The Science Behind The Festival: Happy Holi |
An ancient Hindu festival, that later became popular among
non-Hindu communities as well, Happy Holi heralds the arrival of spring after winter.
This indicates the victory of good over evil and is celebrated as a day of
spreading love and happiness.
The Science Behind The Festival: Happy Holi |
Holi knows no boundaries of happiness and joys of colors. With
gusto and bonhomie Holi is celebrated across the world. People play with
colors, light a bonfire celebrate the victory of good over evil and called
Holika.
Well, make it intriguing and the nature of any festival is
to have a break. Create a feeling of brotherhood and spread harmony all around
and the other major aim of celebrating festival is to bring individuals
together.
Nobody realizes the value of observing festivals than the
Indians settled overseas from cultural roots and their country. At times they
are more keen to celebrate festivals. For celebrating festivals is also to
their origins and what binds the people of Indian origin together.
Observed for decades, the festival is a event that sees
bonfires are created by Hindus and cover each other in powder to commemorate
the start of spring.
The Science Behind The Festival: Happy Holi |
Regardless of being such a vibrant and homosexual festival,
there are facets of Holi which makes it important for our lives. A bit of
thought and a closer look will show the significance of Holi in more ways than
meets the eyes however though they might not be quite as apparent. Ranging from
socio-cultural, spiritual to biological there is every reason why we cherish
the reasons for its parties and have to heartily love the festival.
Therefore don't hold yourself back and enjoy the festival by
engaging in each small tradition with complete enthusiasm when, its time for
Holi, please.
Holi makes us close to our mythology and our faith because
it's essentially the party of various legends associated with the festival.
Foremost is Prahlad and Hiranyakshyap's legend. The legend
says there once lived a king, Hiranyakshyap who believed himself a god and
wanted everyone to worship him. His son, to his great ire, Prahlad started Lord
Vishnu, to worship.
Hiranyakshyap requested his sister, Holika to enter a
blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap, as she had a blessing to eliminate his
son.
Legend has it while Holika paid a price for her sinister 23, Prahlad was
saved because of his intense devotion for its lord. The custom of burning Holika
or the'Holika dahan' comes mainly from this legend.
The Science Behind The Festival: Happy Holi |
Holi also celebrates the legend of Krishna and Radha which
describes the extreme delight, Krishna shot in applying colour on gopis and
Radha. This prank of Krishna later, became a part of the Holi festivities and a
fad.
Mythology also claims that Holi is the celebration of
departure of Ogress Pootana who tried to kill Krishna, baby by consuming milk.
Another legend of Holi which is extremely well known in
Southern India is that of Kaamadeva and Lord Shiva. According to the legend,
individuals in south celebrate the sacrifice of Lord of Passion Kaamadeva who
risked his life rescue the world and revoke Lord Shiva from meditation.
Additionally, popular is that the legend of Ogress Dhundhi
who used to trouble children and has been chased off on the day of Holi by the
pranks of their children. Showing their belief in the legend, children pranks
and hurl abuses in Holika Dahan's time.
Cultural Significance
Celebration of the numerous legends associated with Holi
reassure the people of this truth as the moral of these legends' power is the
triumph of good over evil. Hiranyakashyap and Prahlad's legend points to the
fact that extreme devotion to god pays god takes his devotee in his shelter.
These legends help the people to adhere to a good conduct in
their lives and believe in the virtue of being honest. This is significant in
the modern day society when so many people resort to practices for gains and
torture. Happy Holi helps the visitors to think about the virtue of being honest and
honest and to fight the evil off.
The Kumbh is an extremely sacred and popular Hindu festival
in India which attracts people. Steeped in culture and tradition, the Hindu
religion has festivals for almost every event. These festivals are a perfect
example of unity among diversity. The festivals form an integral part of music
our art and architecture. It casts an impact on our literature.
It is a common characteristic in India the places of
pilgrimage are usually located in the mountains or dense forested areas or
even, on the banks of rivers. The confluence these 3 lakes at Prayag is deemed
holy by the Hindus.
The Science Behind The Festival: Happy Holi |
It's intriguing to note that if the Kumbh in Allahabad
happens to be on a Monday, then it is called'Somvati Amavasya'. In cases like
this, the benefit of the Kumbh increases tremendously. According to the legend
at the Puranas, a war broke out between the Demons and the Gods so as to seize
the pot which contained the holy'amrit' or nectar.
On the other hand, the
Demons were able to run away with the 'Amrit'. On 4 places of the planet ,
couple drops of the sacred nectar fell during their flight. These 4 places
eventually became the Mela's sites.
After the fair is held at Ujjain and Nasik, it is called 'Simhastha
Kumbh'. This is due to the positioning of this planet Jupiter from the 'Simha'
(Leo) constellation. The period between the'Simhastha Kumbh' at Nasik and
Ujjain is generally one year.
The Ardha Kumbh at Haridwar is attended only by the men and
women who lead a domestic life ('Grihasthas') and can be held after a period of
6 years.The historical background states that King Harshavardhana (who ruled in
India in the 7th century) relinquished all his property after every 6 years at
Prayag.
This was certainly one of the reasons why the Ardh Kumbh became common. All myths have reasons and various messages to celebrate.
The fantasy of the evergreen love of Radha and Krishna gave a message of joy
and love.
Lord Shiv and Kamdev's myth gets the message of forgiveness. Last,
Dhundi's dream gives a message that "Bad cannot succeed over good for a
very long time one fine day it has to shed and return to some finish".
Finally, from the bottom of the heart I want to wish you all Happy Holi.
Thank you for your comment.
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