship him but his pious son, Prahlad became a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap wanted his son to be killed. He asked his sister Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap as Holika had a boon which made he immune to fire. Story goes that Prahlad was saved by lord himself for his extreme devotion and evil minded Holika was burnt to ashes, for her boon worked only when she entered the fire alone.

Holi is aptly called the festival of color and joy. Its spirit is uniquely Indian, colorful, exotic, happiness and full of energy. Holi is celebrated by everybody. People prepare special recipes on Holi day. Before few days they start cooking (preparing) many delicacies for this day namely gujjia, papri and kanji ke vade.

Holi is known by the name of "Kamadahana" in South India, which refers to the day on which Kamadev (Cupid) was burnt by Lord Shiva (as told above in legends of holi). In North India, a tradition is followed on the eve of Holi- huge bundles of woods are accumulated and burnt at night mainly in temples. On the other day, people play Holi (colorful) joyfully with colored water. Almost everywhere one can hear the shouts and laughter of people shouting "Holi-hai! Holi-hai!"

Along with Holi, spring season also arrives which is marked as the auspicious season for the Hindus. In this season, all the "tesu" and other trees are filled with sweet smelling flowers. They all proclaim the glory and everlasting beauty of God and inspire you with hope, joy and a new life and leave you with the thought to find out yourself that; who is the actual creator behind them

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. This tradition is also followed in Gujarat and Orissa. To render greatfulness 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.

Play of Colors

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. Bright colours of gulal and abeer fill the air and people take turns in pouring colour water over each other. People gathered in the streets and pump colored water over the body and clothes even to the strangers who pass by, no matter whether he/she is rich or poor. There is no restriction on this day. People compose and sing special Holi songs (famous bollywood songs) to mark this occasion.

Official Website :www.holifestival.org/