Introduction
Holi,
the festival of mirth and rejoice, is one of the most buoyant and boisterous
festivals of the Hindus. The festival heralds the arrival of Spring, the
season of hope and new beginnings. During this festival men, women and
children including the elderly wear a funny an ridiculous look. The people
spurt beautiful colours on one another.
Venue
The festival is celebrated throughout the length and breadth of the
country. One can feel the spirit and enthusiasm that follows during the
festival specially in Bihar and the northern parts of the India.
Time
The festival is celebrated on the Full Moon day in the month of Phagun as
per the Hindu Calender. According to the Georgean Calendar, it is the month
of March.
History
Legend has it that king Hiranyakashipu, being an ambitious ruler, wanted
absolute power in order to be worshipped as a god. As king's son Prahlad
learnt about it, he refused to obey his father. Prahlad was an ardent
devotee of Lord Vishnu and he could consider no one else as God. The king
was inflamed with anger and he decided to punish his son severely for the
disobedience. The king went to his sister Holika. It was believed that
Holika was immune to fire and fire could never burn her. The king asked his
sister to sit in the centre of a bonfire with Prahlad in her lap. Bonfire
was lit up and Holika sit in it with the king's son in her lap. Prahlad sat
praying to Lord Vishnu and he was saved, on the contrary Holika was burnt to
ashes. To commemorate this event, Holika (Bonfire) is lit up on the eve of
Holi, especially in Bihar and the North India.
Lord Krishna, in his youth, was looked upon as an epitome of a lover. And
his spirit of courtship with Radha enters the Spring festival of Holi.
Krishna and Radha are depicted celebrating the festival in the villages of
Gokul, Barsana and Vrindavan. The festival also foreshadows the warm and
beautiful days of Spring.
Celebration
The festival is called Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima in Bengal and Shimga in
Maharashtra. All the members of the family come out in the open to celebrate
this festival of colours on a grand scale. Men, women, children and the
aged, all come out of their homes to impart beauty to this beautiful
festival. People spurt colours on one another, making it all a splendid
sight. They wear a funny look as they take a plunge into this ocean of
colours. Sometimes it so happens that they can not recognise themselves.
They also visit homes and distribute sweets. It is a community festival that
assists to bridge the social gap. It is celebration of triumph of good over
evil. This carnival of colours provides an insight into the mesmerising
cultural heritage of the country. On the eve of the festival, huge bonfires
are lit up with logs of wood, cow-dung cakes, ghee, honey and freshly
brought new crop from the fields.
