Holi Festival (color festival in india)

Holi is the biggest color festival in the world.......




Holi (referred to as Phagwa in Bhojpuri), also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad, the UK and Nepal. In West Bengal, it is known as Dolyatra (Doljatra) or Boshonto Utsav ("spring festival").

On the first day, burning of the demoness Holika, Hiranyakashipu's sister, in huge bonfires at night. It is called Kama dahanam in Andhra Pradesh.

On the second day, known as Dhulheti, people spend the day throwing coloured powder and water at each other. The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. Thus, the playful throwing of the coloured powders has a medicinal significance: the colours are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Āyurvedic doctors. A special drink called thandai is prepared, sometimes containing bhang (Cannabis sativa).

Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami (fifth day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colours.



The Colorful Event

The most colorful festival of India, Holi, is celebrated to mark the begining of spring season. During the month of March, on Phalgun
Purnima, the festival is celebratd with heavy enthusiasm. Though the festival is observed in whole India, Uttar Pradesh is most enthusiastic about Holi. As per legends, evil Holika (who was blessed that she could not be burnt by fire) tried to kill her religious nephew, Prahalad, by taking him in a fire. Prahalad got saved from fire, but Holika died. The festival is celebrated to mark the burning of self-conceit, selfishness, greed, lust, hatred and all the undesirable demoniac tendencies, propensities, thoughts and behaviours.