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Holi: (March)
Holi
is celebrated on the day after the full moon of the hindu month
“Chaitra”. This usually comes in early March every year.
Originally
a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land,
Holi has several traditional links with legends. According to one the
most popular legend, the word Holi is derived from the demoness,
Holika. She was the sister of Hiranyakashyap, a demon
king, who having defeated the Gods proclaimed his own supremacy
over the Universe. Enraged by his son, Prahlad's ardent devotion
to Vishnu
the creator of the universe and also his enemy number one,
Hiranyakashyap decided to punish him. He took the help of his
sister, Holika, who was immune to damage from fire. Holika carried
Prahlad into the fire but a divine intervention destroyed her and
saved Prahlad. Thus Holi is celebrated to mark the burning of the
evil Holika.
It
is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, and is
commemorated by burning huge bonfires on the eve of Holi as its
symbolic representation.
In
many parts of India however, Kama - the God of love, is the
presiding deity. According to an ancient legend, Shiva was deep in
meditation,oblivious to Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas who
sought his love.Kama (the Indian version of Cupid) shot an arrow
towards Shiva, thus disturbing his meditation. Shiva was enraged
and destroyed Kama, reducing him to a heap of ashes. Kama was
later resurrected by the intercession of Parvati.
Yet
another legend holds that Holika
is the same as the female demon Putana, who tried to kill the
child Krishna by making him suckle her poisoned breasts. Krishna
however, sucked very hard and drained the life out of Putana.
Popular legend adds that the body disappeared and the cowherds of
Mathura burnt her with an effigy. Since then, Mathura has been the
main centre for Holi.
Holi
announces the arrival of spring and the passing of winter. Young
and old alike are drenched with colors. On Holi, people are
suddenly caught unawares with colors being poured from the
terraces and roofs of houses, bursting balloons, or long pistons
squirting colored water. People in small groups are seen singing,
dancing and throwing colors on each other. They also eat
sweet food and
sweetened milk laced with bhang, an aphrodisiac that leaves
one feeling light and happy.
Holi
is celebrated throughout India but it is more predominant in North
India. Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses
are given a fresh coat of color, beautiful floral designs are
drawn at the entrance, and powdered colors and spraying pistons
are bought.
In
earlier days the colors were extracted from a flower that blossoms
only during this festival. And the pistons were made of bamboo
sticks. But over the years colors are made artificially and
pistons made of different materials are available in various
designs.
Usually
people burn the Holika tree on the eve of Holi. A bonfire is lit
in the evenings, with an effigy of Holika. Brahmins circle the
fire seven times, reciting religious verses. Folklore and dances
are performed around the fire to welcome the new season. On the
morning of Holi, people have fun with colored water. Men, women
and children all participate in this merry making. In the evening,
youngsters play with dry colors and seek elders' blessings.
Feasts
are prepared for Holi, be it Dahi Wada or a preparation of raw
jackfruit or the traditional Malpua (a dessert made of maida,
milk, sugar and dry fruits).
Holi
is as important a festival as Dusserah and Diwali. It is also
distinguished in certain regions like Bengal where it is marked by
performances of Dolothsava in which the image of Lord Vishnu is
swayed in decorated swings and colored powder is offered to the
God.
In
South India, Holi is not celebrated with as much fervour as in
North India. But the spirit of communal harmony is very high.
People indulginge
in merry-making, and playing with coloredwaters is a common sight.
Peasants visit homes singing folklore and asking for small tips.
This
animated festival is also associated with the immortal love of
Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in
Vrindavan as well as Mathura – the two cities with which Lord
Krishna shared a deep affiliation. Apart from the usual fun with
coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions,
which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of
abandoned vitality.
The
color, noise and entertainment that accompanies the celebration of
Holi bears witness to a feeling of oneness and sense of
brother-hood. No other festival brings home the lesson of
spiritual and social harmony as well as the festival of Holi!
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