WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE INDIAN HOLI FESTIVAL

India is a highly spiritual country where festivals are at the hearts of the people. Numerous festivals are held throughout the year in India. The Indian Holi festival is one of those festivals which is often referred to as the “festival colors” ”festival of love”and “festival of spring”. It is the most popular Indian festival outside of India. It celebrates the enternal love of Radha and Krishna. It also celebrates the victory of Vishnu over Hiranyakashipu.

The Indian Holi festival is centered round the burning of the demoness Holika. The literal meaning of the term ‘Holi’, on the other hand, is ‘burning.’ There are several legends that explain the meaning of this name, the most famous of which is the legend of Hiranyakashyap, the demon king. Indian mythology has is that Hiranyakashyap desired that everyone in his realm worship just him, but his son, Prahlad, became a devoted follower of Lord Naarayana, much to his dismay. Holika, Hiaranyakashyap’s sister, was ordered to enter a raging fire with Prahlad in her lap by Hiaranyakashyap. Holika possessed a blessing that allowed her to enter flames without suffering any harm. She was unaware, however, that the boon only worked when she entered the fire alone. As a result, she paid a price for her nefarious goals, but Prahlad was protected by the god’s favour because of his unwavering devotion. As a result, the holiday commemorates both the triumph of virtue over evil and the triumph of devotion.

Also Lord Krishna originated the habit of playing with colors by applying color on his lover Radha and other gopis, according to legend. The play grew in popularity over time and eventually became a tradition.
Other tales related with the festival include the story of Shiva and Kaamadeva, as well as the legends of Ogress Dhundhi and Pootana. All show the triumph of good over evil, giving the event a philosophical underpinning.

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The Indian Holi festival marks the beginning of spring, the end of winter, and the blossoming of love, and it is a celebratory day for many to meet new people, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and mend broken relationships. Debts are paid or forgiven, and people begin over with others in their lives. The celebration also marks the start of a prosperous spring crop season. It begins on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon Day) in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which corresponds to roughly the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. Holika Dahan (Demon Holika’s burning) or Chhoti Holi is celebrated on the first evening, and Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dol Purnima, Dhuleti, Dhulandi, Ukuli, Manjal Kuli, Yaosang, Shigmo or Phagwah, Jajiri is celebrated on the second day.

People begin gathering wood and combustible items for the bonfire in parks, community centers, near temples, and other open spaces days before the event. An effigy of Holika, who lured Prahalad into the fire, stands atop the pyre. People load up on pigments, food, party drinks, and festive seasonal meals like gujiya, mathri, malpuas, and other regional specialties inside their houses.

Washable natural plant-derived colors like turmeric, neem, dhak, and kumkum were once popular, but commercial water-based pigments are now becoming more popular. All of the colors are present. Everyone is game in open locations like streets and parks, but only dry powder is used to smear each other’s faces inside homes or at thresholds. People fling colors at their targets, totally covering them in color. It’s similar to a water fight, except the water is colored. Spraying colored water on each other is a popular pastime. By late morning, everyone has turned into a colorful canvas. Holi is known as the “Festival of Colors” because of this.

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Groups sing and dance, with some drumming and playing the dholak. People serve gujiya, mathri, malpuas, and other traditional treats after each stop of pleasure and color play. [58] Cold drinks, particularly marijuana-infused drinks[59], are often part of the Holi celebrations.

Holi frolics and celebrations commence the morning following the Holika bonfire in North and Western India. Children and teenagers join groups to color their targets using dry colors, colored solution and water pistols (pichkaris), water balloons filled with colored water, and other inventive methods.

People clean up, wash and bathe, sober up and dress up in the evening after a day of color play, and greet friends and relatives by visiting them and exchanging sweets. Holi is also a celebration of forgiveness and new beginnings, with the goal of bringing harmony to society. [57] Evening Kavi Sammelans are held in many cities across Uttar Pradesh.

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