Holi, the festival of colours, spring, and love, is one of the most famous and celebrated festivals in Hinduism. The day when everyone wears new traditional white kurtas and ethnic clothes, which assists and lets the colours blend in. Special delicacies are prepared on this day and shared amongst everyone who gathers to play Holi together in an open space like a playground, house entrance or streets.
The festival is celebrated by playing with organic and natural handmade colours called Gulaal. People use this colour to caress their cheeks and faces and share the joy of Holi. Kids and adults also enter into a water balloon fight and use the toy gun, Pichkari, which is filled with coloured water, and they teasingly spray water on each other. Hence, when you finish playing holi, your white attire is not white anymore; fun, right?
Besides the fun and festivities, the two stories are about why people celebrated Holi. In one story, we celebrate the love shared between Lord Krishna and Radha. In the Braj region of India, Holi is celebrated with much pomp and show. The legend has it that during the innocent time of Lord Krishna, he was perplexed if Radha would like him or not due to his dark complexion. So, lord Krishna’s mother, Yashoda, said that you go and meet Radha and ask her to colour the face with Gulaal. This act on the day is celebrated as Holi as they officially become a couple by colouring each other’s faces. Both Spring and Holi suffuse the environment with abundant colours and joy. The beautiful flowers that bloom all around are the way mother nature celebrates holi with the beings of earth, and the gulaal spread all over, glowing on the funny faces of people with cheerful smiles are individuals playing holi with mother nature. So, to commemorate both the beginning of Spring and the renowned love of Radha Krishna, this festival is celebrated and enjoyed.
The following historical tale that connects with holi is the celebratory win of good over evil. The story revolves around Lord Vishnu, King Hiranakashayap and his son Prahlad. Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, whereas Hiranakashyap claimed himself as God because of the five supreme powers he achieved as blessings. He could not be killed by a human being nor an animal, indoors nor outdoors, neither in the day nor at night, neither by projectile weapons nor by handheld weapons (astra-shastra), neither on land nor on water and air. He wanted every being to be his devotee, but Prahlad continued to worship Lord Vishnu. This whole scenario made Hiranakashyap so angry that he went to lengths to scare and punish Prahlad. One day he asked his sister Holika who was blessed with some power, to take Prahlad and sit in fire. She coaxed Prahlad to sit in her lap, wrapped a cloak around herself to shield her, and sat in the fire.
Due to his devotion towards Lord Vishnu, the cloak flew and encased itself around Prahlad while Holika caught fire. Then, Lord Vishnu took the form of Narsimha- half human, half lion, at dusk, took Hiranakashyap to a doorstep which was neither indoor nor outdoor, placed him on his lap and killed him with his claws which were neither projectile weapon nor handheld weapon. To celebrate the end of evil, the evening before Holi, people celebrate Holika Dahan, where they create a bonfire and enjoy it while dancing.
Holi is celebrated among various religions and regions in India, and glimpses have been caught worldwide too. Modern technology has made it easier for people to greet and wish while sending warm wishes to people living in far-off places. A few of the messages you can pass on to friends, relatives and families are:
Holi, a colourful feast of music, gulaals and gathering is beyond religion and country, now, it is celebrated across the globe. So, Enjoy this holi in its truest essence and playfulness. We, team of IndianShelf, wishes you and your family, A HAPPY HOLI!