Holi: The Festival of Colours - Celebrations and Significance

      Holi festival identified with Dol-Yatra, the festival of colours to celebrate the divine love of Lord Krishna in the season of Spring, Phalgun (March). It is said to be a commemoration of the killing of the demon Madhu by Krishna. This festival is specially celebrated in Northern states, as a kind of Hindu carnival and is a very popular festival. It commences about 10 days before the full moon of Phalgun (March), but is usually observed for the last three or four days, terminating with the full moon. Boys dance all over the streets and the residents sprinkle their friends, relatives and even passersby; with red or yellow powder (gulal). The whole atmosphere is very jovial and no one objects to the colour being thrown. Loud music, merriment, songs and midnight orgies are the rule. Elders, youngsters, children, women and girls, all join this festival. Groups go from house to house, offer gulal at the feet of the elders and smear red yellow powder on the faces of the equals. Some rich elderly persons apply scent on all visitors. Towards the chose of the festival, one day before the colour play; a bonfire is lighted and games representing the frolics of the young Krishna, take place around embers. A light mood atmosphere prevails, along with practical jokes, caricature, and cartoons, as is not seen in any other festival.

Holi Celebration

      In Hindu mythology, there have been two philosophical divisions: Dvaita and Advaita; Dvaita pertaining to gods and Advaita relating to demons. Among the demons Hiranyakashipu was a great demon chief. To avenge the death of his brother Hiranyaksha at the hands of the gods, Hiranyakashipu undertook severe austerities to obtain a boon from Brahma to escape death. When Brahma appeared before him and enquired the reason for his intense tapas, he asked him, "If you will confer on me, my desired blessings, O' chief among the bestower of boons, let not my death occur at the hands of living beings created by you." "O' Lord, let there be no death to me indoors or outdoors, by day or night, from anyone or even through weapons, neither on earth nor in the air, by men or animals; nor should I meet my death at the hands of animate or inanimate beings, gods, demons or serpents."

      Brahma duly pleased granted his wish. Hiranyakashipu thought that he was very wise in getting such a boon from the creator himself, on account of which he would not die under any circumstances. But that was not to be. Little did he realize that his own son would prove to be the cause of his death.

      Prahalad, his son, refused to accept that his father was the Lord of all creation. He tried his best to enlighten his father to take refuge in God, but to no avail. His father, out of ego, became furious and tried to eliminate his son by all possible means. But all attempts failed, because the Almighty saved his devotee Prahalad at every step.

      During the period, when Hiranyakashipu, left his kingdom to perform tapas in the forest to obtain a boon from Brahma, Indra, the king of Gods, tried to abduct Hiranyakashipu's wife Kayatu, who was expecting a child at that time. Sage Narada intervened and took Kayatu to her hermitage.

      It was, during her stay in the sage's ashram, that Prahalad, even while in the womb of the mother, happened to listen to the glory of God, when Narada used to recite them to Kayatu, to keep her in good spirits. Thus the child Prahalad, even before he was born, had developed unflinching faith in God.

      When Hiranyakashipu obtained the boon and returned, he tried all methods of destruction of Prahalad. He was advised that his sister Holika, has a boon that fire will not burn her and that Holika should sit in the burning fire holding Prahalad ill the lap, by dint of which Prahalad would be burnt without any effect on Holika. Accordingly, fire was arranged and Holika sat in the fire with Prahalad in her lap. Prahalad, because of divine bliss escaped without any scratch or burn, but Holika was burnt to ashes, because of the misuse of the boon bestowed on her.

      Holi festival is celebrated in honour and respect of Prahalad, who had the divine vision, even in childhood. The fire is lit one day before the colourful play, to condemn the wicked participation of Holika.

      Holi in Barsana, also known as Barsani, Brahmasanu or Brishbanpur is famous for special reasons. This town had been the capital of Brishbhanu, king and his queen Kirti. On the top of hillock recognized as the form of God Brahma connected by upstairs is a fort like temple, where the Shakti of Sri Krishna, Bhagwati Radha is seated. Holi festival (March) of this place is reputed, not because it is considered sacred, but because of the peculiarities that the women in this festival chase and beat men folk with sticks.

Holi Celebration on The Street

      The spring festival of Bihar is the most buoyant of all Hindu festivals in this state; since Kama (God of Love) is the presiding deity of this festival, the weeks following Holi see a spate of marriages, being performed in Bihar.

      Hola Mohalla festival, exclusive to the Nihangs of Punjab, is an occasion for displaying their prowess in martial arts. The Nihangs are descendants of the baptized order of the tenth Guru Govind Singh. In 1699 the guru decided to covert the day following the fun colour of Holi, into an occasion for proving the valour of his blue dressed armed descendants. Anand Pur Sahib (Punjab) is the venue of the festival in February-March, after Holi, the season which heralds the arrival of spring, the season of warmth, colour and joy.

      Hola Mohalla is celebrated on the day subsequent to Holi. The Nihangs, dressed in blue and armed with weapons, Upholding the tenets of their tradition of regimented practices and a Spartan life, the festival is observed by taking out a colourful procession through the town of Anandpur Sahib, amidst beating of Nagaras (big drums), the chanting of "Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akai". (The one, who speaks, is pious and that time is the truth), and splashing of colour (gulal, red powder). Symbolic of the occasion daring encounters and thrilling manoeuvres in martial arts, archery; sword, fencing, horse riding and tent pegging, form a part of this fraternal celebration. A community feast for all ends this day-long festive extravaganza of Punjab.