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Holi (होली)
Holi festival of colours
History
Legends
Rituals
Holi in Vandraban (Lathmar Holi)
In Goa Holi is celebrated as Shigmo
Pink City to host elephant festival
Lucknow keeping Holi traditions alive
Health Hazards
Play Holi With Safe Colours
Holi and bhang
Holi (होली)
Holi (होली)
is a joyous celebration of the colors of love and life and a festival that celebrates the end of evil and the victory of truth. In
India Holi has traditionally been celebrated without any distinction of cast, creed, color, race, status or sex. It is one occasion when sprinkling colored powder
('gulal') or colored water on each other breaks all barriers of discrimination. It is celebrated as harvest festival as well as
welcome- festival for the spring season in India. This year (2011) holi being celebrated on March 19 and March 20.
Holi is also called 'Phagwah' which is derived from the name of the Hindu month
'Phalgun'. The month of Phalgun ushers India in Spring when seeds sprout, flowers bloom and the country rises from winter's slumber. In West Bengal, it is known as
Dolyatra (Doljatra) or Boshonto Utsav ("spring festival").
Holi festival of colours
Holi, is among the most popular Indian festivals, celebrated through the length and breadth
in India. During this festival, the people of India, forget their personal sorrows and qualms, and celebrate the myriad of colours that lighten
our life and make it pleasent. Holi, the festival of colours, is thus a tribute to joy, to our unending search for happiness and to life. During this festival,
the people of India, forget their personal sorrows and qualms, and celebrate the myriad of colours that lighten
their life and make it worth living. Holi, the festival of colours, is a tribute to joy, to our unending search for happiness and to life.
To celebrate Holi people visits to their friends or move around in groups and apply colour on each other. People embrace and greet each other
by applying abir as ‘tilak’. Any feeling of adversity or hostility is forgotten on that day. On this day of Holi even enemies become friends.
The social element during Holi is the uniting or “embracing” of the great and the small, of the rich and the poor. It is also the uniting of equals.
We should forget the outgoing year’s ill-feelings and begin the new year with feelings of love, sympathy, co-operation and equality with all.
Holi also means “sacrifice”. Burn all the impurities of the mind, such as egoism, vanity and lust, through the fire of
devotion and knowledge. Ignite cosmic love, mercy, generosity, selflessness, truthfulness and purity. |
Holi
in the Hindi cinema Sholay
Lord Krishna playing
Holi with Radha
Prahlad in the
laps of Holika
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History
Holi is an ancient festival of India, said to have existed even centuries before Christ.
Historian believe that Holi was first celebrated by the Aryans. A detailed narrative of this festival, originally known as
Holika, is found in early religious texts like Puranas. A stone inscription belonging to 300 BC found at Ramgarh mentions
“Holikotsav” on it. King Harsha, has mentioned about “holikotsav” in his work Ratnavali that was written during the 7th century. The famous Muslim historian - Al- Baruni also described
“holikotsav” in his historical memories. According to him, this festival was celebrated not only by Hindus but also by the Muslims.
In West Bengal and Orissa, Holi Poornima is celebrated as the birthday of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Legends
The Legend of Holika:
According to a Puranic story, a demon king Hiranyakashap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great disappointment, his son Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Narayana.
The demon-king punished his son, Prahlad in a variety of ways to denounce Lord Narayana. He failed in all his attempts. Finally, he asked his sister Holika to take Prahlad in her lap and enter a
blazing fire. Holika had a boon to remain unburned even inside fire. Holika did her brother's bidding. However, Holika's boon ended by this act
of supreme sin against the Lord's devotee and was burnt to ashes. But Prahlad came out unharmed. This
remind people that those who love God shall be saved, and they that torture the devotee of God shall be reduced to ashes.
Ras-Lila: It is a festival of romance and immortal love-play
(Ras-lila) of Radha and Krishna. Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks
and gulals on the gopis and Radha. Once Krishna complained to his mother about the contrast between
his dark colour and his consort Radha's fair colour. Krishna's mother decided to apply colour to Radha's face.
The tradition continues as each year in spring, the celebrated season of love.
Legend of Kamadeva (god of love): Kama's body was destroyed when he shot his weapon at Shiva in order to disrupt
his penance and help Parvati to marry Shiva. Shiva then opened his third eye,
the gaze of which was so powerful that Kama's body was reduced to ashes. For the sake of Kama's wife Rati (passion), Shiva restored him, but only as a mental
image, representing the true emotional and mental state of love rather than
physical lust. The Holi bonfire is believed to be celebrated in commemoration of this event.
Rituals
In North India this festival main emphasis is laid on the burning of Holika or lighting of
Holi. On the first day of Holi (March 19, 2011), bonfires are lit at night to signify burning the demoness
Holika, Hiranyakashipu's sister. On the second day (March 20, 2011), known as Dhuleti, people spend the day throwing coloured
powder and water at each other
In Bengal, Holi is known as Dol Yatra or the swing festival'.
The Bengali celebrations focus on the legendary love of Krishna and Radha. In Santiniketan however, Holi, known as Basant Utsav, is celebrated
as a tribute to the season of spring. Originally started by poet Rabindranath Tagore, this festival is celebrated by the students
with much fervour.
The festival of Holi lasts just six days in Manipur and it is amalgamated with
the centuries-old Manipuri festival called Yaosang. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, a huge procession of men drenched in colored water
takes to the streets. In honor of Lord Krishna, the men call out a warning, "Here comes Govinda, take care of your butter and milk".
In South India Holi is known by the name of Kamadahana , the day on which Cupid was burnt by Lord Siva.
In South India, people follow the tradition of worshiping Kaamadeva, the god of love in Indian mythology.
The Banjara tribes of Andhra Pradesh celebrate Holi in their own way with graceful dances and songs.
Holi in Vandraban (Lathmar Holi)
Holi is more significance at the birthplace of the Lord Krishna, Brajbhoomi which is made up of the two cities Mathura
and Vrindavan. The festivities commence in this region one week earlier than in other cities and last for 16 vibrant days. Here, Lord
Krishna is simultaneously worshiped and celebrated with play-fighting among young men and women. Vrindavan, in particular, has become
known as a favorite spot for lovers.
The village of Barsana, a short distance from Mathura, has its own unique
ritual. Radha was from Barsana, while Krishna was from the village of Nandagow. During Holi, men from Nandagow descend on Barsana to celebrate, but are
beaten with sticks (Lathmar Holi) by the women and sprayed with color. The men must try to avoid
capture and any who fail will be dressed up as women and made to dance. This ritual may have overtones of courtship.
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In Goa Holi is celebrated as Shigmo
All over India the festival is celebrated as Holi
but in Goa, this festival is celebrated as Shigmo during Phalgun, which is the last month of the Hindu calendar.
The word Shigmo actually is evolved from Sugimha or Sugrishma which means the pleasant summer.
Forgetting differences based on caste and status, all participate in the Shigmo with the spirit of
quality. The folk artists of the land reflect the echoes of a rich cultural heritage.
The Shigmo of Goa has a unique character and identity. In the past during Shigmo, Goans
sprayed each other with colours made from dried wild flowers which caused little or no inconvenience.
Gulal made of rice flour mixed with turmeric powder was also sprayed on those celebrating the festival.
But now, the colourful chemicals are sprayed, which cause a lot of health hazards.
Pink City to host elephant festival
The annual Elephant Festival is being organised
at jaipur on March 19, 2011, where tourists can play holi while riding pachyderms and witness
performances by folk artistes. "The annual event, popular as 'Elephant Festival', would be organised at Chaugan
stadium where 30 decorated elephants will be participating in different competitions," Tourism department told
reporters, Only female elephants takes part in the Elephant Festival. There are
several competitions in which elephants participates. Events like races, polo matches, beauty pageant and the main event of the festival is tug
war between 19 man and woman and a elephant. To showcase the the royal past of Rajasthan to the tourists apart from
elephants, chariots, lancers on horses, camels and cannons are used during the festival.
Lucknow keeping Holi traditions alive
The descendants of the nawabs of Avadh in
Lucknow continued to organise Holi festivities and celebrate the festival of colours with their Hindu brethren
keeping the spirit of "Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb" of Avadh alive. The royal families residing around the city station area here have
been organising holi functions to share the joy and mirth associated with the festival, strengthening the bonds of brotherhood nurtured since the times of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.
The descendants of the Nawabs as well as the womenfolk not just offer gujiyas to the Holi revellers but also take great joy of
smearing gulal on each other as per the Avadhi traditions and Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb. Since the times of the nawabs, Holi had been celebrated in Lucknow
by preparing special colours from tesu ka phool and by applying gulal on each other.
Lucknow has had its own traditions where all festivals are celebrated by people belonging to different religions and castes.
Health Hazards
Most Holi colors sold in the market are oxidized metals or industrial dyes mixed with engine oil.
All these are toxic and can result in anything from skin allergies, eye irritation, blindness and much more. When washed, they enter the rivers and the soil and increase pollution.
This research revealed that Holi colours come in three forms; pastes, dry colours and water
colours: The pastes contain very toxic chemicals that can have severe health effects as follows:
Black contains lead oxide and can cause renal failure.
Green contains copper sulphate and can cause eye allergy, puffiness and temporary blindness.
Silver contains aluminium bromide which is carcinogenic.
Blue contains prussian blue which can lead to contact dermatitis.
Red contains mercury sulphate which is highly toxic and can cause skin cancer.
The dry colours, commonly known as gulals, have two components – a colourant
that is toxic and a base which could be either asbestos or silica, both of which
cause health problems. Heavy metals contained in the colourants can cause asthma, skin diseases and temporary blindness. Wet colours, mostly use gentian violet as a colour concentrate which can cause skin discolouration and dermatitis.
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Play Holi With Safe Colours
By using safe, natural colors we not only save our skins but also help save our environment and conserve our
biodiversity. When these colors percolate into the soil and water they do not add toxicity to our blue
planet, and cause no harm to the myriad life forms that live in the soil and water. Thereby, we also popularize the diverse plants and trees that
give us these colors, and live life the Vedic way, our ancient and most precious heritage.
Instead of chemical dye one should use floral dyes. Flowers like Marigold, China rose, Butterfly Pea,
Flame of the Forest etc are used for the extraction of colourful dye. These dyes are non-toxic
and do not cause any harm to skin or to the face. For making herbal gulal the floral dyes are extracted from colourful
flowers by aqueous extraction process of fixed flower – water ratio. Then this dye is mixed with powder and a fixed amount of
starch.
The following are the Safeguards while using colours:
• Use natural/skin friendly and herbal colours.
• Apply a nice layer of oil to your hair before playing Holi and try to protect it with a caps or hat.
• Wear clothes that cover maximum part of your body, apply a layer of a good quality cream or oil to your skin.
• Use more of red or pink colours, which look good and can be easily taken off. Other colours should be avoided.
• Apply thick coating of paint on your nails, both in fingers and toes to protected
• If irritation occurs wash off the colour from your that part immediately.
• In case of a minor rash apply soothing calamine lotion.
• Avoid sunlight in case the skin is seriously affected as it will increase the irritation.
• Cleaning the skin and hair finally of all the colours. To wipe the face of gulal opt for a cleanser.
• Do not use kerosene, Petrol or spirits to remove stains as this will further dry the skin.
• After celebrating Holi, remove colour and replenish and rejuvenate the skin by using a paste of soyabean flour
or besan with milk. A mixture of sea salt, glycerine and few drops of aroma oil have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effect and can take care of the bad effects of chemical
colours.
Holi and bhang
Avoid Bhang as it has now become synonymous with Holi.
Bhang is a traditional intoxicant, made by grinding the leaves and stems of the Indian hemp (cannabis
indica). It can be consumed either as a pellet, or stirred into a lassi or thandai and there are also bhang pakoras, and other diverse creations.
In Indian metros, the weed takes on innovative forms with bhang cocktails, bhang brownies and bhang ice cream,
especially during Holi. Ground bhang leaves make a potent mix on being added to a sugar-based dish.
But not everyone knows of the enormous health benefits of bhang - known as cannabis sativa in medical language
- that is widely used in ayurvedic treatments. Cannabis is used for a multitude of ailments such as pain, nausea and vomiting,
weight loss associated with debilitating disease and neurologically induced spasticity . If taken in proper quantities, it has been found to cure fever,
dysentery and sunstroke, clear phlegm, quicken digestion and appetite. Many medical conditions respond favourably to it, such as arthritis, multiple
sclerosis, depression, anxiety and others. It has also shown promise in treating
skin problems. The juice of the Indian hemp can remove dandruff and head lice.
The history of bhang lies in Hindu mythology and its preparations were sacred to
gods, particularly Lord Shiva, who is regarded as the "Lord of Bhang". He is said to have discovered the transcendental properties of the mixture.
In 1000 BC, bhang was used as an intoxicant in India and Atharvaveda describes
it as a healthy herb that "releases anxiety". Sadhus usually consume bhang to boost meditation and achieve transcendental
states. It was also said to be popular among Sufis as an aid to spiritual ecstasy.
But too much bhang can be harmful. It can cause psychosis, increase the heart rate and blood pressure |
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Most Holi colors sold in the market
are toxic and can result in anything from skin allergies, eye irritation, blindness and much more |
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