Introduction
Holi is one of the most popular ancient Indian festivals that is been celebrated since centuries. People considers this festival, the one of the most colorful festivals in India. It is considered as one of the most auspicious day by the hindus. This festival is celebrated with love and joy. People mostly consider celebrating this festival with their friends and family. Holi generally is celebrated in the season of springs as there is no winter’s colder breeze and not summer’s warm heat either. It is also considers as symbol of victory of good over evil.
History
Holi is being celebrated in India for centuries. Many of the ancient hindu scriptures like Puranas, Daskumar Charitas and many of the ancient Indian Poets like kalidas has mentioned about celebrating holi in their writings and poems. 7th century Sanskrit drama – Ratnavali has also mentioned about celebration of holi. Holi has also attracted many foreign cultures and people towards it and many of them got fascinated by it.
There is a story related to it that There was a prince who was a worshipper of God Vishnu, But his king father didn’t liked this and anted that his son should on worship him. He tried several ways and also forced him to do so, but Prahalad was still a keen worshipper of God Vishnu. At last, The king called his evil sister and then both planned to kill Prahalad by setting him on fire. Lord Vishnu protected him and Holika dies by setting up on fire instead. From that day, the event came to be known as Holika Dahan. From then, People set bon fire, a day before the holi celebration day, in order to pray for good life and health.
There is a another Legend story related to Lord Krishna, that is connected to the festival of Holi. Lord Krishna as a baby got breast fed by She-Demon Putana and she poisoned him. As he grew up, Lord Krishna became desperate of his dark skin characterizations. He was eager whether Faired skin Radha will like him or not. So Lord Krishna’s mother gave an idea to him to offer Radha to put on any of her favourite colour on his face. From that day, people, especially in Vrindavan (place where Lord Krishna grew up) celebrate holi with joy and happiness.
There is another story related to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. One day, Lord Shiv was lean into his meditation and Goddess Parvati wanted him Stop His Meditation. So, for this she took help God of Love, KamaDev. Kamadev shoots his Love arrow towards Lord Shiva, But lord opens his third eye and burnt him. This upsets God Kamadev’s Wife Rati and even Goddess Parvati. Rati Performed 40 days meditation in order to wish for the return of God Kamadeva. Lord Shiv, Understanding the situation, Returns life to God Kamadeva. This story, is has its own significance in South India.
Even During Mughal Raj in India, Many of the Mughal emperors used to play holi. The also mentioned holi as Aab-e-ePashi or Eid-e-Gulaab. Mehfils were organized during the celebration in Lal Qila in Delhi. There are several paintings depicting the celebration of holi by the Mughal Emperors. But the celebration of holi got banned during the reign of Aurangzeb as he issued the farman of holi ban in November 1665. Many kings like Bahadur Shah Zafar mentioned about holi in his writings and poems. Many others poets like Nazeer Akbarabadi, Amir Khusrao, Mehjoor Lakhnavi and Ibrahim Rakshan mentioned about holi in their poems.
Even Sikh Empire celebrated holi with full joy. During the time of last human Gurur – Guru Gobind Singh Ji, he modified holi as three day celebration and referring it as hola mohalla. During these three days, Sikh soldiers used to compete in military exercises, horsemanship, archery and athletics. Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to organize Holi celebration in Bilawal gardens with colorful tents and 300 mounds of colors. British Indian army chief commander Sir Henry Fane used to join the celebrations. Even after the death of Maharaja, his sons used to celebrate holi with full happiness and higher ranked British Officers used to join the celebrations.
How people celebrate
Holi is often celebrated with friends and family. On this day, People celebrate this festival with colour powder, water, water balloons, water guns etc. People prefers playing holi with colour powders made by crushing flower petals and turning them into powder form. In earlier times, people used kumkum, turmeric and neem etc to play holi. But now, colours with water pigments are trending. People try to colour each other as much as possible. People pour water on each other with the help of water guns, buckets and water balloons, just like a water fight. There are singings and dancing along with playing dholkis and drums. People make delicacies like malpua, mathri and gujia. People also likes to drink cool drinks like thandai mixed with marijuana and also likes to make deep fried pakoras of marijuana.
Later that day, after taking bath, and washing off all the colours completely, peoples likes to visit to their friends and relatives and exchange sweets. This festivals tends to bring peace and harmony among families and relatives.
Although, use of synthetic colours, mud and eggs are also becoming more popular. Synthetic colours are very harmfull for the skin, as it can cause various problems such as rashes, redness, itching atc, and these colours often doesn’t wash off properly.
Different states different culture
Holi is celebrated differently, according to different states.
Assam – Holi is celebrated during two days in Assam. On the first day, people burns clay huts and on second day, they play holi with colour powders.
Bihar – One day before holi, people set up a bon fire using cow dunks and woods and on next day, they play holi using colour powder and water with their friends and family.
Goa – People celebrate holi for about a month in Goa. People offer praying like saffron and gulaab to their deities.
Gujarat – In the state of Gujarat, A matki or pot filled with buttermilk, is tied with the string on a height, then men tries to make a human pyramid to reach out to that pot and then breaks that pot. Then after that, people plays holi using colour powder and water with each other.
Jammu Kashmir – People in J&K region, remarks this festival as harvesting of summer crops. People celebrates this day with throwing colour powders and water on each other.
Karnataka – People in this state, plays holi by preparing some unique sweets and delicacies and performing their folk dances.
Maharashtra – Youngsters in Maharashtra, collects woods in order for the preparation of bonfire, and then lit up the bonfire on the day of Shimga, 5 days prior to the celebration. People makes their famous delicacy known as puran poli. On the day of Festival, colour celebrations take place.
All the states in India have different ways and cultures of play and celebrating holi. But the main symbol of holi is bringing unity and happiness amongst families and friends.
Esskay Machines wishes you a very happy and joyfull Holi.