Radha_celebrating_Holi
Holi | A Colour Full Holi | Safe Holi
–R K Gupta, Online Business Solutions, ravi.kumar@gsesoftsolutions.com
Let me introduce first, by Profession i am a software developer, done Master in Computer Application and doing own business. I used to write articles on various subjects. Today as soon i saw a book on Holi written by Mr. Satyanarayan Gupta, i decided to write an article on Holi.
As soon we listen the word Holi, our mind started thinking about happiness. Holi is a enjoyable word and also started thinking about many question in our mind about holi, for example
* What is Holi?
* When is this Holi Celebrated?
* Where is this festival is celebrated?
* Why this Holi festival is celebrated?
* Various types of Holi by Region?
* How this Holi Festival is celebrated?
* What is the advantages and disvantages of this festival?
* Good Steps?
etc etc etc etc etc may be many more questions.
* What is Holi?
Holi is a religious festival; it is celebrated in Spring season by Hinuds. (Sorry I am not gonna say, it is the festival of Only Hindu, Now it is the festival of all people in the whole world, we should not say like that). It is the festival of Colors but off course not harmful colors and activities. In India it is called by another names changing the state wise. for example, it is called Dolyatra in West Bengal and Orissa, also called Basant Utsav. Mostly it is celebrated in Braj connected to Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon and Barsana for Lord Krishna. In Vrindavan and Mathura, where Lord Krishna grew up, here festival is celebrated for 16 days; untill rangpanchmi, in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna.
Holi is also called Dhuli in Sanskrit, also Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi. One day BeforeHoli, we celebrate the Choti Holi, also called the Holika Dahan. About Holika Dahan you can read in section “why this is celebrated?”
* When is this Holi Celebrated?
Holi is celebrated in Sprig Season, at the ending of winter on the last full moon day of the lunar month of Phalguna(February/March) called Phalgun Purnima. Before one day, Holika Dahan is celebrated.
* Where is this festival is celebrated?
Although this festival is very known to the whole world, and full world celebrate. But mostly i can say this is celebrated in India, Nepal, Pakistan and countries where large amount of indian populations, for example Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States, Mauritius, Fiji and many more.
* Why this Holi festival is celebrated?
Most of the people know the history of holi, it is a very popular history about a Hiranyakashipu. He has been granted a boon by Brahma not to be killed during the day or night; inside the home or outside;not on earth or in the sky;neither by a man nor an animal;neither by astra nor by shastra.
Hiranyakashipu has a son named Prahlada, he was a great devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu and his father does not his this activity. His father gave Several threats not to speak about his rival vishnu, but Prahlada does not leave that. Hiranyakashipu gave poison to his son, trampled by elephant, put in the room alone hungry, poisonous snake, but Prahlada has not any even scratch from his activity. His father was tired to kill his son, he has ordered hissister (who has got a boon not to burn in fire) to sit on the fire with his son Prahalada. When the fire started, Holika sat with Prahalada on the fire, but people was amazed to see that Holika fully burned on the fire, but Prahalada survived harmless, everyone was happy with it and since then it is celebrate as Holi.
In this history, later on Bhagwan Vishnu form of a NARSHIMHA(HALF MAN AND HALF ANIMAL) and killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk time by his claws(which are neither astra nor shastra).
There are another story about this, Bhagwan Shiva opened a third eye and Kama’s Body was reduced to ash, for the sake of his wife Rati, he restored him but only a mental image.
The origin of the modern Holi festival has been traced to ancient Bengal called Gaudiya Vaishnav festival. The rituals signified that all our desired should be divered for the attainment of Krishna and for the well being of society.
A_Holi_Festival_-_Krishna_Radha_and_Gopis
* Various types of Holi by Region?
In India, there are various types of Holi Celebration by the region.
Lath Mar Holi
Here is the famous LATH MAR HOLI is played at the compound of Radha Rani Temple at Barsana in Uttar Pradesh. Women beat up men with sticks sings holi songs and shout Sri Radhey or Sri Krishna.
Holi Milan
In Uttarpradesh,there is special puja called Holi Milan is done in the morning of Holi.
Kumauni Holi
In Uttarakhand, there is musical social affair is organized. It is called Baithki Holi, Khari Holi, Charadi Holi, Nirvan Ki Holi etc.
Phagwa Holi
In Bihar, Jharkhand, it is called phagwa holi
Dol Jatra
in Bengal, it is called Dol Jatra. they sing and dance to the accompaniment of musical instrument like ektara, dubri and veena.
Jagannath temple of puri
The people of Orissa replace the icons of Krishna and Radha to Jagannath.
Sigmo
In Goa, it is called Sigmo, the Konkani community in Goa celebrates.
Holi
In Gujarat, there is no specific name, people say holi and celebrates as same.
Hola Mohalla
In Punjab, it is called Hola Mohalla.
Fagu
In Nepal it is called Fagu.
Tomato Holi
Most famous spanish festival called tomatina, where it is celebrated with tomato only. People beat other with squashed tomato and enjoy a lot with high amount of tomatoes.
* How this Holi Festival is celebrated?
happy holi
Basically, Holi is celebrated is same manner in everywhere, but it called by different names regionally.
Basically what happens is Holi is started with the Vasant Panchmi. Before Holi, people celebrate the Choti Holi called Holika Dahan. For holika Dahan people start collecting the dung cakes, wood of araad or redi tree and Holika tre, grains from the fresh harvest and unwanted wood leaves in the bonfire since many days, and on the day of Holika Dahan, people assemble near the bonfire and the eldest member or pandit initiates the lighting and prayer are said and praise is offered.They smears others with colors as a mark of greeting. All the people individually burn their grain and eat the burned grain, every family member eat this.
After Holika, the other day, Holi is celebrated. At this day People do holi Pujan in the morning with Pua, Pakwan and start playing with colors. Some place, it is played by MUd(WHich is not good at all). Folk Songs are sung at high tone and people dance to the tune of dholak. Till maximum 2 o’clock, it is played with wet colors, mud etc. After day people go to their home and got fresh with bath. After 4 o’clock they wear new clothes like Kurta Payjama and give gulal, scented colors to their parents and elders and take a assirvad from them and gone outside to their frinds and relative, neighbours house to take aasirvad from them too.
* What is the advantages and disvantages of this festival?
Advantages
The Holi Festivals closes the wide gaps betwwen social classes and community and castes and brings everyone together. They also close the gap between the rich and the poor, women and men and enjoy this in full enjoyment. Holi ends the gaps between enemies. They grow friendships socially. In This day, people forget their foeness and meet each other. They grow the mutual understanding.
Disadvantages
In this day people using mud, dung and harmful colors for holi, it is not good. It is harmful for our health. From Harmful colors our eye sight may go and can have skin problem
People are generally consumed Intoxicating bhang and other liquor, which is not good for our health.
* Good Steps?
* Do not use mud, Dung, and harmful colors, use only natural colors or natural vegetables to celebrate holi.
* Use Abir or gulal made by natural flowers not harmful gulal.
* Do not use intoxicating drinks, use milk or any healthy drink on this day.
* Do not use green tree for burning. we should use only waste materials.
Make Holi Cleaner and Safer
Thanks
Written by Ravi Kumar Gupta
Hindi Translator Priti Gupta
Publisher Mr. Satyanarayana Gupta
Important Links
