What is Holi Festival and Why is it Celebrated
Holi, also known as the festival of colours is one of the most popular festivals of India. On this festive day, people play with colours and water. But do you know the exact reason why Holi is celebrated? We will discuss this festival and how it is celebrated, here’s all you need to know about this colourful festival
This blog will be about what is Holi and about the history behind Holi.
What is Holi Festival?
The festival of colours is one of India’s most popular festivals. It is celebrated at the end of winter and on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna, which is usually at the end of March or early April. The festival marks the beginning of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Holi is a day to remove your inhibitions and celebrate the spring season. It is a festival of colours and people play with colours and drench each other with coloured water. India is a land of diversity and festivals and Holi is a celebration that brings in all these diversities.
The Story of Holika Dahan
There was a powerful king named Hiranyakashipu. He was a devil and was hated for his cruelty. He considered himself to be God and wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship him like one. However, his own son, Prahlada, was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and refused to worship his father. Angry with the disobedience of his son, Hiranyakashipu tried killing his son a number of times, but nothing worked. He then asked his evil sister, Holika, for help. Holika possessed the special power of being immune to fire. So, to kill Prahlada, she tricked him into sitting with her on a pyre. But due to her evil intentions, her power became ineffective and she was burned to ashes. On the other hand, Prahlada gained this immunity and was saved. This is why the first day of Holi is celebrated as Holika Dahan and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
Preparing The Holika Pyre
Days before the festival, people start gathering wood and other inflammable materials for the bonfire in parks, community centres, near temples and other open spaces. On top of the pyre is an effigy to signify Holika who tricked Prahalad into the fire. Inside homes, people prepare festive seasonal foods such as gujiya, mathri, malpuas and other regional delicacies.
Holika Dahan or Bonfire
The first day of the festival is celebrated as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi. People gather around the pyre, perform puja (pray) and then light it. People even sing and dance around the fire as it symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
Playing with Colours
The second day of Holi is called Rangwali Holi, Dhulandi or Badi Holi. Colours play an important role in our lives, be it the clothes we wear, the walls of our homes or even the cars we drive. But, there are some colours that have a special place in our hearts. The festival of colours, Holi, is one of those colours. For people all over India, Holi is like the first day of spring and brings back happy memories of their childhood.
Children and young people play in groups with dry colours called gulal, colourful solutions and water guns (pichkaris), water balloons filled with colourful water, and other people spray coloured water onto each other. You might even find groups of people with drums, dholak and other musical instruments on the streets, dancing and singing their way from one place to another places.
The Special Treat
After the fun and playing with colours, people offer gujiya and other traditional sweets. Gujiya is a special sweet, which is made in each house in India during Holi. It is a dumpling filled with condensed milk and dried fruits. People also enjoy drinking Thandai which generally contains bhang (marijuana).
After Day
After a day of playing with colours, people clean up, wash and bathe, sober up and get new dressed up in the evening. They visit their friends and relatives, greets them and exchange sweets for the festival.
Where do people play Holi the most in India?
People celebrate this festival throughout India, but the main celebrations take place in the northern parts of India – Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. To best experience the festival of Holi in India, you must go to Uttar Pradesh, and more specifically, to those areas that are closely associated with Lord Krishna like Braj, Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon. In the Braj (Barsana) region of North India, which celebrates Lath Mar Holi, women playfully beat men with sticks who protect themselves with shields.
Top 5 Best Pichkari / Water Gun for Holi