What is Holi and Why it is Celebrated
Holi, the Festival of Colour starts on the full moon day or Poornima in the Hindu Calendar month of Phalgun. It is celebrated till the next day. Holi is celebrated to mark the offset of spring or the end of winter.
It also symbolizes the blossoming of love. It is also a festival of eating, playing, forgiving, forgetting, and repairing broken relationships.
This festival is also broken into two parts Badi Holi on the new moon night when a bonfire is set and Choti Holi when everyone comes out and plays with water and colours.
Stories Behind Celebrating Holi India`s Most Colourful Festival
One story is connected to lord Krishna. It is said that Lord Krishna developed dark skin when an evil lady Putana fed her poisoned milk. He grew up with it and later fell in love with Radha.
Radha was a fair-skinned girl who was extremely beautiful. Lord Krishna was despaired if Radha would accept him for his dark skin. His mother Yashoda told him to ask Radha to colour his face with whatever colour she wanted.
Lord Krishna went to her and asked her to apply whichever colour she wanted. She put colours on Krishna’s face. And from that day onwards, the day was celebrated as a symbol of the blossoming of love by playing Holi.
Another story is about Holika, an evil aunt of Prahlad who was an adorned devotee of Lord Vishnu. As per Bhagavata Purana, there was a King Hiranyakashipu who was a demonic King of Asuras.
He had accrued a special blessing that he cannot be killed by humans or animals, he cannot be killed indoors or outdoors he cannot be killed at night or in the day neither he can be killed in water or air or land nor he can be killed by Astra or projectile weapon or shastra or handheld weapon.
This special blessing had brought arrogance, and he wanted to claim himself to be a god. But his son Prahlad never worshipped him, but worshipped Lord Vishnu.
The behaviour of Prahlad made King Hiranyakashipu angry. Seeing this, the king’s sister Holika decided to trick Prahlad. She tricked him to sit on the pyre with him. She was wearing a cloak which would save her from the fire of the pyre.
But there was no such protection for Prahlad from fire. The moment the pyre was set on fire, the cloak flew and covered Prahlad.
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The fire killed his aunt Holika and kept Prahlad safe. As per Hindu belief, Lord Vishnu took various avatars or incarnations to save Dharma.
This time he took the form of Narsimha to kill Prahlad’s father, King Hiranyakashipu. Narsimha was half man and half lion, so he was neither human nor animal.
He killed King Hiranyakashipu at his doorstep which is neither indoors nor outdoors by placing him on his thigh, which is not land or water or air by his claws, which are neither Astra nor projectile weapon or shastra or handheld weapon.
Narasimha killed King Hiranyakashipu at dusk, which is neither day nor night. Thus, by killing Holika and King Hiranyakashipu the evil was defeated.
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Thus, the bonfire on the new moon day marks the defeat of evil over good.
Another legend day that this day revolves around Lord Shiva and Lord Kama or the God of Love. One day Lord Shiva was in deep meditation and Goddess Parvati wanted to bring back Lord Shiva to those worlds.
Goddess Parvati took the help of Lord Kama. Lord Kama shoots arrows at Lord Shiva. But Lord Shiva opens his third eye and burns lord Kama to ashes.
This incident upsets Goddess Rati, wife of Lord Kama and Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva. Rati performs her meditative asceticism for forty days, upon which Shiva understands, forgives out of compassion and restores the god of love.
The fortieth day after Vasant Panchami is celebrated as Holi for the return of Lord Kama. This is one festival which is celebrated not only by Hindus but also by Jains and Buddhists.
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Common Holi Rituals and Customs that Are Followed During The Festival
On the day of the New Moon in Phalgun month, a bonfire is lit. This bonfire is done with wood, combustible materials, and dry branches. Bonfire is called Holika Dahan, signifying good over evil.
The bonfire is done with Aarti and circumambulate the Holika Dahan. When a fire is set on fire, a whole coconut is put inside the fire.
Once the fire cools down, the coconut is broken and eaten by the family. The next day it is a carnival. Everyone plays with colours and water.
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They spray water with spray guns or throw balloons are each other. It is a carnival of happiness and colours.
Holi In West Bengal it is celebrated as Basant Festival or spring festival. In Mathura, a peculiar tradition of Lathmar Holi is practised. In this tradition, girls beat boys with sticks and boys defend with a shield.
Sandalwood paste is mixed with mango leaves and flowers, In south India. This is consumed to promote good health.
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Common Beliefs about Holi Most Colourful Festival
It is believed that all the evil is burnt in the Holika Dahan or the bonfire. While circumambulating Holika Dahan, its heat kills all the bacteria and cleanses the body.
It is also said that all the ill feelings are washed off in the water and relationships are painted with new colours. This festival has social importance as it straightened the secular fabric of India not only for Hindus but also for non-Hindus.
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Special Food Items Prepared and Served on Holi Most Colourful Festival
Festival reminds us of the food. It is one such thing which connects everyone. The food items made for Holi vary in each state of India. Puran Polis are prepared in Maharashtra.
Gujiya are prepared in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Bengalis generally prepare rasgullas to celebrate Holi. Other sweet dishes prepared are malpua, matter kheer, Kesar malai peda, and many others.
One of the specialities of Holi is Bhang Laddus. Bhang is nothing but cannabis whose leaves are used to make laddus. A special preparation called Thandai is made which also has some bhang in it.
Holi Festival of Colour: FAQ
When Holi is celebrated
Holi starts on the full moon day or Poornima in the Hindu Calendar month of Phalgun. It is celebrated till the next day. Holi is celebrated to mark the offset of spring or the end of winter.
Holi 2024 date
25 Mar, 2024 on Monday
What does Holi mean
It also symbolizes the blossoming of love. It is also a festival of eating, playing, forgiving, forgetting, and repairing broken relationships.
What is the Holi festival
1. Holi, the Festival of Colour starts on the full moon day or Poornima in the Hindu Calendar month of Phalgun. It is celebrated till the next day. Holi is celebrated to mark the offset of spring or the end of winter.
2. It also symbolizes the blossoming of love. It is also a festival of eating, playing, forgiving, forgetting, and repairing broken relationships.
3. This festival is also broken into two parts Badi Holi on the new moon night when a bonfire is set and Choti Holi when everyone comes out and plays with water and colours.
Is Holi a religious festival
Yes,
Holi, the Festival of Colour starts on the full moon day or Poornima in the Hindu Calendar month of Phalgun. It also symbolizes the blossoming of love. It is also a festival of eating, playing, forgiving, forgetting, and repairing broken relationships.
When is the Holi Festival 2024
25 Mar, 2024 on Monday
Where is the Holi festival celebrated
Holi is celebrated across the world. It also symbolizes the blossoming of love. It is also a festival of eating, playing, forgiving, forgetting, and repairing broken relationships. The most famous Holi is from Mathura. In Mathura, a peculiar tradition of Lathmar Holi is practised. In this tradition, girls beat boys with sticks and boys defend with a shield.
Why is Holi called the festival of colours
1. One story is connected to lord Krishna. It is said that Lord Krishna developed dark skin when an evil lady Putana fed her poisoned milk. He grew up with it and later fell in love with Radha.
2. Radha was a fair-skinned girl who was extremely beautiful. Lord Krishna was despaired if Radha would accept him for his dark skin. His mother Yashoda told him to ask Radha to colour his face with whatever colour she wanted.
3. Lord Krishna went to her and asked her to apply whichever colour she wanted. She put colours on Krishna’s face. And from that day onwards, the day was celebrated as a symbol of the blossoming of love by playing Holi.
How to celebrate Holi festival
1. On the day of the New Moon in Phalgun month a bonfire is lit. This bonfire is done with wood, combustible materials, and dry branches. Bonfire is called Holika Dahan, signifying good over evil.
2. Once the fire cools down, the coconut is broken and eaten by the family. The next day it is a carnival. Everyone plays with colours and water.
3. They spray water with spray guns or throw balloons are each other. It is a carnival of happiness and colours.
4. The festival reminds us of the food. Gujiya are prepared in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Bengalis generally prepare rasgullas to celebrate Holi. Other sweet dishes prepared are malpua, matter kheer, Kesar malai peda, and many others.
Why do we celebrate Holi festival in India
As per Hindu belief, Lord Vishnu took various avatars or incarnations to save Dharma. Lord Narasimha (avatar of lord Vishnu) killed King Hiranyakashipu at dusk, which is neither day nor night. Thus, by killing Holika and King Hiranyakashipu the evil was defeated.
Thus, the bonfire on the new moon day marks the defeat of evil over good. We celebrate Holi as a symbol of the defeat of evil over good.
Holika Dahan 2024 dates
24 March, 2024 on Sunday
Holika Dahan Muhurta 2024
25 March, 2024 From 11:13 PM to 12:27 AM
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