Holi - The festival of Colours
Holi is said to be the festival of colors or festivals of love. It is celebrated in the Indian subcontinent marking the arrival of the spring and end of the winter season. Holi symbolizes the victory of good over the evil. This festival brings all the people together by spreading colors. People on this day come together, forgets and forgive, play and laugh, and repair broken relationships. This festival comes generally in Phalguna (February- March). People celebrate Holi by rubbing colors on each other's body, face saying 'Bura na mano Holi hai'.
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| Holi - The Festival of Colour |
Significance:
Holi celebrations start a night before the Holi . At night people light bonfires and perform religious rituals in front of the bonfire. There are plenty of mythologies regarding this festival. The famous one is about "Holika Dahan". It is celebrated in honor of the Hindu God Vishnu and his follower Prahlada. Prahalada was the son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu was against his son offering prayers to Lord Vishnu. To give his son lesson he sent his assistance Holika. Holika sat on the bonfire with Prahlada. Holika wore a cloak which made her immune to fire. As the fire roared, the cloak flawed away. The Holika was burnt in fire and the Prahalada was safe. It signifies the triumph of good over the evil.
Celebrations of Holi in Indian states
Holi in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (Barsane wali Holi):
The Celebration of Holi starts in Barsane and Nandgaon week before the Holi. There is a story associated with it. Once lord Krishna was not happy with the fact that he has dark complextion and Radha has a fair color, so the mother of the Krishna suggested him to go and play colorful Holi with Radha. Krishna went to Barsane the hometown of Radha. to color Radha. In return, women beat him with sticks playfully. From there it named as lathi Maar Holi. Laddu an Indian sweet is also shared among people on this day. Barsane and nearby place nandgaon people celebrate Lath Maar Holi due to the legend associated with it. People insignificance of there religion, caste and creed celebrate Holi by spreading colors. So Holi is also known as the festival of colors.
Holi in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab (Holla Mohalla )
Sikhs Celebrate Holi in different ways . The tenth Guru of the Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh Ji modified holi with three-day extension 'Holla Mohalla' of Martial arts. Martial arts like archery, sword fencing, fancy horse-riding, tent-pegging, and the deft handling of other contraptions of offense and defense are displayed by the Nihangs. Spectacular and thrilling acts of dare-devilry dexterously executed are performed.
Holi in Rajasthan:
Holi in Rajasthan is also celebrated the same way as it is celebrated in the other parts of the country. People fire bonfire a day before the Holi offering prayers , singing and dancing. On the day of Holi spread gulal, children play holi by throwing color filled balloon on each other. People of all age group play holi by rubbing gulal by hands or spraying the colored filled water with pichkari .
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