The festival of Holi has many more aspects to it than just playing with water and color. Here's a look at the mythological and significance of this much-loved festival.
Many people celebrate Holi every year and over time the festival has evolved. Holi celebrates the start of a new season--spring. Earlier, it commemorated good harvests of the Rabi crop, the fertile land before the Kharif crop and the rains. It was a time to enjoy the end of winter and the beginning of spring filled with hope and joy.
The festival of Holi has many more aspects to it than just playing with water and color. Here's a look at the mythological and significance of this much-loved festival.
1. Holi: A brief explanation
The festival of Holi is celebrated by Hindus in India and Nepal as the festival of color. This festival is celebrated in spring and involves playing with water and color.
According to the Hindu calendar, Holi is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima which comes in either the month of February or March according to the Gregorian Calendar.
2. The myth behind Holi
The word Holi derives its name from Holika who is the sister of Hiranyakashipu. This is how the Hindu mythology story goes: King Hiranyakashipu, the great demons ruler was granted a boon by Brahma, the god of wisdom and this made it almost impossible for him to be killed. The book was a gift due to his long penance. Consequently, he grew arrogant and attacked the Heavens and the Earth. He demanded that people stop worshipping gods and start praising him.
Hiranyakashipu's own son, Prahlada, was a devotee of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu threatened him to stop but Prahlada continued offering prayers to Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu poisoned him, but the poison turned to nectar in his mouth. He was ordered to be trampled by elephants yet remained unharmed. He was put in a room with hungry, poisonous snakes and survived.
All of Hiranyakashipu's attempts to kill his son failed. Finally, he ordered Prahlada to sit on a pyre in the lap of Holika, Hiranyakashipu's demoness sister, who also could not die because she had a boon preventing her from being burned by fire. Prahlada readily accepted his father's orders and prayed to Lord Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika burnt to death, while Prahlada survived unharmed.
3. Why it's called Holi
The salvation of Prahlada and burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. People burn bonfires on the eve of Holi to commemorate this event in mythology. This event is known as Holika Dahan or the burning of Holika also called Chhoti Holi or small Holi, after the fire Holika Dahan prayers are said and god is praised. In the South of India, Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam.
In Mathura, where Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated for 16 days till Rangpanchmi and celebrates Radha's divine love for Krishna. The festival officially ushers in spring, the season of love.
4. Holi and the 'bhaang' association
In different parts of the country, Holi is celebrated with different traditions and many people drink Bhaang—an intoxicating drink. This is also added to some mouth-watering delicacies like pakoras and thandai to enhance the mood of the festival.
5. Use of water and color
Colour and water are thrown as people of all age groups get together to celebrate the festival which is associated with family, fun, and joy. Earlier, the colors were traditionally made of Neem leaves, herbs like Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, turmeric, sandalwood paste, extracts of flowers and leaves, etc.
Today, synthetic colors are used but over the past few years, there have been reports of poisonous substances in the colors.
Many people are becoming conscious of the threat to nature and eco-friendly Holi is being celebrated at many places
READ MORE:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please do not enter any spam link in the comment box.