Holi
The Festival of Colors
Holi is also known as the festival of colors, love and happiness. It is clearly reflected in the way it is celebrated in our society.
On this day, people visits their friends, relatives and neighbors to play with colors. They also bring and eat various delicacies especially dedicated to Holi. Pichkari (water guns) are also a major attraction for the kids on this festival.
Holashtak - 8 days leading upto the Holi
The period of 8 days leading up to the festival of holi is called Holashtak. It comprises of 2 sanskrit word which literally translates to “Eight days of Holi”. This period begins from the “Shukla Paksh Ashtami” from end at “Holika Dahan Celebrations” a day before holi.
“Holashtak” is considered very inauspicious period in the Hindu Culture. Therefore, no auspicious ceremonies like marriages, Graha Pravesh, Child Naming etc. are completely avoided during this period.
Holika Dahan - Choti Holi
Holika Dahan or Choti Holi is celebrated on the eve of Holi. It is celebrated as the testament to the power of ones faith in the divine.
Holika was created as the symbol of power, wealth and prosperity. Hence was gifted with a cloak (dushala) from Lord Brahma that would protect her from any harm from fire.
Why is Holika Dahan Celebrated?
Holika Dahan, also known as Choti Holi, is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. The celebration is also a reminder of what happens when power is used to cause harm instead of good. Holika Dahan is celebrated on the Purnima in the month of Phalgun. During the celebration, bonfires are lit and effigies of Holika are set on fire.
Story of Holika Dahan
According to Bhagvata Purana, Demon King Hiranyakashipu, prayed to Lord Brahma and received a boon as a reward of his penance. This was cleverly curated boon meant to grant the King immortality.
According to the boon, he could neither be killed by a man nor an animal. No weapons could kill him. Neither could he die during the day nor during the night. He couldn’t be killed either on earth or in the sky. He couldn’t be killed by anyone with a natural birth i.e. Janma meaning anyone who is born of a mother’s womb.
Thinking that the boon made him immortal, he grew arrogant. In his pride and arrogance, the king demanded that everyone must pray to him instead of Lord Vishnu. The King’s son Prahlad, refused and remained devoted to Lord Vishnu. The king was infuriated and subjected his son to cruel punishments, but all was in vain.
Holika was King’s sister and upon his wish, she agreed to sit with Prahlad in a pyre. She was born as a symbol of power and prosperity, hence was gifted a cloak from Lord Brahma that would protect her from fire.
Holika, the king’s sister tricked Prahlad into sitting in a pyre with her. She protected herself by the cloak while prahlad remained exposed. As the pyre was lit, Prahlad started to chant Lord Vishnu’s name.
The cloak was gifted with the understanding that its power will never be used to harm anyone. But since the cloak was being used to harm Prahlad, Lord Vishnu intervened.
Strong winds started to blow and took away the cloak from Holika’s body and got wrapped around Prahlad’s body. Without the protection of the cloak Holika’s body started to burn while Prahlad remained protected with the cloak.
Later, Narsimha an avatar of Lord Vishnu appeared from a pillar in the King’s Court. Narsimha was half man and half lion, who fought the king till the evening knocking him unconscious. He than put the king on his lap and used his nails to tear open the king’s abdomen. Thus, killing the king while respecting the boon of Lord Brahma.
This is why, Holi celebrations begins with Holika Dahan which marks the end of evil.
Holika Dahan Pooja Samagri
The following samagri or materials should be used in the puja :-
One bowl of water, beads made of cow dung, Roli, Akshat (Unbroken grains of rice), fragrances like dhoop and agarbatti, flowers, raw cotton thread (soot), turmeric whole, lentil of moong (whole), batasha, gulaal powder and coconut. Also, fully grown grains of freshly cultivated crops like wheat or gram can be included in the puja items.
Holika Staphana
The place where Holika is kept is rinsed with Cow Dung and holy water of Ganga. A wooden pole is kept in the center and surrounded with beads of garlands of toys made of cow dung which are popularly known as Gulari, Bharbholiye or Badkula. Idols of Holika and Prahlad usually made of cow dung are placed on the top of the heap. Holika pile is decorated with shields, swords, moon, stars and other toys made of cow dung.
During Holika Dahan, the idol of Prahlad is taken out. Also, four beads of cow dung are kept sage before the bonfire. One is kept safe in the name of ancestors, second in the name of Lord Hanuman, third in the name of Goddess Sheetala and fourth in the name of the family.
How Holika Dahan Ritual is Performed
On the eve of Holi, a huge pile of dry leaves, wood logs and cow dung cakes are gathered. Holika pujan is done in which the following mantra is recited:-
After the sunset in Pradosh Kaal, the Holika is set on fire. As soon as the fire is lit up, the pole is taken out. For the public, Holika fire is taken and brought to burn Holika at home. People offer new crops to the bonfire and roast them. The roasted grains are then distributed as Holika Prasad.
It is believed that the intake of baked crops keeps you away from disease. It is also believed that bringing left over fire and ash next day to home, helps to protect from negative energy. Also, this ash is applied on body. At the end, all men wear auspicious mark of Roli, women sing songs and blessings are taken from elders.
Dulhandi - The Day of Colors
According to another legend, Lord Krishna developed a blue skin color after Putana, a demon, poisoned him with breast milk. Krishna worried if the fair-skinned Radha and her companions would ever like him because of his skin color. Krishna’s mother asked him to approach Radha and smear her face with any color he wanted. The playful coloring gradually evolved as a tradition and later, as the festival observed as Holi, primarily in the Braj region of India.
Why is Holi Celebrated?
Holi is an ancient Hindu festival spring, love, hope and new life. It is known as the “Festival of Colors” and celebrates the divine love between Radha and Krishna. Holi is a fun festival with dancing, singing, color and water play as its main inseparable elements.
How Holi is Celebrated?
The carnival of colors begins the next morning, where people come out on the streets to play with colors, and drench each other in colored water through water guns and balloons.
Interestingly, different regions in India observe varied customs on this day. In West Bengal and Assam, for instance, Holi is known as Basanta Utsav or spring festival.
Earlier, Holi colors used to made from flowers of “tesu” or “palash” tree and known as gulaal. The colors used to very good for skin as no chemicals were used to make these colors. But amidst all definitions of festivals, the definition of colors for sure have changed with time.
Today people use harsh colors made from chemicals. Even fast colors are used to play Holi, which are bad and that is why many people avoid celebrating this festival. We should enjoy this age old festival of holi with the true spirit of festivity.
Lathmar Holi
Lathmar Holi takes place around a week before the main day of Holi. The following day, the celebrations move to Nandgaon village. It is worth getting to Barsana for a couple of days in advance of Lathmar Holi.
The Laddoo Holi festivities experience there is one of a kind experience in itself. Sweets are thrown around and songs (Bhajan) related to Radha and Krishna are sung.
Phoolon Wali Holi
Bankey Bihari (the enchanting manifestation of Lord Krishna) along with his lovable partner Radha are adorned beautifully with winsome flowers and freshly bloomed garlands for the jollification of Phoolon ki Holi. Phoolon ki Holi is predominantly observed on Ekadashi which falls a few days prior to the main holi where local priests and peeps use only flowers and petals to play with each other.