Happy Holi: the festival of colours

Holi is an ancient Hindu religious festival, which has its origins in a fight between gods and demons. It’s celebrated around March to April, on a full moon day. Also known as Phagwah or Bali Pratha, it marks an end to winter and the beginning of the spring season. The word ‘Holi’ derives from Holika, one of the evil spirits that tried to kill Prahlad, according to Hindu mythology. During Holi, people celebrate by playing with colours and water. They also burn giant effigies of Holika who wanted to burn Prahlad alive because she thought he was doing black magic against her brother Hiranyakashyapa. It is said that Holika burned with her demon brother into ashes during a bonfire lit for burning Prahlad alive but Prahlad emerged unharmed. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.

The legend from which the tradition of playing colours started is full of colours in itself. The story goes that the very colourful Indian god, Shri Krishna was jealous of his soul mate Radha's fair complexion, since he himself was very dark. Naughty young Shri Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about this injustice of nature. To placate the child, doting mother asked Shri Krishna to apply colour on Radha's face and change her complexion according to his choice.

Playful and mischievous Shri Krishna appreciated the idea and implemented it. The game of applying colours thus gained so much popularity that it became a tradition and later it turned out to be a full fledged festival. Till date, lovers desired to colour and be coloured by their mates. The application of colours has in a way become an expression of love. Holi became festival colours because of the famous folklore of Lord Krishna and Radha. Lord Krishna felt complex about his skin tone because it was shyam rang which is bluish and some day dark brown. Radha had a fair tone and hence lord Krishna felt inferior about Radha liking him back or not because of colour. Krishna shared about his dilemma to his mother in which she said take gulal or colour and apply on Radha and then there will be no difference between you and her. Lord Krishna did the exact same thing, took gulal and approached Radha. Hence from then on the trend of applying colour on Holi started off, especially it talks about sharing love and expressing it with your loved ones.

Playing Holi with colors brings happiness and joy and this is what we love to spread among each other. Colour is just the medium to connect with people, revive relationships and bond with different people from different communities and backgrounds. Holi spreads the message of unity in diversity and brings society together. Holi is played in the Spring Season which is a period between end of winter and advent of summer. We normally go through the transition phase of winter and summer. The period induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature of the nearby area raises around 50-60 degree Celsius. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrama (go around the bonfire/pyre), the heat coming from the bonfire kills the bacteria in the body and cleanses it.

In some parts of the country, after Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) people put ash on their forehead and also mix Chandan (paste of sandal wood) with the young leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume. It is believed to promote good health. This is the time, when people get the feeling of tardiness. This is quite natural for the body to experiences some tardiness because of change in weather from cold to the hot in the atmosphere. To counter this laziness, people sing Songs (Phag, Jogira etc.) with Dhol, Manjira and other traditional instruments. This helps in rejuvenating the human body. Their physical movement while playing with colours also helps in the process.

Festivity of the different legends related with Holi console individuals of the force of reality as the lesson of every one of these legends is a definitive triumph of good over evil. The legend of Hiranya-kashipu and Prahlad likewise focuses on the way that outrageous dedication to god pays as god consistently takes his actual fan in his haven.

Every one of these legends assist individuals with following an acceptable conduct in their lives and put stock in the ethicalness of being honest. This is critical in the current society when such countless individuals resort to abhorrent practices for little gains and torment one who is straightforward. Holi assists individuals with having faith in the prudence of being honest and fair and furthermore to battle away the insidiousness. Additionally, Holi is commended during a period of the year when the fields are in full sprout and individuals are anticipating a decent gathering. This gives a group a valid justification to cheer, make happy and lower themselves in the soul of Holi.

Some additionally accept that play with colors help to advance great wellbeing as colors are said to enormously affect our body and our wellbeing. Western-Physicians and specialists accept that for a solid body, colors also have a significant spot other than the other indispensable components. Insufficiency of a specific tone in our body causes sickness, which can be relieved solely after enhancing the body with that specific tone. Individuals likewise tidy up their homes on Holi which helps in clearing up the residue and wreck in the house and dispose of mosquitoes and others bothers. A perfect house for the most part causes the inhabitants to feel better and create good energies. Happy Holi to all of you! Cheers!