Table of Contents
What is Holi? Holi?
History of Holi:
The Holi festival is celebrated with merriment and joy.
What is Holi? Holi?
Is there a celebration of happiness? Festival of Happiness? Festival of Thrills? Festival of colors? It’s much more than that especially when talking about India, UP and Bihar. Holi is a holiday that celebrates joy and happiness. Our day is complete with a meet-and-greet with our relatives and friends at dawn. Holi is a joy from morning to night. The joy, sorrow, and sadness that we experience in our lives are all represented by the colours we have painted ourselves. It is the festival for love. Each year, Holi falls on a different date in India. Holi, in India, is celebrated on the first day of March, the day after the full Moon. Large bonfires are set up to commemorate Holi and expel evil spirits. This is Holika Dahan.
History of Holi:Hiranyakashipu (an ancient Indian king) was something like a demon. He wanted revenge for Lord Vishnu’s death and he did. The king prayed long for power. He finally received a boon. Hiranyakashipu began to consider himself God, and asked his people for their worship. Prahalad was the son of the cruel king and was a great devotee to Lord Vishnu. Prahalad refused to follow his father’s orders and continued worshipping Lord Vishnu. Because Prahalad would not worship him, the King became so hardhearted that he tried to kill him. His sister, ‘Holika, was not immune to fire and asked him to place Prahalad on a pyre with her. Prahalad would be roasted. Their plan was to burn Prahalad, but it didn’t work out. Prahalad was reciting Lord Vishnu all the time and was now safe. However, Holika was left with nothing but ashes. Holika’s defeat signifies that all things bad will be destroyed. This was followed by Lord Vishnu’s execution of Hiranyakashipu. Holi is often associated with Holika’s suicide. To remember the death and evil, some Indian states, such as Bihar, light a bonfire-shaped pyre on Holi Day.
How was Holi made of colors? This dates back to Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Holi was popularized by Lord Krishna, who is believed to have celebrated Holi using colors. He used the Holi game with his friends Vrindavan & Gokul. They would play pranks throughout the village, making it a community event. Holi celebrations in Vrindavan are unparalleled.
Holi is a Spring Festival to Say Goodbye to Winters. Some people associate Holi with the spring harvest. After seeing their crops being replenished, farmers celebrate Holi. Holi has been called ‘Vasant Mahotsava,’ and Kama Mahotsava.
Holi Celebrations Day 1 – Colored powder and water are placed in small brass pots on a Holi thali. The celebration starts with the oldest male member of the family who sprinkles color onto the others.
Day 2 is also known by the name ‘Puno’. This day Holika’s pictures are burned and bonfires are lit to recall the story of Holika & Prahalad. Mothers with their infants take five rounds around the bonfire in clockwise directions to obtain the blessing of God fire.
Day 3: This is the final and last day of Holi celebrations. On this day, water and colored powder are mixed together. Radha & Krishna are worshipped.
