A festival that is is known to have started million of years ago, Holi 2012 will once again be celebrated as an occasion that celebrates the victory of good over evil. Holi is indeed one of the most important festivals of India.Holi 2012 is an annual festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March).
This age old festival, Holi's precise form and purpose reflect great variety. What started as an agricultural festival celebrating the arrival of spring has today become an important occasion on our yearly calendar. However the traditional aspect still plays a significant part in the festival in the form of the colored powders symbolic of nature‘s canvass painted in all hues. Holi- a festival of colours , is a time when man and nature alike throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the color spirit and cheer of spring.
Legend behind the Festival Holi
The legend commemorated by the festival of Holi involves an evil king named Hiranyakashipu. He forbade his son Prahlad from worshipping Vishnu, However Prahlad continued to offer prayers to the Vishnu like a true devotee. Getting angry on his son’s devotion, Hiranyakashipu planned to get rid of his son once and for all. He conspired with his sister Holika who was believed to be immune to fire, to sit with Prahlad in funeral pyre.Prahlad accepted the challenge and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika was burnt to death, while Prahlad survived without a scar. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. Holika begged Prahlad for forgiveness before her demise, and he decreed that her treachery would be remembered for year after year to recall the victory of good over evil.
Holi 2012- Time to recall Holi special Traditions
Holi a festival of colours is observed with a lot of fan fare in India. It is a festival celebrated by all the religions in India. The festival although being associated more with the Hindus than anyone else, is one that is devoid of religion based celebration. This Festival over years has become an occasion for merry making, rejoicing with friends families close near dear ones and has become popular all around the world.
However there are certain specific traditions that will be a part of Holi 2012 like every year. Holi 2012, dated 8th of March will be a national holiday all over India. The celebrations in the staunch part of India will involve bonfires that are recreated to depict the burning of Holika. Symbolic of burning all that is evil or old it symbolizes reform and change from evil to good.
Of course Holi festival is incomplete without colours . For most of us it’s not just Holi but Holi a festival of colours!! Throwing colors on each other – gulal and colors mixed with water paint the streets of India. This tradition of applying colours originated and was made famous by Lord Krishna, who is said to have applied colors to the Gopis (cow herd girls) around him. Krishna was often teased by the gopis for his dark complexion and to take on them he played this prank of painting them with colours.Eventually everyone is drenched in the vibrant hues of red, blue green, pink, violet and yellow giving this celebration its nickname - The Festival of Colors.
Did you know Holi is perhaps best understood as a celebration of the colors of unity and brotherhood? Holi is an opportunity to forget differences. The festival does not recognize distinctions of cast, class, creed, color, status or sex. Holi is about bringing people together: employees and employers, men and women, rich and poor, young and old.
With the aid of pichkaris, shaped like giant syringes, each is soon drenched in colored and scented water. Soon all have lost the appearance of their original selves beneath the flood of colors and a sort of universal brotherhood prevails. During this festival, people typically hug and wish each other "Happy Holi".
The God of Love Kamadeva is said to have an influence on the festival as well and its occurrence in the spring months does strengthen the festival’s association with love.
Among the places to celebrate Holi is Uttar Pradesh, where the town of Barsana plays host to an amazing display of women beating men with sticks and accompanying the celebrations with songs and dance.
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