Let’s Play Holi!

India has plentiful festivals and cultural occasions to celebrate. Have you wondered how blessed India is to have so many diverse culture, language, region and religion? Diversity has indeed blessed India with so many occasions for getting together and events to celebrate.

Holi, for instance, is one national Hindu festival that enunciates the real meaning of “festival of colors”, “festival of spring” and “festival of love”. Holi is not confined as a festival that is celebrated among Hindus alone, but Non-Hindus also share the love and spirit for the festival. The colours, the splish-splash, the Holi games and there is a lot more that makes you fall in love with Holi.

Let us get to the big question- Why do we celebrate Holi? The reason why Holi is celebrated is pointed out in the ancient book of ‘Bhagavata Purana’. There was an ‘Asura’ king called Hiranyakashipu who had a very special boon- he could neither be killed by a man nor an animal! This made Hiranyakashipu invincible and he grew arrogant towards everyone. His arrogance grew so high that he demanded people that they should consider him as God and worship him.

Hiranykashipu had a son Prahlada who objected his brashness and worshipped Lord Vishnu, as against his father’s wish. Hiranyakashipu brutally punished his son in many ways. Holika, Hiranyakashapu’s wicked sister managed to trick Prahlada to sit on a pyre with her.  While sitting on the pyre, Holika protected herself with a cloak and Prahlada remained exposed to fire. The intense fire flew the cloak away from Holika and covered Prahlada, thus saving his life. This unveils the story behind Holi celebration beginning with Holika bonfire that symbolically marks the victory of good over evil.

The unbeatable Hiranyakashapu could be killed only by the half man half lion ‘avatar’ of Vishnu called ‘Narasimha’. Holi is thus the vindication of all Indian mythologies signifying the triumph of ‘sathva’ (good) over ’thamas’ (evil).

 Holi is the season of not just colors, but it is that time of the year when families meet after a long time to enjoy the many varieties of dishes and feasts. A whole lot of sweets are made and shared with neighbours, friends and relatives. The splashing of colours, water balloons and water guns make the occasion even funnier and festive for kids and we bet that elders too thoroughly enjoy the smearing of each other with the many colours of Holi festival.

Another highlighted event of Holi is the ‘Matki Phod’ which means ‘break the pot’. People climb on top of each other thus forming a human pyramid to break a pot of buttermilk hung high up. The person who breaks the pot is titled as ‘Holi king of the year’. ‘Matki Phod’ is an event that mainly occurs in the state of Maharashtra.

Various Holi events and colour bash parties happen across India, where people unify and share the happiness and joy it brings. During Holi season, there are lots of Holi events that people attend to enjoy the good times with family and friends among other event enthusiasts. The joy of celebrating festivals among a large crowd and realizing the true spirit of Holi is never to be missed. The Holi events happening across India has an amazing response from the ebullient fraction of the Indian society and the bookings to these events are already open.

Holi is only a few days away and the events are filling out fast. Make your moves quick and discover Holi events and parties happening nearest to you.

Have very Happy Holi folks!