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Radha - Krishna in Holi Celebrate

A legend has it that the Demon King Hiranya Kashyap grew angry with his little son, Prahlad, who always worshipped Lord Vishnu against his father’s wish. Hiranya Kashyap was anti-Lord Vishnu, the demigods, and demi goddesses. He wanted his subjects and Prahlad to worship him. But little Prahlad flatly refused to do so. Instead, he always advised his friends to follow him and worship Lord Sri Hari. Stung by this insult, Hiranya Kashyap ordered his servants and soldiers to kill little Prahlad. Several methods were adopted in vain to eliminate Prahlad. This is because Lord Sri Hari came to his rescue every time and saved him. This greatly disappointed Hiranya Kashyap. At this juncture, his sister Holika, who had obtained a boon from Lord Brahma that fire would not be able to burn her or harm her, offered to help her brother. Thus, a big wooden pyre was arranged and Holika sat on it and placed little Prahlad in her lap with a view to reducing him to ashes. The pyre was soon lit by the soldiers. But, Lo! To the great surprise of Hiranya Kashyap and the onlookers, it was Holika who was reduced to ashes rather than the little devotee, Prahlad. That was really a victory of good over evil. Since then, on Phalgun Poornima, the day of the incident, people started celebrating this glorious occasion as Holi Festival. On this day, a wooden pyre is arranged, set afire and people dance around it in joy. Further, they throw gulal (colors) on one another to express their joy. 

Every year, this festival is grandly celebrated in Sri Radha Shyamsundar Temple. The Divine couple gives darshan in Holi costumes and playing Holi. The deities of Laala and Laali enjoy swinging, seated in their beautifully decorated swings. Sri Gaura Poornima also coincides with the festival of Holi.

Preparations

Entire country wears a festive look when it is time for Holi celebration. Market places get abuzz with activity as frenzied shoppers start making preparations for the festival. Heaps of various hues of gulal and abeer can be seen on the roadside days before the festival. Pichkaris in innovative and modern design too come up every year to lure the children who wish to collect them as Holi memorabilia and of course, to drench everybody in the town.

Womenfolk too start making early preparations for the holi festival as they cook loads of gujiya, mathri and papri for the family and also for the relatives. At some places specially in the north women also make papads and potato chips at this time.

Season of Bloom

Everybody gets delighted at the arrival of Holi as the season itself is so gay. Holi is also called the Spring Festival - as it marks the arrival of spring the season of hope and joy. The gloom of the winter goes as Holi promises bright summer days. Nature too, it seems to rejoice at the arrival of Holi and wears its best clothes. Fields get filled with crops promising a good harvest to the farmers and flowers bloom colouring the surroundings and filling the fragrance in the air.

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Legends of Holi

A Hindu festival, Holi has various legends associated with it. The foremost is the legend of demon King Hiranyakashyap who demanded everybody in his kingdom to worship him but his pious son, Prahlad became a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap wanted his son to be killed. He asked his sister Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap as Holika had a boon that made he immune to fire. The story goes that Prahlad was saved by lord himself for his extreme devotion and evil-minded Holika was burnt to ashes, for her boon worked only when she entered the fire alone.

Since that time, people light a bonfire, called Holika on the eve of the Holi festival and celebrate the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion to god. Children take special delight in the tradition and this has another legend attached to it. It says that there was once an ogress Dhundhi who used to trouble children in the kingdom of Prithu. She was chased away by children on the day of Holi. Therefore, children are allowed to play pranks at the time of 'Holika Dahan'.

Some also celebrate the death of evil-minded Pootana. The ogress tried to Lord Krishna as an infant by feeding it poisonous milk while executing the plan of Kansa, Krishna's devil uncle. However, Krishna sucked her blood and brought her end. Some who view the origin of festivals from seasonal cycles believe that Pootana represents winter and her death the cessation and end of winter.

In South India, people worship Kaamadeva- the god of love and passion for his extreme sacrifice. According to a legend, Kaamadeva shot his powerful love arrow on Lord Shiva to revoke his interest in worldly affairs in the interest of the earth. However, Lord Shiva was enraged as he was in deep meditation and opened his third eye which reduced Kaamadeva to ashes. Though, later on the request of Rati, Kaamadeva's wife, Shiva was pleased to restore him back.

Holika Dahan

On the eve of Holi, called Chhoti or Small Holi people gather at important crossroads and light huge bonfires, the ceremony is called Holika Dahan. This tradition is also followed in Gujarat and Orissa. To render gratefulness to Agni, the god of Fire, gram, and stalks from the harvest are also offered to Agni with all humility. Ash left from this bonfire is also considered sacred and people apply it on their foreheads. People believe that the ash protects them from evil forces.

Play of Colors
Holi FestivalGreat excitement can be seen in people on the next day when it is actually the time for the play of colors. Shops and offices remain closed for the day and people get all the time to get crazy and whacky. Bright colors of gulal and abeer fill the air and people take turns in pouring colored water over each other. Children take special delight in spraying colors on one another with their pichkaris and throwing water balloons and passers-by. Women and senior citizens formed groups called tolis and move into colonies - applying colors and exchanging greetings. Songs, dance to the rhythm of dholak and mouthwatering Holi delicacies are the other highlights of the day.

Expression of Love

Lovers too long to apply colors on their beloved. This has a popular legend behind it. It is said that the naughty and mischievous Lord Krishna started the trend of playing with colors. He applied color to her beloved Radha to make her one like him. The trend soon gained popularity amongst the masses. No wonder, there is no match to the Holi of Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana - the places associated with the birth and childhood of Radha and Krishna.

Ecstasy of Bhang

There is also a tradition of consuming the very intoxicating bhang on this day to further enhance the spirit of Holi. It is so much fun to watch the otherwise sober people making a clown of themselves in full public display. Some, however, take bhang in excess and spoil the spirit. Caution should therefore be taken while consuming bhang delicacies.

Sober Evening

After a fun-filled and exciting day, the evenings the spent in sobriety when people meet friends and relatives and exchange sweets and festive greetings.

It is said the spirit of Holi encourages the feeling of brotherhood in society and even enemies turn friends on this day. People of all communities and even religions participate in this joyous and colorful festival and strengthen the secular fabric of the nation.