Happy Holi
Dear Friends,
Wish you a very happy Holi.
What is Holi?
Holi is a spring festival which occurs in the month of March.
As all festivals in India, the celebration of Holi also has different
aspects
- it is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil
- a carnival of colours
- a community festival
- a tradition of ancient spring rites.
Major deities
The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the arrival of spring, and
the death of the demoness Holika.
Holika believed herself to be immune to death by fire. When she
questions her nephew Prahlad’s devotion to the Ulitmate God of Gods, Vishnu, and threatens to walk through fire with the intention of
destroying the prince, she is herself consumed by the fire while the
prince comes out unscathed.
The evening before Holi, a Holika is burnt as a representation of the
triumph of the good over evil.
Krishna’s presence in Holi is also undisputed. It is said that the
festival is also a celebration of the death of Putana – the demon who
attempted to kill Lord Krishna An effigy of Pootna, also burnt the
night before, further signifies death itself, as Pootna typifies
winter and darkness.
The following morning begins with worship of Krishna by lovingly
smearing his idol with ‘gulal’ – the colours used to play
Holi.
Krishna’s love is the epitome of the freshness of youth amidst all its
playfulness. Krishna’s loving colour fights with Radha inspired
Holi. The riot of colours follows, and takes place amidst the
sprinkling of coloured powder. Everybody is welcome and everybody is
pardoned for his or her revelry. Holi is thus a celebration of life,
the life of love, unblemished joy, and good spirits.
Posted by purnank 
