MantraOnNet.com : Holi
Holi or Holika, also called holikotsava, is
an extremely popular festival observed throughout the country (India). It is
especially marked by unmixed gaiety and frolics and is common to all sections
of the people
an extremely popular festival observed throughout the country (India). It is
especially marked by unmixed gaiety and frolics and is common to all sections
of the people
.
This festival is very ancient. Known originally
as ?Holika? it has been mentioned in very early religious works such as
Jaimini?s Purvamimamsa-sutras and Kathaka-grhya-sutras. It must have therefore
existed several centuries before Christ. It was at first actually a special
rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their
families and the full moon (Raka) was the deity worshipped by them.
as ?Holika? it has been mentioned in very early religious works such as
Jaimini?s Purvamimamsa-sutras and Kathaka-grhya-sutras. It must have therefore
existed several centuries before Christ. It was at first actually a special
rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their
families and the full moon (Raka) was the deity worshipped by them.
There are two ways of reckoning a lunar
month: purnimanta and amanta. In the former, the first day starts after the
full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. Though the latter reckoning
is more common now, the former was very much in vogue in the earlier days.
According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of
the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-rtu (with spring starting from
next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of
merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season. This perhaps
explains the other names of this festival: Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.
month: purnimanta and amanta. In the former, the first day starts after the
full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. Though the latter reckoning
is more common now, the former was very much in vogue in the earlier days.
According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of
the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-rtu (with spring starting from
next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of
merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season. This perhaps
explains the other names of this festival: Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.
According to the stories in the Puranas and
various local legends, this day is important for three reasons.
-
It was on this day that Lord Siva opened his third eye and reduced
Kamadeva (the god of love, Cupid or Eros) to ashes. -
It was on this day that Holika, the sister of the demon king
Hiranyakasyapu, who tried to kill the child devotee Prahlad by taking him
on her lap and sitting on a pyre of wood which was set ablaze. Holika was
burnt to ashes while Prahlad remained unscathed! -
It was again on this day that an ogress called Dhundhi, who was
troubling the children in the kingdom of Prthu (or Raghu) was made to run
away for life, by the shouts and pranks of the mischievous boys. Though
she had secured several boons that made her almost invincible, this ?
noise, shouts, abuses and pranks of boys ? was a chink in her armour due
to a curse of Lord Siva. The day itself came to be called ?Adada? or
?Holika? since then.
There are practically no religious
observances for this day like fasting or worship. Generally a log of wood will
be kept in a prominent public place on the Vasantapanchami day (Magha Sukla
Panchami), almost 40 days before the Holi Festival. An image of Holika with
child Prahlada in her lap is also kept on the log. Holika?s image is made of
combustible materials whereas Prahlada?s image is made of non-combustible ones.
People go on throwing twigs of trees and any combustible material they can
spare, on to that log which gradually grows into a sizable heap. On the night
of Phalguna Purnima, it is set alight in a simple ceremony with the Raksoghna
Mantras of the Rig Veda being sometimes chanted
to ward off all evil spirits. (Coconuts and coins are thrown into this
bonfire).The next morning the ashes from the bonfire are collected as prasad
(consecrated material) and smeared on the limbs of the body. Singed coconuts,
if any are also collected and eaten.
observances for this day like fasting or worship. Generally a log of wood will
be kept in a prominent public place on the Vasantapanchami day (Magha Sukla
Panchami), almost 40 days before the Holi Festival. An image of Holika with
child Prahlada in her lap is also kept on the log. Holika?s image is made of
combustible materials whereas Prahlada?s image is made of non-combustible ones.
People go on throwing twigs of trees and any combustible material they can
spare, on to that log which gradually grows into a sizable heap. On the night
of Phalguna Purnima, it is set alight in a simple ceremony with the Raksoghna
Mantras of the Rig Veda being sometimes chanted
to ward off all evil spirits. (Coconuts and coins are thrown into this
bonfire).The next morning the ashes from the bonfire are collected as prasad
(consecrated material) and smeared on the limbs of the body. Singed coconuts,
if any are also collected and eaten.
In some houses the image of Kamadeva is kept
in the yard and a simple worship is offered. A mixture of mango blossoms and
sandalwood paste is partaken as the prasad.
in the yard and a simple worship is offered. A mixture of mango blossoms and
sandalwood paste is partaken as the prasad.
The day – Phalgun Krishna pratipad ? is
observed as a day of revelry especially by throwing on one another gulal or
coloured water or perfumed coloured powder. Throwing of mud or earth dust was
prevalent in the earlier days also, but among the low culture groups.
observed as a day of revelry especially by throwing on one another gulal or
coloured water or perfumed coloured powder. Throwing of mud or earth dust was
prevalent in the earlier days also, but among the low culture groups.
Instead of the gay and frenzied celebrations
that are witnessed elsewhere in the country, Bengal observes this festival in a
quiet and dignified manner as Dolapurnima or Dolayatra (the festival of the
swing). The festival, said to have been initiated by the king Indradyumna in
Vrndavana, is spread over 3 or 5 days, starting from the sukla Chaturdasi of
Phalguna. A celebration in honour of Agni and worship of Govinda (Krsna) in
image on a swing are the important features. The fire kindled on the first day
is to be preserved till the last day. The swing is to be rocked 21 times at the
end of the festival.
that are witnessed elsewhere in the country, Bengal observes this festival in a
quiet and dignified manner as Dolapurnima or Dolayatra (the festival of the
swing). The festival, said to have been initiated by the king Indradyumna in
Vrndavana, is spread over 3 or 5 days, starting from the sukla Chaturdasi of
Phalguna. A celebration in honour of Agni and worship of Govinda (Krsna) in
image on a swing are the important features. The fire kindled on the first day
is to be preserved till the last day. The swing is to be rocked 21 times at the
end of the festival.
Holi is associated to a great extent with
Lord Krishna, who in his childhood and youth., ran around with his band of
cowherds and maidens of the village, completely captivating everyone. He loved
festivity, and the hamlets of Brindavan, Gokul and Barsana were full of fun and
frolic.
Lord Krishna, who in his childhood and youth., ran around with his band of
cowherds and maidens of the village, completely captivating everyone. He loved
festivity, and the hamlets of Brindavan, Gokul and Barsana were full of fun and
frolic.
Lord
Krishna played Holi with so must gust that even today the songs sung during
Holi are full of the pranks that he played on the Gopis and the Gopis played on
him, especially those on his childhood
sweetheart Radhika, who lived in Barsana. She remained the heart throb and none
of his eight wives could ever take her place.
Krishna played Holi with so must gust that even today the songs sung during
Holi are full of the pranks that he played on the Gopis and the Gopis played on
him, especially those on his childhood
sweetheart Radhika, who lived in Barsana. She remained the heart throb and none
of his eight wives could ever take her place.
Holi is played with pichkaris(a brass
syringe which squirts water in a spray or even in a straight line) and Gulal.
Gulal is made up of numerous colours such as pink, magenta, red, yellow and
green, along with Abeer (small crystals or paper-like chips of mica). Abeer and
gulal are an essential part of Holi Folk Songs.
syringe which squirts water in a spray or even in a straight line) and Gulal.
Gulal is made up of numerous colours such as pink, magenta, red, yellow and
green, along with Abeer (small crystals or paper-like chips of mica). Abeer and
gulal are an essential part of Holi Folk Songs.
Then
comes the day of Puno, when Holi is ‘burnt’ in the evening. Usually, it is a
community celebration and bonfires are lit on crossroads. People do pujan and
bring green sheafs of gram known as ‘boot’, to be roasted black with shells on;
wheat shears are also roasted likewise. They are then taken out of shells and
eaten right there. One gets quite black in the face and the hands, but it is
very enjoyable nonetheless, and the stuff is quite tasty.
comes the day of Puno, when Holi is ‘burnt’ in the evening. Usually, it is a
community celebration and bonfires are lit on crossroads. People do pujan and
bring green sheafs of gram known as ‘boot’, to be roasted black with shells on;
wheat shears are also roasted likewise. They are then taken out of shells and
eaten right there. One gets quite black in the face and the hands, but it is
very enjoyable nonetheless, and the stuff is quite tasty.
The next day is the real day of Holi. This
day is called Parva. From the morning onwards, people gather and play Holi.
They visit each other’s houses, carrying colour and water, drenching each other
as they visit different places.
day is called Parva. From the morning onwards, people gather and play Holi.
They visit each other’s houses, carrying colour and water, drenching each other
as they visit different places.
Celebrations of Holi In India:
Holi takes
on different images and flavors across the country. While the bonfire is burnt
everywhere, Krishna and Radha are courted mostly in Eastern India and along the
eastern coast of Southern India in Tamil Nadu. Then there is the ?ride of the
King? that is celebrated in the Western state of Gujarat, in Central India and
in the tribal forests of Eastern India. This is a rite of passage where the
King (an imaginary one) is paraded through the village and lampooned. Perhaps a
way of pressure-release by the King?s subjects (again imaginary). And a story
reflecting of repression and repeated quite inescapably and endlessly around
the world. In the North Western state of Rajasthan, Holi is an occasion for
tournaments wherein horsemen pelt each other with pellets filled with colour.
Along the coastline of Maharashtra, which is a western state bordering the
Arabian Sea, the men and women get together in a special dance that is meant to
provide them with a release for all their repressed feelings, needs and desires.
This is done by these people uttering sound through their mouths, made peculiar
by the striking of their mouths with the back of their hands.
on different images and flavors across the country. While the bonfire is burnt
everywhere, Krishna and Radha are courted mostly in Eastern India and along the
eastern coast of Southern India in Tamil Nadu. Then there is the ?ride of the
King? that is celebrated in the Western state of Gujarat, in Central India and
in the tribal forests of Eastern India. This is a rite of passage where the
King (an imaginary one) is paraded through the village and lampooned. Perhaps a
way of pressure-release by the King?s subjects (again imaginary). And a story
reflecting of repression and repeated quite inescapably and endlessly around
the world. In the North Western state of Rajasthan, Holi is an occasion for
tournaments wherein horsemen pelt each other with pellets filled with colour.
Along the coastline of Maharashtra, which is a western state bordering the
Arabian Sea, the men and women get together in a special dance that is meant to
provide them with a release for all their repressed feelings, needs and desires.
This is done by these people uttering sound through their mouths, made peculiar
by the striking of their mouths with the back of their hands.
This is
for them an occasion for ?Bombne? (yelling to one?s heart?s content). In
Punjab, which is northern India its people hold wrestling tournaments, while at
the other end of the spectrum of activity, virgins from Gujarat on India?s west
create images of their Goddess ?Gauri? out of the ashes left by the bonfire of
the night before. Conceivably, not the last variation of Holi is played along
India?s eastern state of Orissa that straddles the Bay of Bengal. Here married
women carefully sweep away the ashes of the bonfire, to mark the spot with
drawings made out of a paste of powdered sundried rice and water.
for them an occasion for ?Bombne? (yelling to one?s heart?s content). In
Punjab, which is northern India its people hold wrestling tournaments, while at
the other end of the spectrum of activity, virgins from Gujarat on India?s west
create images of their Goddess ?Gauri? out of the ashes left by the bonfire of
the night before. Conceivably, not the last variation of Holi is played along
India?s eastern state of Orissa that straddles the Bay of Bengal. Here married
women carefully sweep away the ashes of the bonfire, to mark the spot with
drawings made out of a paste of powdered sundried rice and water.