Holi Festival and Why and How do we Celebrate Holi [Engage Good Luck with Right Color]

1. Holi Festival and Why and How do we Celebrate Holi [Engage Good Luck with Right Color] Whenever you are thinking of an auspicious festival in India with an amalgamation of joy and color, it is all about Holi. Holi is widely known as the Spring Festival of India and it takes place on full moon day of Phalguna (in the month of March according to Gregorian calendar). This colorful festival notifies the onset of spring and denotes the carnival of color, happiness, and excitement. People of different ages participate in this carnival and color each other with a variety of colors. It comes every year with its own charm, uniqueness, and magic, and absorbs every difference between humans; regardless of race, religion, class, and status with vibrant and joyous colors. Holi brings harmony, fosters happiness, and soothes minds that we all need and desire to live in the earth peacefully. Holi Celebration for Indian Roads and Colonies Not only humans but also Indian roads and colonies get colored by different hues or ABIR (colored powders). People notwithstanding age and creed take part in the festival, play with colors, and share happiness. Even, in the different parts of India, people share sweets, food, and jointly arrange a feast to celebrate the Holi festival. Namely, it would not be wrong if we call Holi as socio-economic as well as the religion gap to elude festival in India.

2. I mage Source : www.dailyo.in Holika Dahan & Holi Date & Timing Holi comes up with all its delight for everyone and this year it is going to be celebrated on the 10th of March 2020 (Tuesday). Holika Dahan will be commemorated on the 9th of March 2020 (Monday in the evening). Let us have a look at the muhurat or tithi, Holika Dahan: Starts at 6:22 pm and ends at 8:49 pm on 9th March Purnima tithi: It starts at 3:04 am and ends at 11:17 pm on 9th   Holi or Doljatra or Dola Purnima will be celebrated on 10th March (on Chait Krishna Pratipada). Holika Dahan is celebrated during Phalgun (Fagun) Shukla Purnima (Full Moon Day in the month of Phalgun/March). Why do we Celebrate Holika Dahan? Legends are many to observe Holika Dahan before the day of the Holi festival. Though, the main reason to celebrate Holika Dahan is to triumph over the evil of good. That is the reason, Holi is not only celebrated to making fun or playing with colors but also to signify the victory of righteousness (love, compassion, equality, friendliness, respect, values, ethics, honesty) over evil (jealousy, ego, temper, dishonesty, enmity, anger, greed, inequality) in every form and manner. Story Behind Holika Dahan: A common but interesting myth is there in Hindu mythology to celebrate Holika Dahan on the evening before the day of Holi. There was a demon king named Hiranyakashyap. He was a cruel and infamous king and he wasted his vassal or people (Praja) to worship him instead of God. But, his own son Prahlad was

3. an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hence, Hiranyakasyap tried a lot to budge his son from the devotion of Krishna but he could not. Being moved by his desperation, he hired her sister Holika to kill his son. Holika was blessed to be impervious or untouched from fire as she got boon from Lord Brahma. So, Holika sat on a burning fire keeping Prahlad in her lap. But, this time Holika got burnt. With the wrath of Lord, Vishnu Holika was burnt into ashes and Prahlad came out of the fire safe. Some more Facts about Holika Dahan On the other hand, Hiranyakasyap was blessed that he would not be killed by human or animal, or by any creature born of a breathing womb, he would not die in day or night, neither in the air nor in water or on the ground, and not by any arm. It was like an impossible thing to abolish this demon. But, God has all the keys to demolish evil from the earth. So, he did. Here, Lord Vishnu came as Lord Narasimha one of the avatars among ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Lord Narasimha was the half-human and half-lion. He did carnage Hiranyakasyap on his lap in standing in the center of a door. With the death of the demonic king, evil came to an end. Therefore, Holika Dahan is celebrated among Hindus to establish justice and good over discrimination and evil. People set bonfire with logs and burn them as Holika in the evening before the festive day of Holi. Why Holi Is Celebrated? There are many stories about why we do celebrate Holi. Let us have all one by one, 1. With the end of demonic king Hiranyakasyap, the people who lived under his rule got free. They celebrated Holi to rejoice their freedom after getting rid of the demonic king’s oppression. 2. It is also believed that Lord Krishna plays Holi with Shri Radha in Mathura to celebrate love with colors. 3. According to Hindu mythology, it was said that on this pious day the first human came on earth and made this planet his home. 4. It is also said that Kamdeva the lord of romance (who was burnt on fire with the third eye of Lord Shiva) got re-birth on this day. Hence,

4. the day is observed as the day to regain love and romance in couples. Whatever the reason behind celebrating Holi, it does not matter to us. We love celebrating this color festival with all our charms and enthusiasm, and it binds all of us in a single string of love and friendliness. This is the biggest reason commemorating Holi every year and this year will not deprive of the same charm and essence too. Celebrating Holi Festival on Different Names In India, Holi is known in many names. People in different regions celebrate this festival of colors in different names. 1. In Assam, Holi is famous as Fagwah 2. For Goa, it is named as Sigmo 3. What about Maharashtra? it is known as Shimga 4. In West Bengal and Orissa, it is known as Doljatra or Vasanta Utsav 5. Rajasthan people call it as Dulhendi. Thus, when there are too many names of the same festival in India, it can be imagined how people of India celebrate this festival in a giant way incorporating colors (gulal or abir), colorful water, sweets, sharbat, thandai, rituals, and cultural performances. Celebration of Holi in Different Ways Holi Celebration in Bengal: In West Bengal, men and women irrespective of age get dressed in while and saffron clothes, put on flower garlands, and perform in traditional tune with songs and dances. People in Bengal, use to apply fragrant colored powder (called Abir) on each other and celebrate Holi or Doljatra in a full swing. They worship Lord Vishnu or Bal Gopal on this auspicious day, take prasad, and play Holi with family, friends, neighbors, and relatives. Women prepare sweets like kheer, Misti paratha, Basanti Sandesh, polau, malpua, and more on this special day.

5. Holi Celebration in Karnataka: People in Karnataka perform Bedara Vesha (folk dance) on the day of Holi. Holi Celebration In Tamil Nadu: People in Tamil Nadu celebrate Holi as Panguni Uthram. They believe that Ram and Sita, Shiva and Parvati, and Muruga and Devsena tied up on this day. Hence, it is one of the auspicious days to them in terms of rituals and celebrations. Holi Celebration in Dulhendi: People in Rajasthan celebrate this day as Dhulhendi and observe the day with bliss and enjoyment. They take part in various folk dance styles like Ghommer and Gait. While Ghoommer is performed by women, Gati is performed by men only. Children take part in this festival with colored water balloons and drench passersby. Women make different dishes at home like Gujiya, Mathari, Dahi Bhalla, Thandai, Papri, Papads, and Potato chips for members of family and relatives. Holi Celebration in Barsana & Nandgaon: People in Barsana, Nandgaon village in Uttar Pradesh celebrate this festival of colors in a unique way. It is widely known as Lathmar Holi. Lathmar Holi takes place seven days before to Holi. On this occasion, women beat up men with sticks. Men need to try to shield themselves from the strike. Men who are unable to save the strike and caught by women need to dance in women’s attire in public. It is all about a game and fun. Holi Celebration in Mathura & Vrindavan: Here Holi is commemorated for a whole week in Banke Bihari Temple with Phoolon Wali Holi (throwing of flowers) on Aanola Ekadashi (6th March in 2020) for only twenty minutes. The next part of the celebration takes part in Vrindavan on the day before Holi in throwing colors (gulal) in the morning and in the afternoon at Mathura. Then, on the day of Holi people play with colors for the whole day. Holi is an auspicious celebration in India in many senses. The celebration is symbolized as the beginning of the new harvest season, Rabi. In many parts of India, especially in Uttar Pradesh and North India Holi is celebrated with melas or fairs. Holi & Astrology Holi is one of the most auspicious occasions celebrated in India for years. The festival not only creates impacts on the human mind and soul but also on

6. zodiac signs. If you know your zodiac sign then it is time to know which color brings you good luck this year on Holi. 1. 2. Aries: Aries natives can attract good luck while playing with red color. Taurus: If you are Taurus then you should play with green, pink and blue color on Holi. Gemini: It will be good for you if you play Holi with light colors like yellow, light green, and silver. Cancer: To attract good luck to your life, this year play Holi with light blue and white color. Leo: According to astrology, it will be good to play Holi with bright yellow, orange, and golden colors for Leo natives. Virgo: Yellow, brown, and light orange are the colors that help you bring fortune to your life. Libra: If you are Libra and want to attract fortune badly then buy blue, green, and purple colors and play Holi with your friends and family. Scorpio: You can buy any shade of red to play Holi. Red engages good luck for you. Sagittarius: It will be good if you buy red, blue, and lilac colors to play Holi this year. 10. Capricorn: Any dark shade color like dark blue, black, and purple can bring good luck and harmony in your life. 11. Aquarius: You can play with any of the light shade colors on Holi and it will be auspicious for you. 12. Pisces: It will be a matter of fortune if you play with purple and sea green color on Holi. The best part of Holi will be executed when you will stay safe and try to keep safe your dear and near ones during this occasion. Yes, it is a very colorful and joyous occasion, and you have all the right to become mad with joy during the celebration. Though, it will be best if you play in limitation and do not create any hazard for others. Keep in mind that Holi will be happy Holi when you and others remain safe and sound till the end of the occasion. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Safety Precaution to Enjoy Holi to its Fullest Try to wear cotton clothes during Holika Dahan and avoid wearing synthetic attires as synthetic is a flammable fabric and catches fire quickly. Girls and women should tie a braid and apply oil on hair to keep your hair safe from colors. It will be great if you play Holi with herbal colors or homemade colors. Rub as much as oil on your skin that you can remove color quickly and easily after the Holi. It will be good as well as safe to play with powder colors instead of colored water. You can book an appointment for a spa season to remove the last residue of color from your skin after the celebration. Astrological Yoga Made During Holi in 2020       This year, Mahasayoga will be formed on Holika Dahan and Holi. It will evade evil in many ways and create a blissful ambiance in the universe. In 2020, we

7. are going to experience a rare yoga on Holi after countless centuries as Saturn is placed on its own sign Capricorn and Jupiter or Guru is placed on its own sign Sagittarius. Moreover, Parijat, Veshi as well as Budhaditya yoga are going to be made on this Holi in 2020. Hope, we all will undergo luck and happiness this year in celebrating Holi and Lord of Love Shri Krishna/Vishnu will please with our devotion and fill our life with fortune, glee, and positivity. “Om Namho Bhagabate Basudebaya Namho”