Holi - The Festival of Colors

Lots of bright colors, fun, music, dance and joy is what this festival is all  about. Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna(February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. It is believed that Holi glorifies good harvest and fertility of the land.

This year the Festival will be celebrated on 19th and 20th of March.

Significance of this Festival :  According to Hinduism there existed a demon King “Hiranyakashyap” who once won over the kingdom of earth. Due to his long penance he was granted a Boon by Lord Brahma. His demands for the Boon was – that he be not killed during the day or night; inside the house or outside it, not on earth neither on sky; neither by a man nor by an animal; neither by astra nor by shastra (arms or weaponry). With the power of the Boon he grew arrogant and wanted to be worshipped by everyone in his kingdom, but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad who was a true devotee of Lord Naarayana, refused to worship him.

“Hiranyakashyap” attempts to kill his own son “Prahlad”, but fails as “Prahlad” is saved every time by Lord Naarayana. At last, the King asks his Sister “Holika” to kill his son. “Holika” who had a boon which prevent fire from burning her, coaxed young “Prahlad” to sit on her lap and thereafter she takes a seat in a blazing fire. “Prahlad” kept chanting the name of Lord Naarayana and was unharmed by the fire and came out safe and to everyone's amazement “Holika” was burned to death. “Holika” was not aware that the boon would work only when she enters the fire alone. Thus, Holi derives its name from “Holika”  and is a celebration of victory of good over evil.

Later Lord Naarayana disguised himself and came down to Earth in the form of Narasimha (half-man and half-lion) and killed “Hiranyakashyap” 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 it) by restraining him on his lap (which is neither in the sky nor on the earth) and mauled him with his claws (which are neither by astra nor by shastra).

Celebration of this Legend : In several parts of India, specially in the Northern region huge bonfires are lit and effigies of “Holika” are burnt in it.

The next day this victory of good over evil is celebrated by playing with bright colors called Gulaal in Hindi and also by squirting colored water on each other. The colours are believed to represent energy, life, and joy.

Happy Holi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Image source : Wikimedia commons