Holi Festival of Colors | Holi Story

Holi Festival:  It is a two day Hindu festival that originated in India. On the first day, people will gather around the fire and celebrate the victory of good over evil.

But this is the second day that most people will recognize – when a perfumed powder called gulal is thrown at everyone and is applied to water pistols and balloons.

There are many Hindu legends that are believed to contribute to the meaning of the festival, but there are two in particular which are considered to be the most popular – each celebrated for two days.

What is Holi Festival?

Holi has been celebrated in the Indian subcontinent for centuries, with poems documenting the celebrations of the 4th century AD. It marks the beginning of spring after a long winter, a symbol of the victory of good over evil.

It is celebrated in March to coincide with the Hindu calendar month of Falgun. The Holi of  is starting from every year of March.

Various accounts of the origin of Holi are found in many works of ancient Indian literature. A popular version of the story, an evil king became so powerful that he forced his subjects to worship him as their god.

But because of the king’s wrath, his son Prahlad remained a devoted devotee of the Hindu god Vishnu. The angry king conspired with his sister Holika to kill his son. Holika, who was fire-resistant, persuaded Prahlad to sit with her on the cheetah.

When the cheetah was burned, the boy’s devotion to Lord Vishnu helped him to walk away without hindrance, while Holika, from which the festival got its name, was reduced to ashes in spite of its immunity.

The Legend of Holi

The legend of Holi Festival is as colorful as Holi. There are countless shades and melodies in them, ranging from the subtle shades of love and devotion to the deep shadows of demons and their evil desires.

Millions of Hindus believe in these legends. They revive these stories every year and bring to life events that happened (or may not have happened) thousands of years ago.

Belief in legend, devotion to God, and conviction in the fact that it is good and true that ultimately triumphs over evil, attracts people every year to follow a religiously ordained tradition.

The most popular legend of Holi

Holika Dahan:

 Holika Dahan is very important in the celebration of Holi festival. It is the tradition of the Holi festival which depicts the death of Holika and the magical rescue of Prahlad from the fire.

According to Hindu scriptures, the ritual of burning Holika, also known as Holika Deepak and Chhota Holi, is performed during the period of Pradosh which begins after sunset and when the full moon date prevails.

Holika Dahan is a religious ceremony where people fry “barley” in the fire of Holika. Then they bring it home as it is good for the family members to bring it.

They also burn 5 “upali” in the fire of Holika Dahan because it shows the belief that it burns all their problems. It is also believed to burn massage waste with mustard paste on the fire of Holika to get rid of all kinds of troubles from the body and to get the grace of Holika Mata.

The story behind the Holika Dahan celebration

There are many mythological explanations in historical texts about the death of Holika and the celebration of Holi.

According to that historical interpretation, Holika was given a boon by Brahma so that it would never be harmed or burnt in the fire. Following the orders of her brother Hiranyakashyap (who was also Prahlad’s father), Holika sat with Prahlad to burn him to death.

Prahlad’s prayers to Lord Vishnu saved him from being burnt. Holika’s protective shawl flew from Holika to cover Prahlad’s body. This is the story behind the Holika Dahan celebrations that people in India still follow today.

The story of Holika and Prahlad:

Once upon a time there was a demon king named Hiranyakashipu who conquered the kingdom of the earth. He was so arrogant that he ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him alone.

But due to his great frustration, his son, Prahlad became a strong devotee of Lord Narayana and refused to worship his father.

Hiranyakashipu tried hard to kill his son Prahlad but Lord Vishnu saved him every time. Finally, he tells his sister Holika to take Prahlad in her arms and enter the blazing fire. Because, Hiranyakashipu knew that Holika has a boon, with which he can enter the fire without fire.

Holika tricked the young Prahlad into sitting on his lap and he himself sat on the burning fire. Legend has it that Holika had to pay the price of her life for her evil desires. Holika did not know that the groom works only when he enters the fire alone.

Prahlad, who had been chanting the name of Lord Narayana for so long, came out without any harm as God had blessed him. Or his extreme devotion.

That is why the name Holika comes from Holika. And, it is celebrated as a celebration of the victory of good over evil.

Holi is also celebrated as a victory for the devotees. Legend has it that no one, no matter how powerful, can harm a true fan. And, those who dare to torture a true devotee of God will be reduced to ashes.

Holi Festival of Colors

Legends of Radha and Krishna:

Young Krishna is known to be very playful and naughty. The story goes that as a child, Krishna was very jealous of Radha’s fair complexion because he himself was very black.

One day, Krishna is his Mother complained to Yashoda about the injustice of nature which made Radha so beautiful and made her so dark. To calm the weeping young Krishna, Bindas Maa asked him to go with the color he wanted to paint Radha’s face.

Naughty Krishna followed the advice of mother Yashoda and painted the face of his beloved Radha; Make him like you.

Well, there is a legend to explain the dark color of Krishna. It so happened that once a monster drank poisonous milk and tried to kill baby Krishna. Due to which Krishna became blue. But Krishna did not die and the demon became ashes.

The beautiful scene of Krishna’s mischief where he acted with Radha and other gopis has come to life in innumerable images and murals.

Holi Festival around the world

Holi has no boundaries, Holi also has no boundaries. Wherever people of Indian or Indian descent are present around the world, Holi is celebrated with enthusiasm and harmony. People play with colors, light a fire called Holika and celebrate the victory of good over evil.

Well, the essence of any festival is to take a break from the daily monotony of life and make it interesting. The second main purpose of the festival is to bring people together and create a sense of brotherhood and harmony.

No one understands the importance of festival celebration more than Indians who have settled abroad away from their country and cultural roots.

Sometimes they are more interested in celebrating festivals than their Indian counterparts. It brings together people of Indian descent and their roots to celebrate the festival.

Like in India, people who settle abroad meet their friends and exchange sweets and greetings. However, when it comes to color, the revelation is not less.

Holi in the United States (USA)

With a large population of Indians settling in the United States, Holi is celebrated in this country with glee and style.

Various societies and religious organizations formed by Indians help people to celebrate this joyous festival and feel close to their cultural roots.

On the occasion of the event, they also organized a music program and a Holi reunion. These meetings help introduce the new generation to their cultural roots. Children learn the importance of celebrating festivals and the legends associated with them.

In the cities where a large number of Indians have settled, there is a special enthusiasm for the festival. Holi celebrations are especially marked in New York City.

Here the Holi Parade is out. In these parades people are seen having so much fun that they play with color in the middle. There is so much pomp here that it is hard to imagine that New York is not part of India.

Bollywood actors also took the time to celebrate Holi with the people of the United States to double the excitement of the festival. Dance performances, fashion shows and concerts add to the festive spirit.

Holi in Singapore

Holi is a festival that everyone celebrates. It is a festival where people celebrate by playing with different colors. Holi is a very auspicious event in India which is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor. People from outside India also celebrate the occasion with great enthusiasm.

Many incidents take place outside India during the Holi festival. Every year, people gather to celebrate this festival and mingle with other people and have fun. The Holi festival is widely celebrated in Singapore and many ceremonies are held during this time.

Holi celebrations in Singapore: There are many Indians in Singapore who celebrate Holi in the country. Even non-Indians and Singaporeans love to be part of the festival. Although the Holi celebrations in Singapore are very different from those celebrated in India, the outstanding events that are organized make a difference.

Holi in Australia

At 365 day intervals, this one day leaves behind memories and the ability to add color to your life. The countdown has begun and everyone in India and abroad is eagerly waiting for this day to be colorful in our lives.

Not only people living in India sincerely enjoy this festival of colors but also Indian expatriates enjoy it, people living in different parts of the world equally enjoy celebrating this festival of colors.

One such country with a large Indian population is Australia. The people of Melbourne get lost under the colorful powder clouds on the day of Holi. Holi is celebrated in the Victorian capital because of its kaleidoscope nature.

Holi in Bangladesh

Influenced by Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim cultures, Bengal has a multifaceted culture. Although the country has a Muslim majority, Hindus also celebrate their festivals. Celebrate with.

Of course, the style and display of Holi in India is missing, yet, it is celebrated. People from the Hindu community gather at the temple to greet each other and play with colors.

As this country is located in the Bay of Bengal and is surrounded by India, Indian culture has greatly influenced Bangladesh. It shares a border with southeastern Myanmar and the Bay of Bengal.

The country is flat and is influenced by the brains of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Jamuna delta. Muslims and Hindus in Bangladesh live in relative harmony.

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Holi in Canada

Holi is a festival of colors which is an Indian traditional festival of traditions and customs associated with the celebration of Holi. Touch Indian expatriates around the world celebrate in their own innovative ways.

The festival is celebrated not only by Indians living in different parts of the world, but also by people from other countries who have repeatedly participated in the huge Holi celebrations.

This festival coincides with the arrival of spring and the end of winter darkness. Nature gives a feeling of joy with the advent of Holi. On this day people give up all their worries and take new changes in their lives for a better life. The festival is celebrated on an equal footing with Indians living in Canada.

Every corner and corner of the country where the people of India live is adorned with colorful scenes. Whether young generation or some older category, they are all covered in vibrant colors of green, yellow, red, silver and black.

Small groups are seen dancing and singing in the streets, throwing colors at each other. The festival provides an opportunity to learn about the blossoming love between Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha, which symbolizes that these colors can blend love into our relationship.

The noise and colorful entertainment associated with the Holi celebrations testify to the spirit of brotherhood and unity. The Holi festival brings harmony and a sense of belonging to people living in Canada.

Holi in Guyana

Holi or Phagwa, as is well known in Guyana, is celebrated by singing a special song called chautal and sprinkling colorful powder (abrak) and jal (abir). The children have a special joy at the festival and greet any pedestrian with their colorful water jets called syringes.

The Holi season begins one month before the Holika planting. The tree is burnt a month later as Holika, which commemorates Prahlada’s devotion to Shiva and the victory of good over evil.

In Guyana, Holi is celebrated as a national holiday because about 33% of the country’s population is Hindu. Guineans living abroad make special arrangements to stay with their families during Holi.

Holi in Mauritius

Like many other major Hindu festivals, the vast majority of Indians (about 63 percent) celebrate Holi on the island of Mauritius with great enthusiasm.

It’s a public holiday in the country and so people get all the time in the spirit of Holi and of course to have fun and soak themselves in the colorful water.

The Hindus here properly observe the tradition of burning Holika or light a fire on the eve of Holi and celebrate the victory of good over evil. The next day people have fun and play with colors and drown everyone with a water jet called a syringe. In the evening, they greet each other with tilak and exchange sweets.

Marked as a spring festival when nature is in its best attire and the fields and flowers are in full bloom.

Holi in Nepal

Holi is celebrated in Nepal. The festival lasts for a week so that the whole country is soaked in colorful water.

Celebrations have a special significance in the Terai and where the Indian community mainly settles in Marwari. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun celebrating the occasion.

People are seen across the street for fun, throwing paint and water balloons, locally known as ‘Lola’.

Although the color game takes place on the last day, there is an official pole called ‘chi’. It is said that RA was installed on the first day.

A crack is a bamboo pole on which a cloth strip, a symbol of good luck. The week-long festival and puja begins in Basantapur as soon as the poles are installed in the streets. At the end of the celebration, the rage is taken to the bonfire.

There is a popular story behind the establishment of pine. The story is again about the naughty nature of Krishna who just liked to have fun with milk maids or gopis.

Holi Festival in Nepal

As funny as he was, it is said that he once fascinated all the local girls with his sharp looks. Then he danced with them all and when they were completely engrossed in it, he thought they were ready to tease.

While bathing in the river Jamuna, he drowned them in colorful water and stole all their clothes. Naughty Krishna then hangs his clothes on the tree to harass him. Anger is the symbol of that tree.

Other legends are popular in India as Prahlad and his demon father Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu gave Prahlad his sister Holika. He was told to take her in his arms and enter the blazing fire.

However, Prahlada defended Lord Vishnu for his excessive devotion, while Holika paid the price for his sinful desires. Every year in Nepal, like in India, people light a fire called Holika to mark the victory of good over evil.

Holi in Pakistan

Hindus living in Pakistan also celebrate Holi, though, of course, not in the grand fashion seen in India.

People celebrate the victory of good over evil forces by lighting a fire called Holika. Tradition comes from the legends of Prahlad and Hiranyakashipur.

In fact, people follow the same traditions and customs as in India because of their roots in India. People clean their houses and make special dishes like gujia, petals and yoghurt. They hang out with friends and play with colors, dance and usually have a good time.

Hindus usually gather at the temple and celebrate Holi there. There is a lot of rejoicing in the temples located in the cities with relatively large Hindu population. Such as Lahore and Indus region.

Holi Festival of Colors

Holi in South Africa

Indians everywhere It is a great pleasure to celebrate Holi and South Africa is no exception. The vibrant Gujarati and other Indians settled in South Africa have made a point to preserve the tradition of Holi celebrations in the country.

They play with colors, light a fire called Holika, sing Holi songs and rejoice. Spend the evening meeting friends and relatives and exchanging greetings and sweets.

People believe that keeping the ancient tradition alive is becoming more important in this conflict-ridden society.

The festival of Holi is significant in this respect because it is believed that Holi helps bring people closer. It creates warmth in the relationship and even the enemies become friends in the excitement of Holi.

Holi in Surinam

Holi is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm in Surinam, where there are large numbers of Indians. Hindus make up about 35-40% of the population, a significant portion of whom are immigrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Like in India, people here enjoy painting on each other and singing Holi songs. Holika is also lit on the eve of Holika which indicates the victory of good over evil.

There are similarities between the way Holi is celebrated in Surinam and the way Holi is celebrated in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Here, too, people plant castor seedlings a few weeks before the festival, and the tree is later burned as a bonfire. These days people are busy singing chautal and tan songs in each other’s houses or temples.

Other beverages such as bara, dumplings, fulori, purple, mango or tamarind chutney, potato balls, prasad, lamb, ghoja, mahbhug, milk or sweet rice are prepared and served at the temple where Holi is celebrated.

Holy in the UK

The Hindus who have settled in Britain do not avoid the excitement of celebrating Holi and enjoy it to the fullest. As Indians are the second largest ethnic minority, the excitement of the festival is particularly marked in this country. Celebrating the festival helps them feel closer to their family and cultural roots.

The celebration of Holi is noticeable where a large gathering of Indians can be seen. The British city of Leicester is especially known for its Indian festivals. Excitement peaks when it comes to celebrating joyous festivals like Holi.

Kids love to use their spray cans and paint each other. Holi parades are also held and in the evening people meet their friends and relatives and exchange greetings and sweets. They hug each other and also wear tilak in the traditional way like Milon Holi.

Holi in UAE

Holi is a festival of colors celebrated by the people of the Hindu community. Wherever they are, the celebration does not stop and they do it with equal vigor and enthusiasm.

This day is celebrated in March by people of Hindu community all over the world. People consider this festival as a day when all evil is destroyed and Mars is restored.

People from India living in different parts of the world including UAE, Australia, Canada and many more play with colors, dance to loud and lively music. Ancient mythology echoes the story of the Holi festival, which is thought to be related to the Hrinkshap story.

Like other parts of the world, Holi is celebrated by people from the Hindu community living in the UAE. Celebrations in the UAE include exchanging greetings with gifts and sweets, throwing different colors at each other in both liquid and powder forms.

People dance to great Bollywood songs and lots of traditional Holi songs. Here a huge majority of expatriate Indians in the UAE come after traditional dress; White kurta pajamas for men and beautiful salwar kameez and sari for women.

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