HOLI: COLORS OF CHEERFULNESS
Holi is the festival of fun and happiness. It is a festival of fine harvest and fertility of the land. It marks the arrival of spring where mirth and buoyancy are clear all around. During this time, the Gulmohar's, silk cotton, corals, and mango trees start flowering. It is a spectacular visual display of a rainbow of flora at the parks and gardens.
History of Holi
Holi is a symbolic commemoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centers on an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada from worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son, but he fails each time. Finally, the king's sister, Holika, who is believed to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire.However, the prince Prahlada came out unharmed, while his aunt burns to death. Another interesting legend of Holi, it is the unconditional love that Lord Krishna expressed with Radha and his gopis. He was involved with youthful pranks by playing with colors.
Ways of Celebration Holi
DAY ONE: Celebration of HolikaA day before playing with colors, the legend of Holika is retold in a very interesting way. After sunset, huge bonfires are sparked with logs of wood, a basketful of cow dung cakes, ghee and honey. When the flames are burning bright, people walk and dance around the bonfire to pray to the God of Fire. Special sweets prepared from jaggery and flour are obtainable. Once the flames slow down, water is sprinkled on the embers and ashes are formed. To banish away negative vibes, these ashes are applied on the foreheads of the devotees and then preserved in the house all year round.
DAY TWO: Going Riot With Colors
Holi is a family and community festival. On this day, men and women wear spotless white 'kurta-pajama' and 'salwar kameez' to play Holi giving wonderful color combinations. There are deafening sounds of 'Dholaks' heard everywhere. The songs of Holi are carried by the voices of those merry-makers.
People from all age groups go rioting with colored powder 'Gulal'. They splash colored water with pichkaris at each other. Huge drums are filled with colored water. Children fill water balloons and throw them against each other. Sometimes, they enjoy the festive fun with eggs and tomatoes. They go merry by sipping gallons of thandai and bhang—a traditional non-alcoholic drink made from dry fruits and milk. As the merry-making comes to a close, they feast on chat-patta sweets like Dahi vadas, jalebis, and murky.
Holi in India
Uttar Pradesh:The sculpture of Holika is burnt in the huge bonfires. Prayers are offered to God of Fire by offering grams and stalks from the harvest.
West Bengal:
It is known as 'Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima. On this day, there is a beautiful procession of the idol of 'Mahaprabhu Chaitanya' beautifully placed in a decorated palanquin.
At Rabindranath Tagore's Shantiniketan,
the students dress up in saffron-colored clothes and wear garlands of flowers. They sing and dance with their musical instruments in the presence of their teachers and guests. In the end, they smear dry gulal powder to each other.
Rajasthan:
In Jaisalmer Palace, there is great musical treated with colors of pink, green, and turquoise powder filled the air. The entire area is electrified with folk songs, dances, and al.
Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon, and Barsnar: Home of Lord Krishna where he spends his colorful times with Radha and gopis, these places still wear a vibrant feel. It is celebrated with songs music, plays and dances and of course colored waters are thrown on each other.
Punjab:
Known as 'Hola Mohalla' by the Sikhs, it rejoices with feasting and merriment.
In Maharashtra:
It is known by names like 'Shimga" and Rangapanchmi'. The fisherfolk celebrates it on a large-scale with hilarious singing, dancing, and merry-making.
Holika puja vidhi: method of worship Holika
1. First to worship Holika Sit facing north or east.2. Now sprinkle water drops around you.
3. Create Statues of Holika and Prahlada with cow dung.
4. Put raw cotton, rice, flowers, roli, Whole turmeric, betashe, fruit, and a water Kalash in the thali
5. Remembering Lord Narasimha offer flowers Roli, moli, rice, batashe
6. Now Move to the location of Holika Dahan carrying all this stuff.
7. Before burning fire take your name, father's name, and also the name of the gotra while taking the name of the gotra to take akashat and remembering the Lord Ganesha Offer akasha intact on Holika.
8. After this, take the name of Prahlada and offer flowers.
9. Taking the name of Lord Narasimha Offer five portions of cereal to Holika.
10. Now with both the folded hands offer Akshat, turmeric, and flowers
11. Taking Kacha dhaga in hand circulates Holika by wrapping up.
12. Finally, put the gulal in silver or copper urn and offer water.
Holi Vrat Katha: Story of Holi
According to the Narada Purana, a demon named Hiranyakashyap was born in Adikala. The demon king considered himself bigger than God. He wanted people to worship him only. But his own son Prahlad was a supreme Vishnu devotee. Bhakti was inherited from her mother.It was a matter of great concern for Hiranyakashipu how his own son Vishnu became a devotee? And how to remove him from the path of devotion. According to the story of Holi, when Hiranyakashipu asked his son to give up Vishnu's devotion, but despite untiring efforts, he could not succeed.
Even after explaining several times, when Prahlada did not listen, Hiranyakashyap thought of killing his own son. Even after several attempts, he failed to kill Prahlad. Due to repeated attempts, Hiranyakashyap got furious. After this, he took help from his sister Holika who had received such a sheet from Lord Shankar which fire could not burn him when he was covered. It was decided that Prahlada would be seated with Holika and be killed in Agini.
Holika covered her bed with Prahlad in her lap and sat on the pyre. But due to the miracle of Vishnu, that sheet flew to Prahlad, which saved Prahlad's life and burned Holika. Since then Holika Dahan is organized on the evening of Holi by a burning fire.
