It's time to get yourself bathed and drench your dear ones in a myriad of colours or to attend an event of fun,
excitement and colour Yes, it is March and Holi, or the Hindu Festival of Colours, is here once more.
Also known as Vasant Utsav, Holi marks the onset of Spring in India. Observed since ancient times,
Holi is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. With increasing migration of Indians into other nations,
Holi is now observed with as much fanfare in India as in places abroad wherever there is the presence of a Hindu community.
Typically observed on the full-moon day of Phalguna (February – March),
the joyous Holi festival is associated with the worship of Lord Krishna, and is considered an imitation of his play with
the wives and daughters of the cowherds
The Spring Festival of India, Holi - is a festival of colors. Celebrated in March it is meant to welcome the spring
and win the blessings of Gods for good harvests and fertility of the land. As with all the Hindu festivals,
there are many interesting legends attached to Holi, the most popular being that of Prince Prahlad,
who was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu. It is the second most important festival of India after Diwali.
Holi in India is a festival of fun and frolic and has been associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha.
The exuberance and the festivity of the season are remarkable.
Unlike all the other festivals of India, Hindu Holi festival is one such festival where one can put down
the social taboos and indulge in the intoxicating drinks and sweets prepared by using opium.
It is a festival of romance often represented by the love-play of Radha and Krishna. Brij Holi is famous all over
the world for its gaiety in spirit. Each year, young and old, men and women, all indulge themselves in the spirit
of colors and for once forget the social taboos. There are mouthwatering delicacies to savor such
as 'Gujhias' and 'Papris' and there are interesting traditions and customs of Holi that have their own regional variances.
We will also talk about making natural and healthy colors and safety precautions that one must take to enjoy Holi.
Entire country wears a festive look when it is time for Holi celebration. Market places get abuzz with activity
as frenzied shoppers start making preparations for the festival. Heaps of various hues of gulal and abeer can be seen
on the roadside days before the festival. Pichkaris in innovative and modern design too come up every year to lure
the children who wish to collect them as Holi memorabilia and of course, to drench everybody in the town.
In India, the colorful festival of Holi is celebrated with fun and fervor. The festival marks the arrival of spring season,
therefore, brings in warmth into the air. It is not just the season, which is changing, but also the mood of the people.
The festival signifies the spirit of brotherhood and unity. It is often said that on the event of this festival,
even enemies forget their differences and embrace, greeting each other. Holi festival is celebrated by the people of all caste,
class or creed, without any distinction, in the northern parts of India. It treats everyone equally,
wherein all the people drenched in different colors, lose their identity to become one. In the following lines,
we tell you how people go about celebrating in India and if you want to be a part of this exiting and dazzling event,
India visa 24 is the right place you should come. Read on and we will tell you more about the Festival as well as the
Indian Visa process.The celebration of Holi has different aspects. It is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil,
a carnival of colors, a community festival, and a tradition of ancient spring rites,
*The evening of bonfires:
(getting ready)
The day before the full moon day of the Holi is called as the Small Holi. Children lit up bonfires, sing,
and dance around it. The evil spirit, symbolized by all those dead leaves, twigs, dirt and filth that collect during
the winter months, is thrown up in the fire. Quite a spring-cleaning indeed!
People sometimes take embers from the fire to their homes to rekindle their own domestic fires.
In some community, a pot of new barley seeds is placed for roasting under the pyre before the bonfire is lit up.
These seeds are eaten after the fire dies down. The yields in the coming harvest season are predicted by reading
the direction of the flames or by the state of the roasted seeds in the pot.
The ashes from the Holi fire are also believed to provide protection against diseases.
It's something similar to the ancient rites of burning Maypole in the West part of the globe.
*The carnival of colors:
The main event of Holi is indeed a carnival of colors. On this day, children, friends and neighbors come out
on the streets. And the spree to color-anyone-you-see takes over. Colors of all form and variety.
They come in shades of red, orange, blue, green, and purple, and the likes. And they are available in water, oil,
or powder base.
Colored powder, or, gulal was earlier made out of Dried seeds of some tropical flowers like the Palash,
and dried silt from the riverbed. This has now given way to synthetic dyes, available in the form of pigments.
For a glittering effect, fine dust of Mica are also mixed with the powdered dye. People throw these colored powders in
the air as they shout "Holi Hai!", and smear each other with this colored powder.
Also they wet each other with colored water from Pitchkaris. Colored water is prepared by mixing the pigments
of synthetic dyes. These dyes are available in a range of shades. These are sold by most of the local grocers
and special purpose kiosks which crop up only for those Holi days. These outlets also sell other Holi accessories,
like Pitchkaris, balloons, and head gears, along with coloring pigments. A Pitchkari is a kind of long syringe
or sprinkler throwing jets of water from a distance. Also water-filled baloons are used these days to charge the target
with a splash of color. Indeed the effect is blasting enough to be taken aback. So don't get shocked if you go out in
the streets, on this day, and suddenly, a balloon darts at you, leaving you wet and colored!
*Vasanta utsava and the Spring rites:
Holi bears close similarities with the important ancient festival called Vasantotsava, an age-old tradition
of celebrating the arrival of spring. This festival was celebrated as a day when people forgot caste and gender
differences and were allowed many liberties, otherwise forbidden. And like any spring festival celebrated by ancient
peoples all over the world, Vasantotsava also had certain rites. These include lighting up of fires, driving off demons,
setting the normal orders in reverse, sporting something weird, having a community feast, and so on.
*The tradition of coloring each other,
the no-holds-barred play with colors between young men and women, taking out processions in weird gears,
the greetings with yummy sweet dishes the bonfires in the evening before the full moon night of the Holi,
are all leftovers of those ancient spring rites.
The Holiday spot, has captured some glimpses of this wonderfully serene, rich with culture and classy Spring fest,
and presents it in its most original form to you.
Holi celebration takes place with lot of joy and verve throughout the country.
The enthusiasm of the people reaches its peak and matches with the nature which is in full bounty at the time of Holi.
Holi is being celebrated in India since time immemorial but the popularity of Holi celebrations seems to be rising
with every passing year and so is the level of hoo-ha. As no other festival gives so much liberty to the people to
let their hair loose and enjoy their hidden crazy self.
Differences of any sort are drowned in the coloured waters of Holi and people just enjoy being a play animal.
To further enhance the festive spirit of Holi celebrations we have a social sanction to get a kick with the tradition
of bhang. Then there is total wildness as people dance to the rhythm of dholak (a Traditional North Indian hand drum)
and sing traditional folk songs in loudest possible pitch.
*Cultural Significance
The cultural significance of Holi can be gauged from the fact that its origin derives reference from various mythological
tales. This has led to a deep faith and respect towards the celebration of the festival, as Indians strongly believe
in mythology. The moral behind all these stories is victory of good over evil, which is a lesson for the human race.
The tales instill the faith of man into the ultimate power of God and his mercy over his devotees. Holi festival is
the medium through which people are inspired to lead a virtuous life. Moreover, the festival is organized at the time
when the harvest is at full bloom, giving people an opportunity to rejoice.
*Social Significance
the social significance of Holi is seen in the form of the message of unity and brotherhood, it delivers.
As per the custom and tradition, people pay visits to their friends and relatives, to give them wishes as well as
to strengthen their bonds. The festival brings the nation together, as it is not just celebrated by Hindus but,
also by the Sikhs, Christians, Jains as well. The festival is unique, as it does not discriminate against any section
of the society and treats everyone equally. The social fabric and secular character of the society is strengthened,
since people work on building cordial relations, forgiving their hard feelings for others.
The dance performances and the music played during the festival rejuvenate the mind and soul.
The color, especially Abeer, penetrates the body and strengthens the ions, improving health and beauty.
During the tradition of Holika Dahan, people circumambulate around it the fire. This ritual kills the bacteria
in the body and makes it clean. During Holi, people clean their houses and remove clutter, thereby ensuring flow
of positive energy. Therefore, it can be said that apart from rejuvenating the social ties, Holi provides a wonderful
opportunity to let loose all the tension and de-stress the mind. Too good to be true?
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Hope you have safe hassle free journey to India and that is why INDIA VISA 24 is here for. Happy HOLI!!
