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Holi ranks as the most colorful. It celebrates
the arrival of spring and death of demons Holika, it is a celebration of joy
and hope. Holi continues to be celebrated with great vigor through out India
as well as Outside of India. Indians all over the world eagerly await the
Festival of Colors, as bonfires are lit to banish the cold dark nights of
winter and usher in warmer spring.
Holi is one of the most ancient festivals of the Aryans which finds an honored
mention in our old Sanskrit texts like Dashakumar Charit and Garud Puran. Even
the play "Ratnavali" written by Harshdev in 7th century contains a delightful
description of Holi festival. In those days Holi was celebrated as "Vasantotsav".
Acclaiming it as a spring festival Mahakavi Kalidas has called it "MADANOTSAV".
The famous Bhavbhooti in his play "Maltic-Madhav" mentioned that the King
mingled with his subjects and shared the maddening merriment of Holi.
In North India and Uttar Pradesh, this victory is celebrated, effigies of
Holika are burnt in the huge bonfires that are lit. This tradition is also
followed in Gujarat and Orissa. To render gratefulness to Agni, god of Fire,
gram and stalks from the harvest are also offered to Agni with all humility.
In Bengal this festival is known by the name of Dol Jatraor Dol Purnima. On
this day the idol of Mahaprabhu Chaitanya, placed in a pictursuqely decorated
palanquin is taken round the main streets of the city. This festival of Holi
still retains to charm in Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's Shanti Niketan.
The Sikh community also celebrates Holi with feasting and merriment and call
it Hola Mohalla.
In Maharashtra Holi is commonly known by the name of "Shimga" and is also
called RANGAPANCHAMI. The fisher folk celebrate it on a large-scale with
hilarious singing, dancing and merry-making.
The religious significance of the festival of Holi is to mark the burning of
self-conceit, selfishness, greed, lust, hatred, in fact all the undesirable
demoniac tendencies, propensities, thoughts and behaviors. The victory of
righteous forces over demoniacal forces. |
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