Holi is a huge celebration all around the world. It is among the most significant spring festival of India. You can notice Holi celebrations in each and every corner if you are in India or plan a visit there. Holi is a festival of colors originally from Hinduism, which involves throwing colors on friends and family in a sense of joy. Know more about the celebration of love in your language (English) here…
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About Holi Celebration in 2020:
The celebration nowadays begins with a bonfire to celebrate the victory of good over bad. The next day is a colorful celebration on which people throw colors on each other. If you are on a road of India and not in the mood to get colorful, beware. You can get a colorful throw of dry color, or you can get hit by a Pchkari anytime. All over the world, the celebration lasts for two days. But in some parts of India, it may extend to two weeks. Read the story and mythology of Holi below.
The story of Holi:
The history of throwing colors goes in past till the time of Radha and Krishna, two Gods in Hinduism. Radha was a beautiful lady with fair skin. Krishna, who loved her, had dark blue skin. He was afraid that she might not accept his love. So he asked his mother for advice, and she suggested him to paint the face of Radha in which color he wants. So Krishna went to Radha and thrown colors on her.
Narrators say that Krishna used colors mixed in water, which we now know as ‘Pichkari‘. So Holi became a Hindu festival to celebrate the immortal love of Radha and Krishna.
The mythology behind Holi:
It is also said to be a celebration of the power of good over evil. Hiranyakshyap was an arrogant king who compelled everyone to worship him. But he was unable to make his son obey him. Prahlad, his son, was a devotee of Hindu God Vishnu. Holika was the sister of Hiranyakshyap and was immune to fire. So the king convinced Holika to compel Prahlad to sit on her lap while she will enter the fire.
But her immunity against fire was limited to only when she was alone. So Holika was burnt while Prahlad returned safely due to his devotion to Vishnu. To celebrate the victory of good over evil, the Holi begins with a bonfire in the evening before the day of Holi. It is also known as Choti Holi.
Holi – A spring festival:
In old times, Holi was to celebrate the end of winter. People didn’t use warm water to take a bath after it. So on the day of Choti Holi, the bonfire, Holika Dahan, was used to warm water for the people to take a bath on the next morning. After Holi, people started sleeping outside at night to enjoy the winds of spring. Many old people in this era also use to do this practice even now. You may witness any such people in your surroundings.
The description of Holi has no limit. 10 lines, not even this article is enough. There are many things to do, food to eat, and also things to know about Holi. So don’t forget to read the next article.