Holi , Holi Festival , Festival of colours

Holi is the most colourful festival of the Hindus and falls on the Full moon day in the month of Phalgun according to the Hindu Calendar which is the month of March as per the Gregorian Calendar. Holi - the festival of colors - is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of Hindu festival. It's an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colors! Holi is one of the most ancient festivals of the Aryans which finds an honoured mention in our old Sanskrit texts like Dashakumar Charit and Garud Puran. Even the play "Ratnavali" written by Harshdev in 7th century contains a delightful description of Holi festival.Originally Holi was regarded to be the festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land.

The 'Holi’ festival is a very fun-filled and popular occasion in the northern part of India.It is an occasion when people smear each other with bright colored powders, which are known as Gulal, and colored water. This festival is celebrated around early March each year. It can be said that ‘Holi’ festival is called a bright festival as a wide range of bright colors is used during it. The people believe that the bright colors represent energy, life, and joy.

Legends

There are several legends and stories behind Holi. There is one popular legend that is reputed to bring about the birth of ‘Holi’. The legend commemorated by the festival of Holi involves an evil king named Hiranyakashipu. He forbade his son Prahlad from worshipping Vishnu, but Radhu continued to do offer prayers to the god. Getting angry with his son, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to sit on a pyre with his wicked aunt Holika who was believed to be immune to fire. (In an alternate version, Holika put herself and Prahlad on the fire on orders from her brother.)

Prahlad accepted the challenge and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika was burnt to death, while Prahlad survived without a scar to show for it. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. According to some accounts, Holika begged Prahlad for forgiveness before her demise, and he decreed that she would be remembered every year at Holi.

An alternative account of the basis of the holiday is associated with a legend involving Lord Shiva, one of the major Hindu gods. Shiva is known for his meditative nature and his many hours spent in solitude and deep meditation. Madana, the God of love, decided to test his resolve and appeared to Shiva in the form of a beautiful nymph. But Shiva recognized Madana and became very angry. In a fit of rage he shot fire out of his third eye and reduced her to ashes. This is sometimes given as the basis of Holi's bonfire. The festival of Holi is also associated with the enduring love between Lord Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu) and Radha, and Krishna in general. According to legend, the young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about why Radha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply colour on Radha's face and see how her complexion would change. Because of this associated with Krishna, Holi is extended over a longer period in Vrindavan and Mathura, two cities with which Krishna is closely affiliated.Krishna's followers everywhere find special meaning in the joyous festival, as general frivolity is considered to be in imitation of Krishna's play with the gopis (wives and daughters of cowherds).

Celebrations

To start off the festival, preparations are usually made on the eve of Holi: huge bonfires are burnt as a symbol of its representation. These fires are created to ward off evil spirits around the place. 'Holi' is grandly celebrated in villages around Mathura, the place where Krishna is said to be born. Before the start of the festival, shops are busy selling ‘Gulal,’ the colored powders, and it is no surprise that the shops are flooded with festive shoppers. In preparation for the festival, new clothes are also bought for the family: it is a tradition for mothers to buy new clothes for their married daughters.

Holi washes away all the hard feelings you have accumulated for anyone. The colors applied on others bring you closer to them, forgetting all the anguish of the past. After applying colors, people hug and greet each other. This tradition is called as 'Holi Milan'. Usually after a fun filled and action packed day, people dressed in holi clothes pay visit to their friends and relatives with sweets. This helps in renewing and strengthening their bonds. As per the custom, a plate decorated with tilak (vermillion) and sweets is kept ready for the guests.

People apply tilak, exchange sweets and hug each, while giving Holi wishes. Being in the company of near and dear ones, helps you to reenergize. Those staying away from their families use mediums like cards and telephones to greet each other. Special invitations are extended to new bride, which helps her to feel comfortable and mingle with the members of her new family. Special meal is prepared on the occasion to treat her well and to bless the newly wed couple.

On this happy occasion, dances and folk songs are also important features in the festival.

Social Message

The social significance of Holi is seen in the form of the message of unity and brotherhood, it delivers. As per the custom and tradition, people pay visits to their friends and relatives, to give them wishes as well as to strengthen their bonds. The festival brings the nation together as it is just not celebrated by Hindus but, also by the Sikhs, Christians, Jains and the like. The festival is unique as it does not discriminate against any section of the society and treats everyone equally. The social fabric and secular character of the society is strengthened, since people work on building cordial relations, forgiving their hard feelings for others.


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	Holi - The Festival of Colours Holi is the most colourful festival of the Hindus and falls on the Full moon day in the month of Phalgun according to the Hindu Calendar which is the month of March as per the Gregorian Calendar. Holi - the festival of colors - is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of Hindu festival. It's an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colors! Holi is one of the most ancient festivals of the Aryans which finds an honoured mention in our old Sanskrit texts like Dashakumar Charit and Garud Puran. Even the play "Ratnavali" written by Harshdev in 7th century contains a delightful description of Holi festival.Originally Holi was regarded to be the festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land. The 'Holi’ festival is a very fun-filled and popular occasion in the northern part of India.It is an occasion when people smear each other with bright colored powders, which are known as Gulal, and colored water. This festival is celebrated around early March each year. It can be said that ‘Holi’ festival is called a bright festival as a wide range of bright colors is used during it. The people believe that the bright colors represent energy, life, and joy. Legends There are several legends and stories behind Holi. There is one popular legend that is reputed to bring about the birth of ‘Holi’. The legend commemorated by the festival of Holi involves an evil king named Hiranyakashipu. He forbade his son Prahlad from worshipping Vishnu, but Radhu continued to do offer prayers to the god. Getting angry with his son, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to sit on a pyre with his wicked aunt Holika who was believed to be immune to fire. (In an alternate version, Holika put herself and Prahlad on the fire on orders from her brother.) Prahlad accepted the challenge and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika was burnt to death, while Prahlad survived without a scar to show for it. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. According to some accounts, Holika begged Prahlad for forgiveness before her demise, and he decreed that she would be remembered every year at Holi. An alternative account of the basis of the holiday is associated with a legend involving Lord Shiva, one of the major Hindu gods. Shiva is known for his meditative nature and his many hours spent in solitude and deep meditation. Madana, the God of love, decided to test his resolve and appeared to Shiva in the form of a beautiful nymph. But Shiva recognized Madana and became very angry. In a fit of rage he shot fire out of his third eye and reduced her to ashes. This is sometimes given as the basis of Holi's bonfire. The festival of Holi is also associated with the enduring love between Lord Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu) and Radha, and Krishna in general. According to legend, the young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about why Radha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply colour on Radha's face and see how her complexion would change. Because of this associated with Krishna, Holi is extended over a longer period in Vrindavan and Mathura, two cities with which Krishna is closely affiliated.Krishna's followers everywhere find special meaning in the joyous festival, as general frivolity is considered to be in imitation of Krishna's play with the gopis (wives and daughters of cowherds). Celebrations To start off the festival, preparations are usually made on the eve of Holi: huge bonfires are burnt as a symbol of its representation. These fires are created to ward off evil spirits around the place. 'Holi' is grandly celebrated in villages around Mathura, the place where Krishna is said to be born. Before the start of the festival, shops are busy selling ‘Gulal,’ the colored powders, and it is no surprise that the shops are flooded with festive shoppers. In preparation for the festival, new clothes are also bought for the family: it is a tradition for mothers to buy new clothes for their married daughters. Holi washes away all the hard feelings you have accumulated for anyone. The colors applied on others bring you closer to them, forgetting all the anguish of the past. After applying colors, people hug and greet each other. This tradition is called as 'Holi Milan'. Usually after a fun filled and action packed day, people dressed in holi clothes pay visit to their friends and relatives with sweets. This helps in renewing and strengthening their bonds. As per the custom, a plate decorated with tilak (vermillion) and sweets is kept ready for the guests. People apply tilak, exchange sweets and hug each, while giving Holi wishes. Being in the company of near and dear ones, helps you to reenergize. Those staying away from their families use mediums like cards and telephones to greet each other. Special invitations are extended to new bride, which helps her to feel comfortable and mingle with the members of her new family. Special meal is prepared on the occasion to treat her well and to bless the newly wed couple. On this happy occasion, dances and folk songs are also important features in the festival. Social Message The social significance of Holi is seen in the form of the message of unity and brotherhood, it delivers. As per the custom and tradition, people pay visits to their friends and relatives, to give them wishes as well as to strengthen their bonds. The festival brings the nation together as it is just not celebrated by Hindus but, also by the Sikhs, Christians, Jains and the like. The festival is unique as it does not discriminate against any section of the society and treats everyone equally. The social fabric and secular character of the society is strengthened, since people work on building cordial relations, forgiving their hard feelings for others. \| Akshay-Tritiya \| Diwali \| Ganesha Chaturthi \| Holi \| Navratri \| Rakhi \| \| Disclaimer \| Policies \| Links \| Feedback form \| payment_option \| Othersites \| Hindu Gods \| Site Map \| Hindu Festivals \| Articles \| \| Contacts \| Be Our Distributors \| Company Profile \| \| Return Home \| Holy Rudraksha \| Divine Yantra \| Crystal Store \| Mala Store \| Other Products \| Parad Store \| Religious Books \| Religious Idols \| Astro Gems \|