Holi is the only festival that bridges the gap of religion, status, language and caste
A rainbow of colours with a splash of water and the only thing what comes to our mind is Holi.
This festival of colours is celebrated all over India and the Indian diaspora around the world. It stands apart as the only festival bridging the gap of religion, status, language and caste.
The festival brings in spring and bids adieu to the gloomy winter. The festival of colours has been celebrated for centuries. Stone inscriptions from 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya, and it also finds a mention in the work 'Ratnavali', of the seventh century. Paintings from the 16th and 17th century depict the Royals as well as the commoners celebrating the festival. Just as the diverse a crowd the festival pulls, its origins too are rather diverse.
Various legends about the festival have sprung up from different parts of India. The most popular one is that of Prahlad and his evil demon father, Hiranyakashyap, who orders his sister Holika to walk on fire with Prahlad as Prahlad fails to accept his father as the Almighty. Having been gifted the boon of immunity against fire, Holika walks on the fire undaunted. Lord Vishnu saves his devotee and turns Holika into ashes. This is said to have initiated the ritual of lighting a bonfire on the first day of 'Holika dahan', signifying the victory of good over evil.
Another popular legend in southern India surrounds the God of Love Kamadeva, and Lord Shiva. Kamadeva risks the anger of Lord Shiva, who is deep in meditation and disturbs the Lord by shooting the arrow of love. He is said to have done it to bring Shiva back to worldly affairs and marry Goddess Parvati, bringing back balance in the world. Enraged Shiva opens his third eye and burns Kamadeva but brings him back on the request of Rati, Kamadeva's wife. Holi is celebrated to honour Kamadeva's sacrifice for the good of the people.
The story of the evil ogress Pootana, who is killed by baby Krishna and also the story of the ogress Dhundhi, who devoured children and ultimately was chased away by children's pranks on Holi, are the stories known in many parts of India. The most loved legend and the origin of the celebration with colours is that of Krishna and his beloved Radha. Lord Krishna complains to his mother about his skin colour, which Radha teases him for. Yashoda, his mother, suggests that he smear colour on her face to bridge the differences. This is said to have started the tradition of playing with colours and playing pranks on loved ones to celebrate love and friendship.
While Krishna and Radha used colours made from flowers of 'tesu' or 'palash' tree known as gulal, we use a wide array of colours, water balloons and water guns or pumps.
While the stories and reasons for celebrating Holi may be debated upon and may not stand relevant today, the essence is very much relevant and important.
This festival stands important at a time when unrest and divide is spread the world over. Holi is celebrated for sharing love, gratitude and brotherhood amongst one and all.
Be it lighting a bonfire for celebrating good over evil or playing with colours to spread happiness and joy, the festival brings us together, irrespective of our differences.
Let's take a day off from our differences and celebrate for all the good in our life. It's time to fill buckets full of water and bring gulal to drench one and all with joy and happiness.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Holi")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}