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Holi - the festival of colors - also known as Vasant Utsav, falls on the Pratipada during dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the Chaitra Month as per Hindu Calendar. If the Pratipada is falling on two days then the first day is considered as the day of Dhulandi (Vasantotsav or Holi). Holi is also celebrated as the arrival of spring season by taking inspiration from the colors. This festival is also known as Dhulandi, a name popular in the state of Haryana.
Holi is considered as one of the most revered and celebrated festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country. It is also sometimes called as the "festival of love" as on this day people get to unite together forgetting all resentments and all types of bad feeling towards each other. The great Indian festival lasts for a day and a night, which starts in the evening of Purnima or the Full Moon Day in the month of Falgun. It is celebrated with the name Holika Dahan or Choti Holi on first evening of the festival and the following day is called Holi. In different parts of the country it is known with different names.
The vibrancy of colors is something that brings in a lot of positivity in our lives and Holi being the festival of colours is actually a day worth rejoicing. Holi is a famous Hindu festival that is celebrated in every part of India with utmost joy and enthusiasm. The ritual starts by lighting up the bonfire one day before the day of Holi and this process symbolizes the triumph of good over the bad. On the day of Holi people play with colours with their friends and families and in evening they show love and respect to their close ones with Abeer.
Description of Holi can be found since ancient times. In Hampi, capital of Vijayanagara kingdom, a 16th century caricature of this festival had been found. Similarly, a 300 BC inscription describing Holi had been found at Ramgarh near Vindhya hills.
Before the Festival, people often gather wood and combustible material to light a bonfire in parks, in community centers and also in open spaces. Preparation also involves stoking homes with food, party drinks and festive foods like mathri, malpuas and gujiya among many other foodstuffs.
The eve of Holi, the pyre is light to signify the Holika Dahan. People also gather around the fire, singing, and dancing.
There are numerous colors people use on this occasion. Traditionally, the user of a washable natural color is the best for this occasion. Some of the colors you can use include dhak, kumkum, turmeric, and neem. Moreover, water-based commercial pigments work as well, if you can't assess the traditional colors.
There are different legends behind the festival of Holi like Hiranyakashipu-Prahlad story, Radha-Krishna legend and the story of the ogress (female monster) Dhundi.
2023 falls on the Purnima (full moon day) of Falgun month as per Hindu Calendar. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated one day before Holi with proper bonfire. It celebrates the killing of Holika–the sister of Hiranyakashipu. The bonfire signifies the fire in which Holika (Hiranyakashipu’s sister) burnt herself while trying to kill Prahlad.
Rangwali Holi is also celebrated in memory of the immortal love of Lord Krishna and Radha. Once upon a time, Krishna asked Yashoda why he was not as fair as Radha. Yashoda jokingly suggested Krishna to apply color on Radha's face as it would make her complexion dark too. Lord Krishna, then, played with Radha and Gopis with different colors. Since then, the day is celebrated as the festival of colors.
The legend of the ogress (female monster) Dhundi says that she was chased away by the people of Prthu owing to a curse from Lord Shiva.
This festival is celebrated magnanimously in Braj area, where Lord Shri Krishna and Devi Radha played their Leela (divine play). Lathmar Holi of Barsana in Braj is very famous. In Malwa area of Madhya Pradesh, Rangpanchami is celebrated after 5th day of Holi. It is celebrated with even more fervor than Holi. People play with dry colors in some parts of Maharashtra on Rang Panchami.
The Holi has a huge cultural significance in Hindu Culture. It opens a new beginning from past error, serving as the end of the conflict, and also a day when people forget and forgive. In most cases, people pay their debt and also forgive debts embracing new deals in their lives.
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