Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Culture
Introduction to Holi
Holi is one of the most popular Hindu festivals of colors and is celebrated every spring in India and throughout the world. This joyous festival falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which normally falls in late February or early March in the Gregorian calendar. The end of winter and the beginning of spring are majorly depicted through this festival as rebirth, renewal, and victory of good over evil. During this time, some of the societal barriers caste, gender, age, and status get dismantled, and people from all walks of life gather together to celebrate the occasion. The great vibrancy and dynamism of Holi reflect the variety of Indian culture, People come into a kind of unity in order to express joy, togetherness, and new life. It acts as a cultural bridge, integrating many people of different regions, religions, and backgrounds into one joyful celebration. Beyond the colorful festivals, Holi is a time for forgiveness and forgetting, restoring bridges of broken relationships, and spreading love and happiness within the circle of family, friends, and society.
Mythological Roots and Significance
Traditions of Holi find their ground in the varied gamut of Hindu mythology, detailing various reasons behind its origination. The most famous legend concerns the evil king Hiranyakashipu, who became so attached to power that he ordered everybody in his kingdom to worship him. His son, Prahlada, continued to be a great devotee of Lord Vishnu against his father's will. To punish him, Hiranyakashipu enlisted his sister, Holika, who had a magic cloak that protected her from fire, to sit with Prahlada on a burning pyre. However, the cloak protected Prahlada instead, and Holika was consumed by the flames.
This event, symbolizing the victory of good over evil, is celebrated with large bonfires known as Holika Dahan. Another fable is associated with Lord Krishna, who felt ashamed of his dark complexion as his female love, Radha, had a very fair complexion. In order to make the complexions even, Krishna, in a playful way, colored Radha's face, and from that day onwards, this tradition of throwing colored powders began.
Celebration in India
Holi is an occasion of vibrant enthusiasm across the length and breadth of the country. Every different region imparts its unique flavors to it. In the north, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, there are grand celebrations going on, as one can hear traditional music and dancing or playful smearing of colors that span into oblivion. People donning white take to the streets, smearing into a riot of colors by throwing colored powders called gulal at each other. The various customs associated with this festival include unique traditions like "Lathmar Holi" at Barsana and Vrindavan, where women chase men with sticks in a playful way and recreate the teasing that used to occur between Krishna and his paramour, Radha. In Bengal, the Holi is celebrated as "Dol Jatra," with processions carrying images of Krishna and Radha, accompanied by songs and dances. Special delicacies like "gujia," sweet pastry filled with khoya and dry fruits, and "thandai," refreshing drink made with almonds, rose petals, and spices, are the envy of one and all. Every color used during Holi has a special meaning, blue depicts the color of Lord Krishna's skin, green portrays spring and renewal, red is for fertility and marriage, while yellow is an auspicious color. All over the country, Holi breaks down social barriers in a frenzy of colour and a joyful spirit of unity.
Health Benefits and Traditional Practices
Traditionally, colors used during Holi were prepared from natural sources such as neem, turmeric, and sandalwood and were believed to have medicinal properties and cleansing effects on the body. The use of organic powder obtained from plants such as Haldi or turmeric, Palash or flame of the forest, and flowers of Tesu trees brings color into this festival and protects the skin from infections and allergies. In some parts, the ash from the Holika bonfire is applied to people's foreheads, as it is believed to have a purifying effect. Others mix sandalwood paste with young leaves of the mango and eat it, which is believed to be an important health promoter. The timing of the festival at the change of seasons also draws its scientific explanation, while people are gradually changing from cold winter to warm spring, the playful and energetic nature of Holi shakes off the lethargy of winter, renewing body and mind. Holi is not only a 'festival of colors', it is a festival promoting health, unity, and the joyous spirit of life.
