Holy Our Lord
Holi –the festival of colors
Festivals are an indispensable part of the Indian culture. India is probably the only country in which a large number of festivals are celebrated with great devotion to god as well as seasonal variations. Holi is one such seasonal festival that celebrates the victory of the good over evil. It conjures up-scenes of merrymaking and gaiety. It breaks the monotony of everyday life. It is intended to keep alive the memory of those days and personalities and inspire people to emulate their examples.
The festival of colors or holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month which usually falls in the later part of February or March. This seasonal festival has many fantastic chronicles to it. In certain areas it signifies the victory of benevolence over malevolence while in other regions it is celebrated as a symbol of love and understanding.
The legend believed in the northern areas of India is that of demon god Hiranyakashipu. After a long penance, Hiranyakashipu was granted a boon by Brahma (considered as one of the creators of the world) that made it completely impossible to kill him. He demanded that he not be killed "during day or night; inside the home or outside, not on earth or on sky; neither by a man nor an animal, neither by astra (weapon) nor by shastra (charms or incantations). This boon made him immensely Herculean and consequently became excessively arrogant and chesty. He soon began to consider himself as the al mighty and coerced people to idolize and worship him.
Despite all this, Hiranyakashipu’s own son Prahalad was an ardent devotee of lord Vishnu. Angered, Hiranyakashipu threatened to kill Prahalad which however did not falter Prahalad’s unflinching faith in lord. Unable to cope, the demon king poisoned his son, ordered his son to be trampled by elephants, put him in a room with hungry, poisonous snakes. But all of Hiranyakashipu's attempts to kill his son failed pathetically. Finally the demon king ordered him to sit on the pyre with his sister Holika.
Holika had a boon from the fire god that as long as she had a mystic shawl wrapped around her no fire would be able to harm her. It was with rapt bewilderment everyone watched when the shawl flew and covered Prahalad and reduced Holika to ashes. The burning of Holika was henceforth celebrated as holi.
Later Lord Vishnu came in the form of a half-man and half-lion (Narasimha) and killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk (which was neither day nor night), on the steps of the porch of his house (which was neither inside the house nor outside) by restraining him on his lap (which is neither in the sky nor on the earth) and mauling him with his claws (which are neither astra nor shastra).
During this time people clean up their houses for the day. Dung cakes, wood of Araad or Redi tree and Holika tree, grains from the fresh harvest and unwanted wood leaves as assembled together for the bonfire which is the figurative Holika. At the time of Holika people assemble near the fire. The priest initiates the lighting. He then smears others with colors as a mark of greeting. Next day the festival is celebrated with colors and lot of frolic. People dance and sing and intoxicating drinks and mouth watering delicacies add to the fervor.
In the eastern regions of Bengal holi is celebrated as a commemoration to the immense love that was shared between lord Krishna and Radha. The celebrations occur in spring, the celebrated season of love. It is celebrated at a stretch of 16 days. According to legends lord Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about the contrast between his dark complexion and Radha's fair complexion. Mother Yashoda decided to resolve Krishna’s dilemma by applying color on Radha's face.
On this day people wake up early in the morning and don themselves in saffron attires. Idol worship of Krishna and Radha are performed. At the end of the rituals, food is offered to the gods prior to which the face of Krishna is smeared with colors. A beautifully decorated palanquin containing the idols of Krishna and Radha are also carried on to the streets wherein the followers sing devotional songs in praise of the lord and the surrounding people spray color on each other.
Holi is characterized by the spray of colors. It is most beneficial is natural colors are used rather than synthetic ones. Colors made from neem, haldi, kumkum and other medicinal herbs are most preferred. The use of synthetic colors may not only produce allergic reactions but also may be toxic to the body in certain occasions.
The main objective of holi is to bring people from different walks of life together, to welcome everyone with open arms and a time to forget all narrow differences between one and another. The true flavor of this occasion lies in its spirit of brotherhood, love and austerity.
Ritu Naiya
About the Author
Chris Tomlin - Holy is the Lord
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