Holi - The Festival of Love
>> Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The festival of Colours ! Holi is one of the major festivals of India, held in the month of Phalgun, according to Hindu Calendar. The festival generally fall in the month of March and is majorly celeberated in the Northern part of India.
Holi is an exuberant festival associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha. This festival is made differently in different parts of India.
History of Holi Festival
Holi is one of the oldest existing festivals of India. Its name being mentioned in Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras, redeems its importance in history.
Holi came from the legendary story of Prahalad and Hirnakashyap. Hirnakashyap was powerful king and considered himself as God. He wanted everybody to worship him because of the power he hold. Prahalad, being Hirnakashyap son, declined to do that and was great devotee of Lord Vishnu. This was unacceptable by Hirnakashyap and he asked his sister Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap.
Holika was blessed that she won't get burned in fire. She took her power as an advantage and took an extreme decision. But to the irony, Holika was burned alive and Prahalad was left unscathed. Since then Holika Dahan is being celebarated a day prior to Holi.
Where All Is Holi Celebrated ?
Holi is majorly celebarated in Northern part of India. Mathura and Vrindavan are known for Barsana Holi, a unique form of rejoicing Holi which is seen only in these two cities. Travellers visit this place just to have a look and feel of the place during Holi time.
How To Celebarate Holi?
Holi is festival of colour, joy and love. On this festival, people generally forget enemity and move ahead in life with great charm and amiability. People through coloured water and powders (Gulal and Kumkum) on each other. Singing and Dancing adds joy to the holi celebration.
What You Can Do on Holi?
Make Bhang : Holi is incomplete if you don’t make Bhang on the occassion. You can create Bhang drink or hot Buttered Bhand.
Play Holi with Natural Colours/ Flowers Petals: Being natural, safeguards you from many things. Using natural colours or flower petals would avoid harmful effect of chemicals. Since the colour are being used on the body it is advisable to use natural colours and protect your loved ones from harmful effect.
Enjoy Holi with Friendstravelindia.com
