Festival Of Holi: History and Significance.

Holi festival is one of the sacred and main festivals of Hindu religion. Holi symbolize the victory of good over evil. Holi festival is the festival of colors which is celebrated in the spring season.

During the festival of Holi, people apply colors on each other and eat sweets. Holi is such a holy festival in which everyone embraces each other.
On this day, young and old, children and old, men and women of all religions and castes apply gulal and color to each other.

Why is Holi celebrated?

This festival comes every year during the spring season in the month of Phagun i.e. March and is celebrated on the full moon day.
This year Holi will be celebrated on 25 March 2024.

In some parts of India, farmers also celebrate this festival to celebrate the good harvest.

This festival of Holi starts from the evening of Holika Dahan on the last day of Phagun and the next morning everyone meets together and applies colors and abeer to each other. During this time the entire nature and environment looks very beautiful and colorful.

Story behind celebrating Holi:

There are many mythological stories associated with celebrating Holi, the most popular of which is the story of Prahlad and his devotion.

Hiranyakashipu and Prahlad Story:

In ancient times, there was a very tyrannical and extremely powerful demon king named Hiranyakashyap.
He had received a boon from Brahmdev that no human being or any animal could kill him, nor with any weapon or instrument, neither outside nor inside the house, neither during the day nor at night, nor in the earth nor in the sky.

Intoxicated by his power, he started considering himself as God. He ordered all the people to stop worshiping God and worship him only. The people used to worship him instead of God, but his son Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.

He did not listen to his father. Hiranyakashipu did not accept this. He tried hard to make his son give up devotion to Lord Vishnu but he failed in his efforts every time. In this anger he decided to kill his own son.

Holika Dahan:

Hiranyakashyap had a sister, whose name was Holika. He had the boon that fire could not burn him. On the orders of Hiranyakashyap, Prahlad was made to sit in the lap of Holika and was set on fire, but the glory of God is infinite. Prahlad was saved, but Holika got burnt. In memory of this incident, every year Holika is lit on the night before Holi and the next day, the festival of colours, Holi, is celebrated with great pomp.

Story based on Lord Krishna:

According to this story, the practice of Holi started after Lord Krishna killed the wicked and had fun with the Gopis.

In Vrindavan, Shri Krishna played colorful Holi with Radha and Gopis, that is why Holi of Vrindavan is considered the best and world famous. According to this belief, when Shri Krishna. Holi became popular since he returned to Vrindavan after killing the wicked.

Different forms of Holi:

Holi is played in different ways in different corners of the world. At some places it is flower filled Holi, at some places it is Lathmar Holi and at some places the name of Holi is different. The way of playing Holi may be different for everyone, but Holi is definitely played with colors everywhere.

1. Holi in Vrindavan and Mathura:

In Mathura, the celebration of Holi is a grand affair as it is the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The temples are decorated and musical processions can be heard around the ghats. People participate in fun rituals like Lathmar Holi, Phoolan Wali Holi and the popular Rangwali Holi. Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan is the center of attraction for Holi celebrations where people play Holi using flowers! These celebrations are amazing and last for more than a week.

2. Holi in Rajasthan:

Holi celebrations begin with the burning of effigies of Holika and the lighting of bonfires on the eve of Holi. The next day people can be seen enjoying folk music. Folk plays and dances can be performed on the streets. Rajasthan also has variations like Mali Holi where men throw colors at women while women retaliate with pieces of cloth or sticks.

3. Holi in Punjab:

There is a festival in Punjab called Hola Mohalla which coincides with the Hindu festival Holi. It is a three-day festival where Sikhs celebrate their culture and Sikh warriors by showcasing their military style and courage. It includes many fun celebrations like horse riding, playing with colours, Bhangra, playing music and reciting poetry.

4. Holi in Kerala:

In Kerala it is named Manjul Kuli and is celebrated by Konkani communities, Kudumbi and Gaud Saravat Brahmins in some temples. Rituals include lighting a bonfire on the eve of Holi or creating a crocodile from clay to offer to Goddess Durga and fight evil. Next day all the members of these communities play with colours, water guns and dance.

Precautions on Holi:

1. On the day of Holi, wear clothes covering your entire body so that when someone else applies colors made of chemicals on you, your skin is protected because of the clothes.

2. Apply any oil on your face, body and hair so that when you try to remove the colors while bathing, it comes off easily.

3. If you start having any physical problems after playing with colors, then immediately get treatment at your nearest hospital.

4. You can use a cap on the head so that the hair does not get damaged.

5. Do not use colors made from chemicals or synthetic colors at all.

6. Do not put colors in any person’s eyes, nose, mouth and ears.

7. Celebrate Holi with your family and friends and stay away from strangers.

8. Do not force colors on anyone else or apply them on animals. Just as these colors are dangerous for us, they are equally dangerous for animals too.