Why Holi-The festival of colors is celebrated
Holi-the festival of colors, is usually celebrated every year after the full moon day of March. Irrespective of caste, color, status, creed, race or sex, people of different backgrounds break all their discriminative barriers, come together & smear colored powder ('gulal') on each other's thus arousing a sense of brotherhood and belongingness in the society.
But do you know why the people smear colored powder on each other in Holi?
Do you know who started this tradition?
Do you know when this tradition started?
In this post, we will go through why the festivals of color is celebrated.
All the reasons have been explain beautifully in hindi and english in the below videos on youtube.
Lord Krishna- The creator of festival of color
Tradition of celebrating festival of colors emerged from the tiny town of Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state of India. Holi is believed to be derived from the prank played by lord Krishna on women's of Mathura. Exact story goes like this.
Kansa, the king of vrindavan, believed lord Krishna would kill him on attaining adolescence. So, he directed demon Putana to kill infant Krishna. Demon putana attempted to kill Krishna by giving him poisoned milk. But the milk didn't kill lord Krishna, instead it turned his face into bluish black color.
After few years, lord Krishna grew up as a very naughty boy and a very good actor.
Despite of knowing everything, he would often complain his mother that god has been very cruel to him. God did injustice to him by giving dark complexion while radha and all Gopis were given fair complexion.
Mother yashoda tried to explain him by giving many reasons (there is even a song with those reasons), still lord Krishna was not convinced and demanded for more satisfactory answers. Hearing the innocent tone of lord Krishna and seeing his sad face, yashoda heart melted and she playfully suggested him to color Radha and all gopis in whatever color he wanted.
Always looking for some fun, Lord Krishna didn't wanted to lose this opportunity and smeared blue & black color on the face of Radha. When all gopis came to her defense, he smeared colors on them too, thereby making all of them like himself. Initially, all the gopis were offended but they were so fond of this mischievous Krishna that they also joined them in playing those pranks with each other. Radha & all gopis took turmeric, corn flour, gram flour & other powders and applied it on lord Krishna. Some gopis poured waters from their pot on lord Krishna while other gopis threw smashed flowers.
This lovable prank of lord Krishna and gopis was then followed by other citizens of vrindavan. Very soon, it became the most popular festival in the village and as the divinity of lord Krishna grew, this festival rose far and wide in the country. This tradition of applying color to relatives and friends was followed to show love, brotherhood and unity.
Evolution of Holi into a full-fledged festival
In other cities, localities created their own forms of Holi like sprinkling water through jets, throwing water balloons, drinking bhang, singing bhajans etc which gained such a wide acceptance and popularity that it evolved as a tradition and later, a full-fledged festival. Holi is the time when the entire country is drenched in color and waters in open streets, parks, and grounds outside temples and buildings.
Holi strengthens the unity in diversity of India
Holi strengthened the secular democracy of India by brings the whole society together for the celebration of festive season. Non-Hindus also participate in this joyous and colorful festival. It became a festival of great social significance as the people of all caste, creed, color or rank were painted in the same color. All were considered equal. There is no poor or rich, low caste or high caste in this festival and everyone come together to celebrate this joyous festival.
Holi begins a new chapter of life
People forget their enmity and become friends to start the new beginning of life. Most of the Indians forcefully applies colors on other body and if anyone is offended, then they say, "Bura na mano, Holi hai" ("don't feel offended, it's Holi").
People will visit their families and friends to color each other, and then share Holi delicacies.
Best places to enjoy Holi
All over India, Holi lovers smear their beloved with variety of colors to express their love, affection and gratitude. Holi of Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon-the places associated with Krishna and Radha, are the most remarkable ones where the festival is celebrated for full two weeks. In late afternoon, idols of Lord krishna and radha are decorated and carried across the streets of the city while the devotees chant, sing and dance to the tunes of devotional hymns, bhajans and songs.
Holi in other countries
Holi is now celebrated not only in India but all across the world especially the countries with significant Indians such as Bangladesh , Pakistan, Nepal, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Mauritius, and Fiji. Holi of Utah in United States is said to be biggest one outside India.
Summary:
Such legendary stories spread the message of living lives with good morals and virtues especially in this age where the society is so much materialized that they resort to cheap tactics and practices against the honest ones for minute selfish gains. Enjoy the festival in its true sense by celebrating it with the different sections of the society with love, devotion, joy and enthusiasm.
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