Do you know that the month of March is being eagerly awaited
by the people of Indian Subcontinent? If no, then let me tell you that month of
March consider being the month of colours as it marks the onset of a famous Indian
festival called ‘Holi’. This particular festival is celebrated with great
fervour and joy not only in India but across the world be it U.S., U.K. and
elsewhere.
Let’s know more about this Festival
What is Holi?
Holi is called the ‘Festival of colours’ as multiple colours
are used to express joy on this day. The festival highlights the victory of good over evil. It marks the onset of spring and the end of winter. The festival
also marks the start of a good spring harvest season.
Origin of Holi
There are various accounts of Holi’s origin which are
mentioned in the ancient Indian literature. According to the one popular
version of the story, there was a king who became so powerful that he asked his
subjects to worship him. On the other hand, his son Prahlada was a devotee of
Hindu Deity Lord Vishnu which gets the king’s ire. To satiate his anger, king
plotted with his sister, Holika, to kill his son. Holika, who was immune to
fire, tricked Prahlada to sit on a pyre with her. When the pyre was lit, Prahlada
being Lord Vishnu devotee left unscathed while Holika burned to death despite
her immunity.
Significance for other religions than Hinduism
Apart from Hindus, Sikh people celebrated this festival
which their texts refer to as Hola. Tenth Guru of Sikhs-Guru Gobind Singh-
modified Holi with a three day Hola Mohalla extension of Sikh martial arts.
There is a display of great martial skills over the period of Hola Mohalla by
the Sikh Devotees. People throng from all over India and world to Anandpur
sahib to be part of the celebration. Holi was observed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh
and his Sikh empire that extended across India and Pakistan. This observation
of Hola Mohalla continues to this day.
How Holi is celebrated?
Holi is celebrated with the splash of colours and water over
each other. Various artificial and herbal colours are being used over each
other. Roads are turned into a rainbow with the splash of multiple colours over
each other. Water balloons and guns are being used to squirt water. Later in
the day, special meals and sweets are prepared and distributed among each other
to mark the celebrations.
Therefore it is the presence and celebrations of these sorts of festivals make India incredible in true sense.
Therefore it is the presence and celebrations of these sorts of festivals make India incredible in true sense.
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