INTRODUCTION
- Holi is known as the Festival of Colors.
- According to the Hindu Calender, it is celebrated on the full moon day of Phalguna month.
- Holi is celebrated in India with traditional rituals.
- The festival is held for two days. They are Holika Dahan and Dhulandi.
- The second day, Dhulandi, is the day of colors.
- It is believed that when people spray colors on each other dislikes will be removed.
HISTORY OF HOLI
HOLIKA DAHAN
- According to the Hindu calendar it falls on the full moon of the month of Meenam.
- It is celebrated on the destruction of Hiranyakashipu’s sister Holika.
- This refers to Holika burning herself to ashes while trying to kill Prahlad.
- Hiranyakashyap was later killed by Narasimha, an avatar of Lord Vishnu.
- Holi is associated with celebrating the victory of good over evil.
- This ceremony is held on the eve Holi.
RANGAVALI HOLY
- Celebrated to remember the never ending love of Lord Krishna and Radha.
- Krishna once asked his Mother Yashoda why he was not so fair like Radha.
- To which his Mother Yashoda jokingly said that if Radha’s face were painted with color, she too would become dark.
- Then Lord Krishna played with Radha and the Gopis with different colors.
- After that, the Day is celebrated as the festival of colors.
SACRIFICE OF KAMA DEVA
- Another story of Holi is related to Lord Shiva.
- Sati, the daughter of Daksha who was the son of Lord Brahma, was the wife of Shiva.
- Once, Daksha performed a great yajna(yaga) in his palace.
- But Sati and her husband Shiva were not informed about the yajna.
- On hearing about the yaga going on in her father’s palace, Sati reached the yajna place without Shiva’s permission.
- Sati felt that her husband was being insulted at the yajna place.
- Upset at being humiliated by coming to the place of sacrifice without Shiva’s permission, Sati jumped into the sacrificial fire and died.
- Knowing this, Lord Shiva shake with anger and sent his demons to destroy the entire Yajnavedi.
- Still, his anger was not over and Shiva began severe Tapas.
- Realizing that the World would be destroyed by the power of Tapas,The Gods approached Kamadeva and requested him to stop Shiva’s Tapas.
- Kamadeva reached the place of Shiva’s Tapas and hid himself and threw his Kamastram at Shiva.
- Enraged, Shiva opened his third eye and burnt Kamadeva to ashes.
- Later, the Lord Shiva reliased his mistake and granted Kamadeva immortality.
- Holi has many rituals in memory of Kamadeva who sacrificed his life for the preservation of the World.
MADANOTSAVAM
- Over time, this Celebration began to be held in the form of Madanotsavam.
- People in villages and cities gather at one place and perform Kamadeva Puja.
- After the pooja everyone entertains each other with music, dance and games.
TRADITIONAL SWEETS
- Gujia is a traditional sweet that is generally made during the Holi celebrations. Thanandai is a drink that is generally made during the Holi celebrations.
- In every house housewives prepare Gujia, Tanndai and other such dishes.
CELEBRATION IN DIFFERENT PART’S OF INDIA
- Holi is celebrated largely in Vraja land, the place where Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha performed their Leela (Divine play).
- Lathmar Holi at Barsana in Vraja land is very famous.
- Rangpanchami is celebrated five days after Holi in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. It is celebrated with more enthusiasm than Holi.
- In some parts of Maharashtra people throw colors to each other on Rang Panchami.