The festival of
Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March
every year. As the brief spring warms the landscape, northern
India cuts loose for a day of hijinx and general hilarity. It
can be said that ‘Holi’ festival is called a bright festival as
a wide range of bright colors is used during it. The people
believe that the bright colors represent energy, life, and joy.
Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility
of the land, this exuberant festival is also associated with the
immortal love of Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread
over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura - the two cities
with which Lord Krishna shared a deep affiliation. Apart from
the usual fun with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by
vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances
and a general sense of abandoned vitality.
The festival begins on the night of the full moon. Bonfires are
lit on street corners to cleanse the air of evil spirits and bad
vibes, and to symbolize the destruction of the wicked Holika,
the demoness, after whom the festival was named, according to a
few. This ritual is called the "Holika Dahan", or the burning of
Holika. The following morning, the streets fill with people
running, shouting, giggling and splashing. Marijuana-based bhang
and thandai add to the uninhibited atmosphere. Promptly at noon,
the craziness comes to an end and everyone heads to either the
river or the bathtub, then inside to relax the day away and
partake of candies. In the afternoon an exhausted and contented
silence falls over India. Although Holi is observed all over the
north, it's celebrated with special joy and zest at Mathura,
Vrindavan, Nandgaon, and Barsnar. These towns once housed the
divine Krishna.
Each
area celebrates Holi differently; the Bhil tribesmen of western Madhya
Pradesh, who've retained many of their pre-Hindu customs, celebrate holi
in a unique way. In rural Maharashtra State, where the festival is known
as Rangapanchami it is celebrated with dancing and singing. In the towns
of Rajasthan especially Jaisalmer, the music's great, and clouds of
pink, green, and turquoise powder fill the air. The grounds of
Jaisalmer's Mandir Palace are turned into chaos, with dances, folk
songs, and colored-powder confusion.
Holla Mohalla is celebrated a day after Holi in Punjab especially by the
Nihang Sikhs. This festival is characterized by cultural events. The
Nihangs exhibit their martial expertise by organizing mock battles,
sword fighting and archery on this day. This festival continues for
three days.
An interesting ritual marks the festival of Holi in Haryana. Here the
Sister in laws beat their brother in laws (devars) in mock anger with
her sari rolled up in the form of a rope. In the evening the devars come
with sweets for their sister in laws to earn their goodwill. This ritual
is known as Dulandi Holi.
In Bengal this festival is known by the name of Dol Jatra, or Dol
Purnima. On this day the idol of Mahaprabhu Chaitanya, placed in a
pictursuqely decorated palanquin is taken round the main streets of the
city. The head of the Bengali family observes fast and prays to Lord
Krishna and Agnidev. After all the traditional rituals are over, he
smears Krishna's idol with gulal or "aabir" (powder-color) and offers "bhog"
to both Krishna and Agnidev.
In Manipur, Holi is extrem is a six-day festival here, commencing on the
full moon day of Phalguna. The traditional and centuries-old Yaosang
festival of Manipur amalgamated with Holi in the18th century with the
introduction of Vaishnavism. The entire theme of the festival is woven
into the worship of Krishna and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, also known as Lord
Gauranga. Thabal Chongba, a popular Manipuri folk dance, is associated
with this festival. The literal meaning of Thabal is 'moonlight' and
Chongba means 'dance.' In earlier times, this dance was performed in the
moonlight accompanied by folk songs. The only musical instrument used
was a dholak or drum.
The color, noise and entertainment that accompanies the celebration of
Holi bears witness to a feeling of oneness and sense of brother-hood. No
other festival brings home the lesson of spiritual and social harmony as
well as the festival of Holi.
