Holi

The Hindu spring celebration of Holi, commonly referred to as the “Festival of Colors,” is largely observed in India, Nepal, and other countries in South Asia.

The festival marks the triumph of good over evil and the coming of spring.
It also serves as a reminder to forget, forgive, make new friends, and mend strained bonds.

Holi has its roots in Hindu mythology, and the holiday is tied with various legends. The mythology of Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, is one that is widely known.

After receiving a blessing that rendered him almost invincible, Hiranyakashipu grew haughty and demanded that everyone regard him as a deity.

His son Prahlad, however, remained dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation, and refused to honour his father.
Prahlad was often attempted to be killed by Hiranyakashipu, but each time, Lord Vishnu intervened to save him.

Hiranyakashipu urged his fire-immune sister Holika to sit in a pyre with Prahlad on her lap in one final attempt to kill Prahlad. Yet while the fire raged, Holika was the one who perished while Prahlad escaped unharmed.

The night before the primary Holi festival, this occasion is recognised as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi.
The tale of Lord Krishna, a Hindu god who is thought to have lived some 5000 years ago, is another well-known Holi tradition.

The story says that Krishna was envious of Radha’s lovely complexion and complained to Yashoda, his mother, about it.

Yashoda responded by telling him to choose any colour he wanted to use to paint Radha’s face. A tradition of playing with colours on Holi has been observed ever since Krishna and his associates painted Radha’s face.
On the full moon day of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which falls in February or March, the celebration of Holi is observed. The Holika Dahan ceremony, in which people ignite bonfires to symbolise the triumph of good over evil, traditionally kicks off the festivities.

The following day, festivities include feasting on customary foods, dancing, singing, and dousing one another with coloured powder and water.

The celebration is also distinguished by the use of bhang, a cannabis-leaf-based beverage thought to have been a favourite of Lord Shiva.
Holi celebrations are now widespread over the world because to the festival’s recent increase in popularity outside of India.

The festival’s traditional essence, which is to convey love, joy, and happiness as well as to forgive and forget the past, hasn’t c

Holi is a vibrant festival celebrated all over India and some other parts of the world. However, different states in India have their unique ways of celebrating Holi with specific rituals and customs. Here are some of the states and their Holi celebrations:

• Uttar Pradesh: The state of Uttar Pradesh is known for its grand Holi celebrations. People celebrate Holi for a week here, and the festivities culminate in the Lathmar Holi, which is celebrated in Mathura and Vrindavan.

• Bihar: The people of Bihar celebrate Holi by lighting bonfires on the eve of Holi. The next day, they play with colors and also prepare traditional delicacies like gujhiya and dahi bhalla.

• West Bengal: In West Bengal, Holi is known as Dol Jatra. People celebrate this day by carrying the idol of Lord Krishna and Radha in a procession.

• Rajasthan: In Rajasthan, Holi is celebrated as the festival of colors, and people play with dry colors, water guns, and water balloons. The traditional delicacy made during Holi in Rajasthan is ‘Ghevar.’

• Maharashtra: The people of Maharashtra celebrate Holi as ‘Rang Panchami.’ They play with colors on the fifth day after the full moon day.

• Gujarat: In Gujarat, Holi is celebrated as ‘Uttarayan,’ which is also known as the kite festival. People fly kites and indulge in various traditional sweets like jalebi and fafda.

• Punjab: In Punjab, Holi is known as ‘Hola Mohalla.’ People celebrate this day by displaying their martial arts skills and performing other traditional activities.

These are just a few examples of how different states in India celebrate Holi. However, one thing that remains the same throughout the country is the joy, fun, and enthusiasm that people have during this festival.