Behind Holi, there is a great philosophy, that of oneness. When we put the same colours on our face and body, our identity hides behind it. The colours cover the difference in us and we look alike.
Holi is the festival of colours. Festivals fill our lives with joy. Thirteen festivals are celebrated in twelve months in India. We celebrate different festivals due to the change of the seasonal cycle. Every festival has some significance. The festival of colours is celebrated at the end of the Phalgun month and the beginning of the Chaitra month. Holi is celebrated during the end of winter and the beginning of the summer season.
We call Phalgun Purnima as Dola Purnima. On this day, the idol of Radhakrishna is decorated with flowers and we worship them. We celebrate Holi on the day after the full moon. Holi is burnt in many places on the second full moon night. Holi burning is done to remember the burning of Holika Rakhsyasi. Holika represents the demonic instinct in us which is burnt in fire. Holi is the festival of the victory of truth over falsehood and the victory of divinity over demons.
Holika was the sister of demon Hiranyakashyapa. Holika was given a boon by Lord Brahma that she should not be burnt in the fire. At this point, she embraced Prahallad and entered into the fire, thinking that Prahallad would burn and she would survive but Holika was burnt and Prahalad survived. Holika represents the demonic nature and Prahalad represents the divine nature.
On Holi we welcome the arrival of spring with colour. It is a festival of friendship. We welcome our friends and relatives with holding colours in hands and sweets. Holi has a profound influence on our literature, music and dance.
Different types of Holi are celebrated in different places in India. Phulanbali Holi is celebrated in Brundawan,On the eleventh day of Phalgun, this Holi is celebrated in the Bankabihari temple. Lathomaar Holi is found in many places. Lathomaar Holi is mainly played in Barsana and Nandgaon. In Lathomaar Holi, women join together to attack men and men save themselves from beatings. This is an exciting game. These two villages are famous as the villages of Radha and Krishna; so, the Holi here is most unique. Men from Nandagaon and women from Barsane participate in this festival. The men of Nandagaon have to protect themselves from the beatings of the women of Barsane and try to colour the women of Barsane. People offer cold drinks to their guests.
Holi is mainly a festival of North, East and West India. Educational institutions, offices and other institutions are closed on Holi. Holi is celebrated by people of different communities. Mainly people of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain religions observe Happy Holi by giving greetings to the general public. Chemical colours fade the joy of Holi; so it is always advised to stay away from chemical colours.
(The writer is columnist, poet and social worker, who lives at Khodasing Kalingnagar, Brahmapur; Ph No. 7205100839; Email kirankumardas.143@gmail.com)
