Holi - The colourful festival of India

होली or Holi is the spring festival which is celebrated by Nepali & Indian which is considered as the festival of "Sharing Love". In this festival everyone exchange gifts, Sweets & also they play with colors & water.

Holi is also called "Basant Utsav" from it's name it can be said that Basant = Spring & "Utsav = Festival. "Festival of colours" is celebrated on the full moon day falling in the month of Phalguna (Feb-Mar) which is according to the mythological calendar (Gregorian Calendar) called "Patro" in Nepali & "Patra" in Hindi. This is all checked by the priests & astrologer who have intense knowledge of dates & details of the festivals & sacred dates.

Various Names of Holi according to region & language

Hindi: Holi (होली)

Nepali/Nepalese: Holi (होली)

Maithili: Faguwa (because it is celebrated in Falgun month)

Punjabi: Holi (ਹੋਲੀ)

Odisha: Doḷajātra

West Bengal/Assam: Dol Jatra / Basantotsav

History & Importance Of Holi Festival

Holi festival is age old festival which was started several years before the Christ. Hirankashiyup (pronounced as hiran-kash-yup) was a king in ancient India who was like a demon king who wanted to take revenge for the death of his younger brother. His younger brother was killed by Lord Vishnu (who is also one of the Tri Dev including Lord Shiva & Brahma).

In order to kill him, the king wanted to get power. There was a way in those time, that was meditation or worship of the divine. So, he worshiped Lord Vishnu for years & then he finally got a boon of Immortal (because the boon was that he would never be killed either in house of outside of house, so according to him & also others there are no place expect these). After this he was so proud & all in rage that he started considering himself as God & asked his citizens to stop worshiping God rather they should worship him as a God.

But, story of this king twists when his only son "Prahlad" who was devotee of Lord Vishnu, he always disobeyed his father in this case & continue worshiping Lord Vishnu. As king was so devil, he decided to kill his son. He decided to burn Prahlad. For this he asked his sister "Holika" to sit on fire with Prahlad in her lap so that they could burn Prahlad. As Holika did the same as asked, Prahlad was saved even in fire instead Holika was burnt to ashes because Prahlad was reciting Lord Vishnu's name during this activity. After this Lord Vishnu killed the king in between house & out door.

So, Holi is celebrated to burn all the evil which is by burning Holi bonfire the day before main Holi festival.

Significance of Holi colors

It has been believed that Lord Krishna who is reincarnated avatar of Lord Vishnu celebrated Holi with colors. He used to play Holi with colours with his friends Vrindavan & Gokul from which the names of the places in India was allotted. So, from that time on wards the festival is celebrated with colours, water, gulaal etc. Every group members celebrate this festival with joy from children to elders, men, women everyone. They use "Pichkari" with which plain water or coloured water is sprayed over others. Now-a-days balloons filled with water is also used to throw it over others.

Holi is a spring festival which is to say goodbye to chilling winters. This is also considered as spring harvest in some part of the country. This is also associated with the farmers who are the main resource of India & Nepal, they ceelbrate this festival to share the happiness of the filled stores with crops. Thus, this is called "Vasant Mahotsav" & "Kama Mahotsava".

Holi is considered as an ancient festival of Hindu

Holi is one of the oldest Hindu festivals and it had probably started several centuries before the birth of Christ. Based of this is, Holi is mention in ancient religious books like, Jaimini’s Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutra.

Even the temples of ancient India have sculptures of Holi on walls. One of this is a temple from the 16th century in Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagar. The temple has many scenes from Holi sculpted on its walls showing princes and princesses along with their maids holding pichkaris to squirt water on royals.

Many medieval paintings such as a 16th century Ahmednagar painting, Mewar painting (circa 1755), Bundi miniature all depicts Holi celebrations in one way or the other.

Significance of Bhang/Cannabis in Holi

The tradition of consuming bhang on holi is particularly rampant in North India where Holi itself is celebrated with a gusto unseen anywhere else.

But, the hub of bhang is Varanasi or Banaras, the land of Shiva worship, where bhang is prepared on its famous ghats.

The intoxicating material which is associated with Lord Shiv has become one of the major part of the celebration. Bhang is prepared in variety of forms from milk to pakodi. Every forms of recipes is considered delicious & is loved by the people.

How To Celebrate Holi Festival?

Various part of the countries has it's own way to celebrating Holi with Bhang, colours, Puja, recipes etc. But, This festival of 3 day should be enjoyed with full of joy accordin g to days.

Day 1 – On full moon day (Holi Purnima) colored powder and water are arranged in small brass pots on a thali. The celebration begins with the eldest male member who sprinkles color on the members of his family.

Day 2- This is also known as ‘Puno’. On this day Holika’s images are burnt and people even light bonfires to remember the story of Holika and Prahalad. Mothers with their babies take five rounds of the bon- fire in a clockwise direction to seek the blessing of the God of fire.

Day 3- This day is known as ‘Parva’ and this is the last and final day of Holi celebrations. On this day colored powder and water is poured on each other.The deities of Radha and Krishna are worshiped and smeared with colors.

What are the Holi Recipes?

According to region, Holi recipe is different.

So, I guess everyone including me has already explained everything about the holy Holi festival which shows our age old tradition which should be preserved.

And finally I absolutely agree Ms. Sugandha Banga who said that everyone can play Holi bacause this is festival of love which can be celebrated by everyone, with everyone not only particular religion "Hindu". This can also be celebrated by Muslims, Jains, Sikhs as a part of welcoming new beautiful season called "Spring".

It is said the spirit of Holi encourages the feeling of brotherhood in society and even the enemies turn friend on this day. People of all communities and even religions participate in this joyous and colouful festival and strenthen the secular fabric of the nation..

Happy Holi to Everyone...