Hindus have been commemorating the holiday of Holi for centuries. In addition to being a way to celebrate the arrival of spring, the Holi Festival is also viewed as a chance for individuals to start over and let all of their inhibitions go. One of the few occasions when extremely pious Hindus are rumoured to let loose is during the Holi Festival, when it is supposed that the gods turn a blind eye. They let their guard down, relax, and enjoy one other’s company while putting cultural conventions aside to dance and party. A bonfire is lighted on the first day of the festival to represent the burning away of all that is negative and the igniting of a bright, vivid and colourful future.

During the Holi Festival, attendees are doused with brilliant hues by participants whoss powder dye into the air. The colours can signify a vibrant new life or even, in a way, sin. They are rich in symbolism and have numerous connotations in a religious context. Some people believe that rinsing off the dye at night signifies a renewed pledge to live morally and to rid themselves of evils and demons.

Which Religion Celebrates Holi Festival?

Hindus are the main celebrators of the Holi Festival. Despite this, the festival is very inclusive, with unity serving as one of its central themes. The Holi Festival is a festival that takes place all over the world even though it has its roots in Hindu history. It unites individuals and invites them to let go of their inhibitions, making them feel a part of a huge, vibrant community.

The Legend of Holi

Holika, a female demon and the sister of the demon Hiranyakashayap, is the subject of a Hindu myth that serves as the inspiration for the festival. Hiranyakashayap was regarded as being both greater than all other gods and the universe’s ruler. But Prahlad, Hiranyakashayap’s son, disobeyed his mother and devoted himself to Lord Vishnu. His father was forced to work with Holika to murder him as a result of this behaviour.

In contrast to Holka, who perished in the flames, Prahlad was spared by Vishnu. Later on though, Vishnu assassinated Prahlad’s mother and himself to become king. The lesson of the tale is that goodness always triumphs over evil.

Because of Lord Krishna’s mischievous boyhood, the festival of colours got its name. Lord Vishnu, who relished pulling practical jokes on rural girls by dousing them in water and smearing them with paint, was the god who took on the form of Lord Krishna.

Several Hindu traditions have ties to this one as well. For instance, in Shaivism and Shaktism, goddess Parvati waits for Shiva to return to the world while enlisting the aid of Vasant Panchami and Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love. Shiva, however, is attacked by the deity of love with arrows. As a result, the kama is burned to ashes by the yogi’s third eye. Parvati was also unhappy by the repercussions of Yogi’s activities, in addition to Rati Kama’s wife. Shiva is begged for forgiveness by Rati. Hindus celebrate Holi on the day that Shiva finally decides to pardon and restore the god of love.

Holi Celebration

Holi is a festival that is highly fervently and enthusiastically observed, particularly in North India. People participate in a tradition known as “Holika Dahan” the day before Holi. In this rite, individuals assemble large piles of wood in open spaces to burn. According to the Holika and King Hiranyakashyap legend, it represents the destruction of evil forces. They also assemble around the Holika to pray to God and show their devotion to him.

Maybe India’s most colourful day is the following day. As soon as they awake, they worship God by performing pooja. They then put on white clothing and engage in color-related activities. One another is doused with water. Water cannons are used by kids as they run about dousing everything in colour. Likewise, on this day, even grownups are transformed into children. Together with dousing themselves in water, they paint each other’s faces.

To see their friends and family in the evening, they take a bath and get dressed elegantly. All day long, they dance and chug on something called “bhaang,” a unique beverage. The unique treat known as “gujiya” is loved by people of all ages.

Holi promotes fraternity and love, in essence. The nation benefits from its peace and pleasure. The festival of Holi stands for the victory of good over evil. People come together at this vibrant event and get rid of all the bad things in life.

History of Holi Festival

With its customs and traditions, the Holi festival is an old Hindu celebration. During the rule of Chandragupta II in the fourth century, it is referenced in the Puranas, Dasakumara Charita, and by the poet Klidsa. [16] The Sanskrit play from the seventh century, Ratnavali, also mentions the festival of Holi. [59] By the 17th century, the Holi celebration had captured the interest of British colonial employees and Foreign businessmen. There are several historical Oxford English Dictionary editions that mention it, although they all use different, phonetically generated spellings.

Reference in Ancient Texts and Inscriptions

The celebration of Holi is mentioned in Jaimini Mimansa in addition to having a thorough account in the Vedas and Puranas like Narad Purana and Bhavishya Purana. Holikotsav is mentioned in a stone inscription from 300 BC that was discovered in Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya. In his book Ratnavali, which was written in the seventh century, King Harsha also referenced holikotsav.

Ulbaruni, a well-known Muslim traveller, also made mention of Holikotsav in his historical memories. Holikotsav was observed by Muslims at the same time as Hindus, according to other Muslim writers of the time.

Reference in Ancient Paintings and Murals

Old temple sculptures on the walls make allusion to the Holi celebration. A joyful Holi scene is depicted in a 16th-century panel carved in a temple at Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagar. In the picture, a Prince and his Princess are shown standing among servants who are holding pichkaris or syringes ready to inject coloured water on the royal pair.

A picture by Ahmednagar from the 16th century has as its subject Vasanta Ragini, meaning spring song or melody. It depicts a royal couple relaxing on a large swing while young girls perform music and splatter colour with pichkaris.

A visual portrayal of Holi may be found in numerous other paintings and murals in the temples of mediaeval India. An illustration of the Maharana and his courtiers can be seen in a Mewar painting from the 1755–1756 period. A happy dance is in progress, with a tank of coloured water in the middle and the monarch giving gifts to some of the participants. A Bundi miniature additionally depicts a monarch perched atop a tusker as some damsels sprinkle coloured powders on him from a balcony above.

Legends and Mythology

Holi Purnima is also observed as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s birthday in several parts of India, particularly in Bengal and Orissa (A.D. 1486-1533). The word “Holi” actually means “burning” in its literal sense. The most famous of the many legends used to explain the meaning of this name is the one about the demon king Hiranyakashyap.

To his great dismay, Prahlad, Hiranyakashyap’s son, developed a strong devotion to Lord Naarayana in contrast to his father’s desire for everyone in his realm to worship only him. After Holika entered a raging fire holding Prahlad on her lap, Hiranyakashyap ordered his sister to do the same. Holika was blessed with the ability to enter flames without suffering any personal harm. She didn’t realise that the boon only worked when she entered the flames by herself, though. As a result, she was punished for her evil aspirations, whereas Prahlad was saved by the god’s favour because of his tremendous devotion. The celebration thus honours both the triumph of devotion and the triumph of virtue over evil.

Playing with colour is a pastime that has its roots in the legend of Lord Krishna, who painted Radha and the other gopis to initiate the custom. The play became a tradition as a result of the audience’s growing popularity.

Certain other tales, such as those of the ogresses Dhundhi and Pootana, as well as those of Shiva and Kaamadeva, are also connected to the festival. They all show how good triumphs over evil, which gives the celebration its philosophical underpinning.

Article By -: Kalyan Singh

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