#holi2017

Holi (also called Holaka or Phagwa) is an annual festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March). It celebrates spring, commemorates various events in Hindu mythology and is time of disregarding social norms and indulging in general merrymaking.THIS YEAR ,DUE TO REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN ASTROLOGY ,HOLI WILL BE CELEBRATED ON 12TH AS WELL AS THE 13TH OF MARCH,2017.

Holi is probably the least religious of Hindu holidays. During Holi, Hindus attend a public bonfire, spray friends and family with colored powders and water, and generally go a bit wild in the streets.The central ritual of Holi is the throwing and applying of colored water and powders on friends and family, which gives the holiday its common name "Festival of Colors." This ritual is said to be based on the above story of Krishna and Radha as well as on Krishna's playful splashing of the maids with water, but most of all it celebrates the coming of spring with all its beautiful colors and vibrant life.

SIGNIFICANCE :

Celebrated all over India since ancient times, Holi's precise form and purpose display great variety. Originally, Holi was an agricultural festival celebrating the arrival of spring.This aspect still plays a significant part in the festival in the form of the colored powders: Holi is a time when man and nature alike throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colors and liveliness of spring.

Holi also commemorates various events in Hindu mythology, but for most Hindus it provides a temporary opportunity for Hindus to disregard social norms, indulge in merrymaking and generally "let loose."

LEGENDS & FOLKLORE ~

Legend of Holika and Prahlad : Most popular legend 

Once there was mighty demon king named 'Hiranyakashyap', who had conquered the three worlds of heaven, earth and underworld and had thus, become very arrogant. Drunk with pride, he thought he could even defeat Lord Vishnu and therefore decreed his kingdom to stop worshipping Vishnu and pray him instead. But his little son Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, refused to adhere to this law. This incensed the king and he ordered his soldiers throw Prahlad down a mountain which would kill him. But Prahlad continued to pray and surrendered himself to Lord Vishnu, who, appeared in the last moment and saved the boy. Agitated by this, Hiranyakashyap asked the help of his evil sister Holika, who had boon to walk into fire unharmed. Prahlad was then made to enter fire with his aunt, but then the brother and sister forgot that Holika could come out intact only if she entered alone. Thus, perished Holika and Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad yet again. Till today people prepare a bon fire, which represents Holika and throw cow dung, shouting obscenities to insult the evil aunt.

Legend of Radha and Krishna

This legend depicts the immortal love of Radha and Krishna, which is celebrated every year through the festival of Holi. Once young Krishna complained about his dark complexion to his mother and asked for the reason why Radha is fair. His Mother Yashoda advised him to apply color to Radha face and see how her complexion would change. So, a young and naughty Krishna played a prank by throwing colors at gopis or the cowgirls. Thus, originated the festival of colors, Holi.

Legend of Kamadeva

When Lord Shiva married his love interest Sati, against the wishes of her father, Daksha Prajapati, one of the first sons of Lord Brahma, the couple was not invited to a grand yagya arranged by him. But Sati thought that her father would not mind her presence and therefore went to participate, despite Shiva's warnings. Upon reaching there she found that her father had not yet forgiven her or her husband and insulted the latter. An enraged Sati realized her mistake and as penance for what she had done burnt herself to death. On hearing the news of the death of his wife, Lord Shiva was infuriated and in order to control his anger he renounced everything and began severe meditation. But this led to misbalance on earth as Shiva was the destroyer, without whom the world would crumble. Meanwhile, Sati was reborn as Parvati and tried to win Shiva's heart and awaken him. When all her efforts went in vain, she appealed Kamadeva, the Indian cupid-god, for help. In response, Kamadeva shot a love-arrow into Shiva's heart which disturbed his trance and woke him. An angered Shiva opened his third eye which launched fire and destroyed Kamadeva. Later, when Shiva understood his blunder, he blessed Kamadeva with a second life and immortality in invisible form. Therefore, many worship people Kamadeva for his sacrifice on the day of Holi. 

FESTIVE SPIRIT  OF HOLI ! 

Holi is spread out over two days (it used to be five, and in some places it is longer). The entire holiday is associated with a loosening of social restrictions normally associated with caste, sex, status and age. Holi thus bridges social gaps and brings people together: employees and employers, men and women, rich and poor, young and old. A common saying heard during Holi is bura na mano, Holi hai ("don't feel offended, it's Holi").

On the evening of the first day of Holi, a public bonfire is held, commemorating the burning of Holika. Traditionally, Hindu boys spend the weeks prior to Holi combing the neighborhood for any waste wood they can find for the bonfire. The fire is lit sometime between 10 PM and midnight (at the rising of the moon), not generally in an orderly fashion. Everyone gathers in the street for the event, and the air rings with shouts, catcalls, curses and general mayhem. 

Also Happy Purim to anyone that celebrates it!  I always love it when they coincide because I think it would be so cool to have a smushed up holiday where you get dressed up and pissed and throw paint about...