In Hinduism, Holi (also called Holaka or Phagwa) is an annual festival renowned on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March). It celebrates spring, commemorates a variety of events in Hindu mythology and is time of disregarding communal norms and indulging in general merrymaking. Holi is probably the slightest religious of Hindu holidays. During Holi, Hindus concentrate a public bonfire, spray friends and family with colored powders and water, and usually go a bit wild in the streets.
The central ceremony of Holi is the throwing and applying of colored water and powder on friends and family, which gives the holiday its common name “Festival of Colors.” This ceremony is said to be based on the above story of Lord Krishna and Radha as well as on Krishna’s lighthearted splashing of the maids with water, but most of all it celebrates the coming of spring with all its stunning colors and lively life.
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History and Meaning of Holi
Holi is celebrated all over India since prehistoric times, Holi’s specific form and purpose show great range. Originally, Holi was an agricultural festival celebrating the coming of spring. This aspect still plays a major part in the festival in the form of the colored powders: Holi is a time when man and nature alike throw off the murkiness of winter and celebrate in the colors and sparkle of spring. Holi also commemorates a variety of events in Hindu mythology, but for most Hindus it provides a temporary occasion for Hindus to disregard communal norms, indulge in merry making and usually “let loose.”
The legend commemorated by the celebration of Holi involves an evil king named Hiranyakashipu. He forbade his son Prahlad from worshipping Vishnu, but Radhu continued to do recommend prayers to the god. Getting angry with his son, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to sit on a pyre with his evil aunt Holika who was believed to be resistant to fire. (In an alternate version, Holika put herself and Prahlad on the fire on orders from her brother.)
This was all about history behind Holi. Now we will provide you with Holi Photos – How Different Parts of India Celebrate Holi. We hope this holi brings lots of colors in your life.