Holi is an ancient Hindu festival originated from the subcontinents of India. It is mostly celebrated in India but now has spread to other parts of Asia and the parts of the Western world. In other words, Holi is known as “The festival of love”, “Festival of colors”. The festival indicates the arrival of spring with a nice end to winter and also repair broken relationships.
The main purpose of the festival is to celebrate a good spring. It starts on the evening of the full moon day as per the Vikram Samvat Calendar. According to the Hindu calendar, the month of Phalguna falls around mid-March. The very evening begins with the Holika Dahan i.e. demolishing of evil Holika or Choti Holi and the day after that is Holi.
The celebration begins at night before the day of Holi with demonizing Holika where the devotees perform their rituals near the bonfire and want blessings for the destruction of evil inside them. The next day is the main festival where people smear each other with colors and everyone is drenched. Kids use water guns and water-filled balloons to play and color each other. People visit their friends and relatives to throw colors on each other.
History of Holi
According to Vishnu legend, it says Holi is celebrated as a festival of the defeat of good over evil in the honor of Vishnu and follower Prahlad. King Hiranyakashyap was the king of Demons and had earned powerful boons. Hiranyakashyap was conceited and thought that he was one and the only god, people will only worship him.
Hiranyakashyap’s son Prahlad went against his father and became an ardent devotee of Vishnu. This made Hiranyakashyap frustrated and subjected Prahlad to severe cruel punishments. None of the punishments affected the boy and he was performing his rights and duties.
One day Holika Hiranyakashyap’s sister Prahlad’s evil aunt tricked him for sitting on a pyre with her. Holika was wearing a cloak which injured her with fire and she died, while Prahlad was saved from that fire. Vishnu appeared at that time as an Avatar and blessed Prahlad through which Dhamma was restored and took the form of Narsimha. The Holika bonfire and Holi indicate the celebration of the victory of good over evil.
Holi Celebration
- Preparation- A few days before the festival people start gathering materials for the bonfire in parks and other open spaces. On top of the pyre is a symbol that signifies Holika who tricked Prahlad into this fire. People at homes feast upon delicious sweets such as Gujiya, Mathris, and other delicacies.
- Bonfire- Before the arrival of holi after the sunset the pyre is lit signifying Holika Dahan. This symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Everyone gathers around the fire to sing and dance.
- Playing with colors- In Northern parts of India, the celebrations begins in the morning after the Holika Bonfire. None of the traditions says to hold a prayer and the day is filled with enjoyment. Everyone smears each other with colors and the whole day is colorful. People make a particular target of coloring someone and they fully color them up. It is like a water fight but the fight of colors. The most popular nowadays is throwing water-filled balloons, it is filled with a lot of fun and frolic.
- Performance- Some groups sing, dance and play Dholak. The best song performed on this auspicious day is “Rang Barse bheege chunarwali rang barse”. Most of the group plays music to the tunes of this song.
- After the party- After playing with colors people enjoy an alcoholic drink called Bhang. It is a drink with intoxicated herbs. Then people bath and sober up themselves as they have to visit their relatives in the evening.
- Other rituals- In the Braj region in Mathura, it may last more than one week. It goes beyond playing with colors, where a man goes around with shields and women beat them with their sticks on the shields.
Holi Celebration in different states of India
- Holi Celebration in Assam- In Assamese Holi is referred to as Phakuwa/Doul. Originally called Doul Jatra which is associated with the Satras of Barpeta, There Holi is celebrated for two days.
- Holi Celebration in Bihar- Biharis refer to Holi as Phaguwa in a local Bhojpuri dialect. The ritual is common here as the other regions. They put the dry cow dung cake, wood of the Arad tree and dry wood leaves into the bonfire. The eldest family member ignites the fire and then smears others as a greeting mark. Most of the folk songs are sung in Bihar and people dance to the tunes of the dholak.
- Holi Celebration in Goa- Goanese calls it Ukkuli. It is celebrated around the Konkani temple called Gosripuram. It is a part of the spring festival known as Sigmo.
- Holi Celebration in Gujarat- People in Gujarat celebrate Holi as a two-day festival. On the evening of the first day, people light bonfire by adding raw coconut and corn to it. The second day it is the normal festival of colors or it is called Dhuleti. A most important part of Gujarat is that it marks the agricultural season of Rabi crop.
- Ahmadabad a pot of lassi is hung high over the streets and children try to reach it and break it by forming a human pyramid. This ritual is also known as Dahi Handi.
- Holi Celebration in West Bengal- People in Bengali refer to it as Dol, Dol Jatra, and Dol Purnima. It is celebrated properly by placing idols of Krishna and Radha on a decorated palanquin which is taken to the main streets of the city.
- Holi Celebration in Uttar Pradesh- Lath Mar Holi is famous in Mathura which happens in Radha Rani temple. Crowds gather to witness the Lath Mar Holi when women beat up their husbands with sticks. There is also Dahi handi in memory of Lord Krishna it is included in the festival
- Holi Celebration in Punjab- In Punjab, they call it Luhatak. People start throwing colors many days before Holi. The walls of rural houses are enhanced with drawings and paintings which is similar to rangoli in other parts of India.
Happy Holi
Holi is a huge festival of colors celebrated hugely in India. After being successful in India it is being celebrated in European countries also. Festive Turtle wishes you and your family a very happy Holi.