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Holi (language|Bhojpuri),
also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring
festival observed in India, Guyana, Trinidad, and Nepal. In West Bengal, it
is known as Dolyatra (Doljatra) or Boshonto Utsav ("spring
festival").
On the first day, burning of the demoness Holika, Hiranyakashipu's sister,
in a huge bonfires at night. It is called as Kama dahanam in Andhra Pradesh.
On the second day, known as Dhulhendi, people spend the day throwing
colored powder and water at each other. The spring season, during which the
weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. Thus, the
playful throwing of the colored powders has a medicinal significance: the
colors are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other
medicinal herbs prescribed by Āyurvedic doctors. |
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A special
drink called thandai is prepared, sometimes containing bhang (Cannabis
sativa).
Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami (fifth day of the
full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colours.
Holi takes place over two days in the later part of February or March. As
per the Hindu calendar, it falls on the Phalgun Purnima (or Pooranmashi,
Full Moon), which will occur on March 22 in 2008. On the first day (22 March
2008 CE), symbolic burning of evil takes place, while the fun part of
playing with colors takes place on the second day. (In 2007, Holi was
celebrated on 3 March, the burning of Holika was on 4 March and the Dhuleti
on 5 March.)
 Significance
A painting from the collection of the Smithsonian Institution depicting
Indian deity Krishna celebrating holi with Radha and the Gopis.
In Vaishnava Theology, Hiranyakashipu is the king of demons, and he had been
granted a boon by Brahma, which made it almost impossible for him to be
killed. The boon was due to his long penance, after which he had demanded
that he not be killed "during day or night; inside the home or outside, not
on earth or on sky; neither by a man nor an animal; neither by astra nor by
shastra". Consequently, he grew arrogant, and attacked the Heavens and the
Earth. He demanded that people stop worshipping gods and start praying to
him.
Despite this, Hiranyakashipu's own son, Prahlad, was a devotee of Lord
Vishnu. In spite of several threats from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad continued
offering prayers to Lord Vishnu. He was poisoned but the poison turned to
nectar in his mouth. He was ordered to be trampled by elephants yet remained
unharmed. He was put in a room with hungry, poisonous snakes and survived.
All of Hiranyakashipu's attempts to kill his son failed. Finally, he ordered
young Prahlad to sit on a pyre on the lap of his sister, Holika, who could
not die by fire by virtue of a shawl which would prevent fire affecting the
person wearing it. Prahlad readily accepted his father's orders, and prayed
to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in
amazement as the shawl flew from Holika, who then was burnt to death, while
Prahlad survived unharmed, after the shawl moved to cover him. The burning
of Holika is celebrated as Holi.
Later Lord Vishnu came in the form of a Narasimha (who is half-man and
half-lion) and killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk (which was neither day nor
night), on the steps of the porch of his house (which was neither inside the
house nor outside) by restraining him on his lap (which is neither in the
sky nor on the earth) and mauling him with his claws (which are neither
astra nor shastra).
In Vrindavan and Mathura, where Lord Krishna grew up, the festival is
celebrated for 16 days (until Rangpanchmi in commemoration of the divine
love of Radha for Krishna). Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the
festival by playing pranks on the gopis here. Krishna is believed to have
complained to his mother about the contrast between his dark colour and his
consort Radha's fair colour. Krishna's mother decided to apply colour to
Radha's face. The celebrations officially usher in spring, the celebrated
season of love.
There is another story about the origin of Holi. Kamadeva is a god of love.
Kama's body was destroyed when he shot his weapon at Shiva in order to
disrupt his penance and help Parvati to marry Shiva. Shiva then opened his
third eye, the gaze of which was so powerful that Kama's body was reduced to
ashes. For the sake of Kama's wife Rati (passion), Shiva restored him, but
only as a mental image, representing the true emotional and mental state of
love rather than physical lust. The Holi bonfire is believed to be
celebrated in commemoration of this event.
Holi is a festival of radiance (Tej) in the universe. During this festival,
different waves of radiance traverse the universe, thereby creating various
colours that nourish and complement the function of respective elements in
the atmosphere.
Holi gifts
and gift ideas
Gifts play an important role in Holi. Holi is a festival of fun, romance and
brotherhood. A box of Sweets and Gujjias go in the mood with this fun
festival and are one of the most popular gifts of Holi. White dress for Holi,
especially the crisp cotton 'chikan' salwar-suit for girls and kurta-payjama
for boys look beautiful, worn after the hours-long bath following the play
of colors. The marked contrast of the still-stained faces and bodies and
milky white fabric of the traditional Indian dresses look beautiful. Other
gifts popular on Holi are the packets of color and bright-colored flowers.
You can give the personal touch and impress the receiver of your Holi
presents by your thoughtfulness and personal attention by buying them
anything that they have been craving for months. Businessmen handing out
corporate gifts to their employees, clients and partners generally opt for
executive diaries, calendars or household items such as bed sheets and
kitchen gadgets. Kids love colored hats and latest sprinklers in the market.
Other creative Holi gift ideas can be home decoration items and beautiful
flower arrangements such as baskets and bouquets. Whatever you may give, it
is actually the genuineness, the thought behind the gift and the smile that
you have on your face while giving out the gift that really counts. - wikipedia
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