Holi,
is a spring festival.It is celebrated in the month of Phalguna,
as the lunar month is locally known. It is the month of March that
corresponds with this time of celebration.Though originated in the
northern part of India,
Holi has assumed a national flavor over the ages.Despite being a
Hindu festival, it is now regarded as a secular event. For,the entire
nation takes the day off, as people, irrespective of race, culture
and ethnic background,enjoy the spirit of Holi. Cities and suburbs,
towns and villages all come aliveto catch the frenzy of March madness
with a range of colors.
It is spring time in India, flowers and fields are in bloom and
the country goes wild with people running on the streets and smearing
each other with brightly hued powders and coloured water. This is
the festival of Holi, celebrated on the day after the full moon
in early March every year.
Originally Holi is a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility
of the land. There are many legends concerning the origin of this
spring festival. The most popular among these concerns Prince Prahlad,
the god-fearing son of the evil King Hiranyakasipu. Prahlad did
not give up worshipping the god Vishnu in spite of fearful persecution
by his father and his demon aunt Holika, who was deputed by her
brother to kill young Prahlad. Ultimately, when Holika who was immune
to death by fire, took Prahlad and entered a blazing furnace built
for his destruction, it was the wicked Holika who was burnt to ashes
by divine intervention, while Prahlad came out unscathed. Before
she died, she realised her follies and begged the boy's forgiveness.
As his gesture of forgiveness, Prahlad deemed that her name would
be remembered at least one day in the year.
The colorful festival of Holi is celebrated in
most parts of India during February-March (in the month of Phalguna
according to the Hindu calendar). The celebrations vary depending
on region and local traditions but the common part is exchange
of colors.
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