HOLI IS A CHEERFUL OCCASION
AND
SPECIALLY FOR KIDS.
HAVING FUN WITH COLORS!!!
HOLI, festival of colours, is celebrated with the ushering of Spring, on the last full moon day of the lunar month PHALGUN, which usually falls between end February and Mid March. RANG-PANCHAMI happens a few days later on PANCHAMI (5TH day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colours.
FULL OF LIFE AND JOY
The colours of Holi display the VITALITY of spring, the LIVELINESS of life and a CELEBRATION of the richness of harvest,( Wheat crop nearing harvest turns fields look Golden ). The festival arrives when winter fades away and spring adds Germinating fresh colours in nature. If one looks around, Urban or Countryside , all blooming with beautiful flowers in all its grandeur, Young and Old, all spirits soaked in the joyful essence of the festival.
Holi, though celebrated in most part of India, main celebrations are in the BRAJ region, where Lord Krishna grew up: MATHURA, VRINDAVAN, NANDAGAON, and BARSANA. Here the festive season of Holi, lasts up to sixteen days.
CLEANSING OF EVIL
The main day, Holi, also known as DHULENDI, is celebrated by people throwing GULAL (coloured powder) and PICHKARI (coloured water) at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as HOLIKA DAHAN (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi. POOJA are performed at holika dahan. As per scriptures - The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahalad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahalad, a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as KAMA DAHANAM in Andhra Pradesh.
SEASON OF LOVE
Legend says, Holi was celebrated in VRINDAVAN and MATHURA, where Lord KRISHNA grew up. The festival is celebrated for 16 days (until Rangpanchmi in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna). Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks on the GOPIs here. Krishna is believed to have complained to his mother about the contrast between his dark skin complexion and Radha's fair skin complexion. Krishna's mother decided to apply colour to Radha's face. The celebrations officially usher in spring, the celebrated season of love.
HOLI, festival of colours, is celebrated with the ushering of Spring, on the last full moon day of the lunar month PHALGUN, which usually falls between end February and Mid March. RANG-PANCHAMI happens a few days later on PANCHAMI (5TH day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colours.
FULL OF LIFE AND JOY
The colours of Holi display the VITALITY of spring, the LIVELINESS of life and a CELEBRATION of the richness of harvest,( Wheat crop nearing harvest turns fields look Golden ). The festival arrives when winter fades away and spring adds Germinating fresh colours in nature. If one looks around, Urban or Countryside , all blooming with beautiful flowers in all its grandeur, Young and Old, all spirits soaked in the joyful essence of the festival.
Holi, though celebrated in most part of India, main celebrations are in the BRAJ region, where Lord Krishna grew up: MATHURA, VRINDAVAN, NANDAGAON, and BARSANA. Here the festive season of Holi, lasts up to sixteen days.
CLEANSING OF EVIL
The main day, Holi, also known as DHULENDI, is celebrated by people throwing GULAL (coloured powder) and PICHKARI (coloured water) at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as HOLIKA DAHAN (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi. POOJA are performed at holika dahan. As per scriptures - The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahalad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahalad, a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as KAMA DAHANAM in Andhra Pradesh.
SEASON OF LOVE
Legend says, Holi was celebrated in VRINDAVAN and MATHURA, where Lord KRISHNA grew up. The festival is celebrated for 16 days (until Rangpanchmi in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna). Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks on the GOPIs here. Krishna is believed to have complained to his mother about the contrast between his dark skin complexion and Radha's fair skin complexion. Krishna's mother decided to apply colour to Radha's face. The celebrations officially usher in spring, the celebrated season of love.
CATCH YOU ON THE OTHER ASPECT OF THIS FESTIVAL IN NEXT ENTRY
