Holi Festival is a spring festival celebrated with much fervor in India , also known as the festival of colors or the festival of love.
The festival signifies the victory of good over evil , the arrival of spring , end of winter bringing in the air the fragrance of flowers and aura of warmth and happiness.
It appears as if the nature is rejoicing , the vibrations of pious time are such that every one young and old feels the urge to make merry, to put tilak on the forehead to forget and forgive bringing in harmony and love in the surroundings. It is also celebrated as a thanks giving for a good harvest.
The festival lasts for two days starting on the Purnima full Moon day , falling in the month of Falgun, which is somewhere between the end of February and the middle of March. The first day is known as Holika Dahan Chhoti Holi and the second as Rangwali Holi, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan.
In Chhoti Holi, a bonfire is lit in the evening which signifies the triumph of good over evil . It is also called Holika Dahan and people also pray to the fire god and seek its blessings.
Celebration of the various legends associated with Holi reassure the people of the power of the truth as the moral of all these legends is the ultimate victory of good over evil.
The legend of Hiranyakashyap and Prahlad also points to the fact that extreme devotion to god pays as god always takes his true devotee in his shelter.
There are many traditions followed in different parts of the country. In Braj regions, Holi is an even bigger affair because it is a celebration of love. The birth place of Lord Krishna, the celebrations begin a fortnight before the actual festival.
Bhaang a drink made from cannabis, is consumed during this time. People drink, dance and make merry to commemorate this festival and celebrate the divine love of Radha and Krishna .
It is also pointed out as an instance of the conquest of instincts of man and Holi is a celebration of this conquest. The Holi fire connotes this event in Hindu mythology of the conquest of lust by Shiva. For this reason, Shiva is also known by the names Kameswara, Maara Ripu or Madana Ripu indicating one who has conquered desires.
Holi festival is the time of fun and frolic, eating and celebrating together the different colors of life. Sweets , flowers and color adds to the sacredness of festival. It brings in the sense of togetherness , freedom and connectivity.
The oneness in the hearts and warmth removes misunderstandings if any and ushers in a feeling of friendliness, love joy and bliss.
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