Festivals have a major significance in a diverse country like ours as people from different cultural backgrounds come under the same roof to celebrate and spread happiness among each other. One of the most awaited festivals every year is the festival of colours, Holi. Holi is celebrated to mark the end of the winter season while people welcome the season of spring with open arms. It also symbolises the age-old belief of the triumph of good over evil. On this day, people of all ages and cultures gather together to play with colours and eat food from different cuisines and sweets of all kinds. In the present day, the festival has gained worldwide popularity. Celebrated in the month of Phalguna, which comes in February or March, Holi is known to be a festival of vibrance and glory. Here are a few things you must know about the festival of colours:
Origin of Holi
The origin of holi dates back to the period when demon king Hiranyakashipu ruled India. He wanted revenge for the death of his younger brother who was assassinated by Lord Vishnu. To be powerful, he prayed and prayed and eventually was granted a boon. The boon was that he could not be killed by a human or an animal, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither in the daylight or nighttime, by means of no ashtray or shastra, neither on lands, air or water. His utmost desire was to become superior to Lord Vishnu himself.
He was blessed with the birth of a son named Prahalad, but the happiness was short-lived as Prahalad grew up to become a big devotee of Lord Vishnu. Despite his father’s repeated warnings, Prahalad continued worshipping Lord Vishnu. As a result, Hiranyakashipu grew angry with the passing time and one day he decided to kill his own son. He ordered his sister Holika who was immune to fire to sit on a pyre of fire keeping Prahalad on her lap so that he would burn and die. But his plan failed terribly as Lord Vishnu heard the boy’s prayers and saved him from fire whereas Holika was burnt completely. This symbolises that evil will always at the end burn into ashes. After the death of Holika, Lord Vishnu took Narashima Avatar to kill Hiranyakashipu. Even today, fire is lit in all parts of the country with the aim of burning all the evil which signifies the triumph of good over evil.
There is another origin story of Holi that makes it a festival of colours. This story dates back to the time when Lord Vishnu took the Krishna Avatar. Lord Krishna was brought up in the region of Braj (commonly known as Brijbhoomi), where the festival of colours is celebrated in the memory of the great love of Radha and Krishna. When Lord Krishna was a baby, he started developing a unique dark blue skin colour after the demon Putana poisoned him with her breast milk. After growing up he was often worried if the fair-skinned Radha or other beautiful girls in the village would like him despite his dark colour. One day, his mother asked him to go and colour Radha in whichever colour he wants to. Krishna did what was said and coloured Radha and ever since holi is celebrated by playing with colours.
How to celebrate Holi in India?
Holi is not a one-dayfestival but the craze and rituals are lined up for three whole days.
The first day, commonly known as Holi Purnima, involves people arranging colours in brass pots and taking blessings from the elders by sprinkling colours on their feet and the elders sprinkling colours on all other members of the family. People also collect logs of wood and start gathering a pyre in open spaces over which a model of Holika will be burnt the day after.
Holika Dahan or Chotti Diwali is celebrated on the second day where people gather after sunset to light the pyre and perform rituals around it. After that there is a small function where people dance and sing around the pyre, burning the pyre alongside.
On the last day, the main festival also called Badi holi or Rang wali holi begins where people apply colours to one another and enjoy to the fullest. People play with gulals and sprinkle pichkaris on each other and even enjoy throwing water balloons on each other. They dance around with energetic and fun songs playing in the background. They celebrated by eating delicacies and sweets of different kinds. Street food like chaats, Dahi vada, chole bhature is the main attractions of the festival. Not to mention the mouth-watering gujiya, ladoo, kheer and other sweets. People usually get high on bhang wali thandai.
Holi Celebrations in different parts of India
Holi is a grand affair in almost all parts of the country but the celebrations at some parts are talked about everywhere.
In West Bengal, Holi is otherwise known as Dol Jatra where People dress up in yellow colours and sprinkle colours. They sing and dance and have a calm holi.
Lath Mar Holi at certain parts of Uttar Pradesh namely Braj. Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, etc is famous across the world. Women follow men with sticks in their hand to hit them where men have to run away and defend themselves. The festival is fun and interesting as people are in a fully festive zone.
In the Southern part of India, people celebrate it worshipping Kamdeva who is regarded as the lord of love. People sing folk lores and enjoy their day
In East India, Young girls allow the boys to colour them but in return demand for money. People dress up in yellow and white and go to Krishna temple singing songs of him.
Festivals in India bring all the members of the family together from all corners of the world. So this is the golden opportunity to show love to your family by giving them unique holi gifts online only from Giftacrossindia.com. We have the most amazing collection of gifts that will bring a wide smile on the face of your loved ones. We have everything you are looking for in a perfect gift, ranging from dry fruits, sweets, chocolates, to pichkaris, gual to flowers, cards, and many more.
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