Holi – The Festival of Colors

To start with, I want to explain what exactly is Holi. Holi is the festival of colors. On the day of Holi, which is today (19th March), we collect lots of wood and then burn it. Tomorrow (20th March) is Dhulivandan, or the day when we play with colors.

The festival of Holi has a story behind it, I will recount it the way I remember it. There was once a great king called Hiranyakashipu. His son Prahlada was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Now Hiranyakashipu had been granted a boon by Lord Brahma which made him impossible to kill (the way he was killed is a different story), and because of this he considered himself God and was not happy with the fact that his son worshipped Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried changing his mind, but Prahlada refused to stop praying. Hiranyakashipu’s sister Holika had a boon that she could not be burned, so she took Prahlada and sat on a pyre (stack of wood). The pyre was burned, Prahlada remained unharmed, but Holika was burnt to death. To remember this day that Holika burned a stack of wood is burnt on the day of Holi.

The origin of the festival of Dhulivandan is unknown (at least to me). Dhulivandan is celebrated almost through the entire country irrespective of caste, creed. Dhulivandan or the festival of colors is celebrated by throwing colored powder or colored water at each other. This festival is celebrated by the young and old alike. It is best played in a group.

The best part about Holi is adults have a chance of becoming kids again. So, if you want to play Holi get some colored powder from the market and get ready, because tomorrow is Holi. Happy Holi everyone!