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Holi: The Festival of Colors
The
colorful festival of Holi, literally 'burning', is celebrated on the
full moon day in the month of Phalguna (February/March)
and heralds spring.
Holi
is the time when people from all castes and social strata come together
forgetting all past differences and grievances. Originally the festival
was primarily for the Shudras who were otherwise not allowed to
participate in festivals. Today, the festival is a favorite with most
Indians for its colorful and joyous nature. 
Holi
can also be termed a festival for the youth, as it provides an
opportunity for young men and women to mingle freely and participate in
dances and cultural programs in an otherwise conservative society. Young
men throw gulal or ‘colored powder’ and colored water on women,
using pichkaris. The origin of
this custom can be found in the pranks of Krishna, who used to drench
the milkmaids in the village with water and play various other tricks on
them.
The
day before Holi is Chhoti Holi or "small Holi". The main
ritual on this day centers on a bonfire that is ceremoniously kindled at
the time of the rising moon. Men and women sing and dance around the
fire. A pot of new barley seeds is buried under the pyre for roasting.
These seeds are eaten after the fire is extinguished. This suggests that
the festival is also a celebration of the barley harvest.
There
is also a legend attached to the Holi fire.
Hiranyakshipu was a demon king. He wanted to avenge the death of
his younger brother, who had been killed by Vishnu. He performed severe
penance for many years. His penance was so intense that a smoke billowed
from his head and the entire world was in danger of annihilation.
Worried, the gods ran to Brahma for help. Brahma appeared before
Hiranyakshipu and granted him a boon. According to it, Hiranyakshipu
could be killed neither by man or beast, neither indoors nor outdoors,
neither on earth nor in the heavens, neither during the day nor at
night. Confident of his invincibility, Hiranyakshipu ordered all his
people to worship only him. However, his son, Prahalad, who was an
ardent devotee of Vishnu, continued to pray to Vishnu. Hiranyakshipu
decided to kill Prahalad, but every attempt failed. The king then
summoned his sister Holika who, because of a boon, was immune to fire.
He prepared a pyre, lit it and asked Holika to sit on it, clutching
Prahalad. Vishnu intervened to save Prahalad and the evil Holika
perished instead.
This
legend is relived on Chhoti Holi when the pyre is re-lit. Holika also
signifies the dirt and filth that collects during the winter months. Hay
and old rubbish is thrown into the bonfire for spring-cleaning.
Holi
at Mathura and Vrindavana is celebrated with great gusto for many days,
as these were the places where Krishna spent most of his childhood. It
is celebrated for many days here. Each major temple celebrates Holi on a
different day. People throng the temples to get drenched with colored
water and consider it a blessing from the god
In
Bengal, Holi is called Dol Yatra, or the swing festival. Idols of
Radha and Krishna are placed on swings and devotees take turns to swing
them. Women dance around the swing and sing devotional songs, as men
spray colored water at them. In Manipur, the Holi celebration is very different. It is a six-day festival here, commencing on the full moon day of Phalguna. In the 18th century Vaishnavism was introduced in Manipur. Similar to chhoti Holi, there is a bonfire, but Instead of a woodpile, a hut is built and then set ablaze. |