According to the Puranas, the Ramayana and Mahabharata are not even older than the Holi myth. One of the four eras in Hindu mythology, the Satyuga, was controlled by the powerful demon Hiranyakashipu. The demon king was extremely enraged by the fact that his son, Prahlad, was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu. He considered many ways to murder his son, all of which were unsuccessful. One method involved having Holika, his sister, sit next to Prahlad in a fire since she possessed a magical garment that protected her from the flames. But as they were seated in the flames, Lord Vishnu intervened, causing the flames to burn Holika instead of Prahlad. The locals celebrated the following morning since they had finally vanquished the demon.
According to a different version, Lord Krishna loved Radha dearly but was afraid that she wouldn’t accept him because he was dark and she was fair. On advice from his foster mother, Yashoda, he speared Radha’s face with coloured powder, which signaled the beginning of their romance.
Huge amounts of wood are lit on fire the night before the festival of colors to represent the burning of Holika. Following that, individuals of all ages hurl coloured water, powder, and even water balloons at one another in the morning. Revelers, sometimes referred to as tolis, travel around their colony in bunches and smear everybody they come across with paint as they go. In practically every Hindu household, special sweets are produced, including the recognisable Gujiyas. Another common Holi recipe is a bhang-infused beverage known as Thandai. Large farmhouses, five-star hotels, and resorts host celebrations in big cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
Holi takes on a somewhat peculiar form in Uttarakhand, especially in the Kumaon region, where people begin gathering in one another’s homes several months in advance to sing songs to the accompaniment of harmonium and tabla.
Visit Goa to experience Holi in an even more unique way because this place celebrates the event as Shigmotsav. Village Konkani Hindus participate in it by assembling in temple courtyards dressed in their most colorful clothes and carrying colorful flags. Similar to Lent, it also designates a period during which meat and alcohol are to be avoided. The culmination of the nine-day celebrations is the parade of vibrant floats or tableaus.
The biggest and most well-known Holi celebrations, nevertheless, take place in the Braj area, which includes Mathura and Vrindavan. Women pursue men with sticks at the famous Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana, representing an incident involving Krishna and his gopis. Another important occasion is the Holi celebration by widows, who are marginalized in the faith and have recently come to represent women’s emancipation.
For many, the real fun starts on the second day. People (especially children) fling coloured powder on one another, shoot each other with water cannons filled with vibrant water, and toss water balloons that have coloured powder and water inside on that day, also known as Rangwali Holi, Dhulandi, Dhulandi, Phagwah, or Badi Holi. Temples are exquisitely and vibrantly decorated, and participants in the festival perform plays, sing songs, play instruments, and dance.
Final Words
Similar to many holidays, many individuals like sharing sweets with friends and family or making time to spend with loved ones. Holi is celebrated all over the world, so even while exact traditions vary depending on the region and the part of the world, it’s always a lively, noisy, and exciting occasion.
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