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Indian Colors of Love…!
Is there any celebration today? She entered & asked.
Me (with smile): Yes, today we have Holi celebration.
She with a surprise on her face: how lucky you are celebrating all the festivals almost in each and every month.
Me (with pride): Yes, we are so lucky to celebrate all this beautiful festival with love and rituals.
| INDIA is a unique country, one of the most fascinating, colorful, mind-blowing destination |
The traditions of India refer collectively to the thousands of distinct and unique cultures of all religions and communities present in India.
India’s language, religion, dance, music, architecture, food, and festivals differs from place to place within the country.
Almost in each and every month there are some Indian celebrations and festivals, to unite the people together and spread happiness, love in the environment.
In the month of March “Basant Utsav” / “Holi” is celebrated all over the India and some other western countries too.
Holi is popularly known as Festival of colors, Festival of love, Festival of Spring, as it is celebrated at the beginning of spring & end of winter.
The blossoming of love, and a festive day to meet others, laugh, forgive, forget, and rejuvenate the broken relationship.
It starts on the evening of Purnima (full moon day) in the month of Phalguna as per Hindu calendar. The first evening stars with Holika Dahan (Burning of demon Holika) and the following day is celebrated as colorful Holi, joyful Holi.
The story behind Holika Dahan:
A female named Holika is a demon who was the sister of cruel king Hiranyakashipu, who is hated for cruelty. He wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship him like a God.
He earned a Boon which gives him 5 special powers.
- He could be killed neither by animal nor a human being
- Neither indoor nor outdoor
- Neither at day nor night
- Neither by any projectile weapon nor by any hand held weapon
- Neither on land, nor on air or water.
And he started to grow arrogant, angry and demanded that everyone must worship only him as God.
But, as we know, behind every darkness there are some bright starts which always overcome this darkness by their shine.
The son of Hiranyakashipu named Pralhad refused to worship his father as a God, because he is a devotee of LORD VISHNU.
Angry with his disobedience, Hiranyakashipu tried to kill PRALHAD many times with many ways, but nothing worked and every time Pralhad was unthreatened and safe, By the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
He then asked her sister Holika for HELP…!! Holika possessed a special power of Being Immune to FIRE….!!!
She tricked PRALHAD into sitting with her on fire. Pralhad accepted the challenge, and sat on the fire with aunt Holika.
Holika was very happy internally because of her fire immunity but Pralhad again started to chant and pray the name of lord Vishnu NARAYANA! NARAYANA!
And what’s the magic Holika, started to shout because she was burning in spite being immune to fire. HELP …HELP…!!
Because of her EVIL INTENTIONS her power became INEFFECTIVE and she was Burned to ashes. But Pralhad survived safe.
It is also believed that Holika begged Pralhad for forgiveness before her demise, therefore Prahalad announced that she would be remembered every year at Holi.
So every year Holika dahan is celebrated in India in the form of a Bonfire to celebrate VICTORY of Good over Evil…!!
Scientific myth:
Medicinal plants like Ricinus, the dry leaves from neem, ficus, cow dung cakes, whole coconut with its husk, sugarcane, camphor, and ghee.
And this special Bonfire named Holika in India.
All these special things are very helpful in March as the winter ends and spring starts, we need to build our immune system stronger for this seasonal changes, to fight with bacteria and viruses.
Doing Pradakshina (circle) on this bonfire fumigate our respiratory system and cleansed our Aura.
In this Holika people used to offer flowers, water, coconut and offer some sweets to get healthy psychologically and physically.
So, BURN your EGO, JEALOUSY, ANGER, ATTITUDE, STRESS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, TENSION on this Holika occasion and start the new refresh year.
Play of colors:
On the next day after holika the festival full of colors is celebrated which is called Rang-Panchami.
Children and young people from groups armed with dry colors solution and water guns (Pichkari), water balloons filled with colored water, get out coloring their friends, loved ones and families.
Traditionally washable natural plant-derived colors such as, Curcuma, Neem, Kumkum and Palash Pushpa were used but now water based commercial pigments are used. Everyone looks like a canvas of color.
Myth :
Rang Panchami is celebrated for the divine love of Radha – Krishna.
The evil Pootana tried to kill Lord Krishna in infant age by feeding poisonous milk which was planned by Krishna’s devil uncle Kansa.
However, Krishna sucked her blood and killed her but because of poisonous milk Krishna’s color became dark. Radha is very beautiful fair lady, so on Holi’s occasion Krishna can color Radha in any color, the way she wanted to express his love.
The naughty and mischievous Lord Krishna started the trend of colors by applying on her beloved Radha to make her one like him.
Until now the trend is continuing, people are coming together on Holi and coloring their loved ones as an expression of love.
This festival is celebrated on the streets, on parking areas, on grounds, in gardens, homes and everywhere. People sing songs, dance, play music, exchange sweets, foods and wish festive greetings to each other.
People from all communities and even religions participate in this joyful and colorful festival, to forget the past and to start a new life with new beginnings by expressing their love toward each other by applying colors.
It is said that even enemies turn friend on this day. This is the strength of Indian festivals…!!
Isn’t it beautiful and colorful..?
Written By…
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Dr. Pallavi Shinde is the director at Shree Vishwamukta Yog, Ayurved and Panchakarma Clinic at Pune, India. She always uses ayurvedic proprietary formulations for many chronic health diseases & many products for Skin Diseases & beauty products. She is a hardcore Researcher, Practitioner, Promoter of Ayurveda. Contact today to book an appointment. |
