Holi Puja

Holi is the festival of colors. It is one of the famous festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country.  Holi is also known as the festival of love because on this day people unite this day by forgetting all resentments and all types of bad feelings towards each other. It is celebrated with lots of joy and enthusiasm.

The great Indian festival lasts for a day and a night, which starts in the evening of Purnima or the Full Moon Day in the month of Falgun. It is celebrated with the name “Holika Dahan” or Choti Holi on the first evening of the festival and the following day is called Holi.

Legend behind Holi

The Demon King, Hiranyakashyap, wanted everyone to worship him but his son Prahlad refuses to do so as he was the devotee of Lord Vishnu. The Demon King was angry and he asked his sister Holika, to take Prahlad in her arms and enter a blazing fire. She had been granted a boon which had made her immune to fire and only Prahlad would get burnt to death. But when Holika did that, the Lord protected Prahlad and she got burnt to death as the boon was applicable only when she entered the fire alone.

Since that time, people light a bonfire called Holika, on the eve of Holi festival to celebrate the victory of good over evil. The next day, people play with colors and this day is called Holi with colors or “Dhulandi”.

Holi Celebration in India

India is famous for its colorful customs and one of the most colorful festivals of all is the “Festival of Colors” i.e. Holi. Holi, the vibrant festival is celebrated to welcome spring season is enjoyed by throwing the watercolor and gulaal on each other. On the day of the festival, the air of almost every town is dipped in various colors like gulaal. Youngsters apply it on each other and on the feet of the elders of the family. The delights of sweets like gujiya, mathri and laddoos are associated with the festivities. Bhang in the drink form is also consumed by the people.

Holi is celebrated in India by performing the following rituals:

A few days prior to the festival, people start collecting wood and other inflammable things for the bonfire. The combustible materials are then gathered in the pyre in colonies, community centers, parks or other open spaces. On the top of the pyre, an effigy of Holika is placed to be burned as per the legend.
The first day of the festival is celebrated as Holika Dahan or Choti Holi. After sunset people gather around the pyre, perform puja and light it. People even sing and dance around the pyre, as it symbolizes a triumph of good over bad.
The second day of Holi is called as Dhulandi, Rangwali Holi, or Badi Holi. Now on this day people apply color on each other and celebrate the festival with happiness and joy. Children and youngsters play with both watercolor and gulaal and also celebrate the occasion with music and party. Few people are also seen with drums and other musical instruments on streets, dancing and singing their way from one place to another.
People also enjoy the festival by enjoying all the delightful items such as sweets, gujiya, mathri, laddoos, cold drinks, snacks, etc. Gujiya is one of the special sweets at the festival. The famous drink of the occasion is Thandai which generally contains bhang.
After playing with colors people take baths and get well dressed. Then after a visit there friends, relatives and greet them for the festival.
Top Places in India for Holi Celebration:

Uttar Pradesh: Here Holi is celebrated in an excessive way than the rest of India. The Braj region of India, the cities of Uttar Pradesh, mostly in Mathura and Vrindavan make the festivities more special. According to ancient times, this festival is mainly celebrated as a divine connection of love between Lord Radha and Krishna. Apart from playing the color exchange of sweets is also one of the enjoying traditions of Uttar Pradesh. Sweet, dance, music, colors make the festival even more special and more enthusiastic.

• Barsana is a small village located near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. This place still sticks to the culture and tradition of the land. When it comes to the festival, the village turns into a beautiful paradise of bright colors. Holi festival is celebrated with an age-old tradition where women of the land beat up a man with a stick decorated with colorful cloth and paper.
• Udaipur: In Udaipur, the festival is celebrated in the most imperial and grand manner, where the royal family takes active participation in all functions and rituals. From Holika Dahan, fireworks to spraying colors, the Holi celebration in Udaipur is an enchanting and exuberant experience. People enjoy folk dance and music. The hotels and restaurants in Udaipur conduct live night dance programs with DJ. Udaipur is one of the top places in India for the Holi Celebration.
• Gujarat: Gujarat celebrated Holi in a unique way. The most famous tradition is the breaking of the earthen pot full of buttermilk. This ritual comes from the tales where Lord Krishna used to tease and break milk pots of the milkmaids. A pot full of buttermilk is tied high on the rope. To get to the heights, people form a human pyramid. While the young boys form the pyramid, people throw colored water on them. There are competitions among groups to win the prize. During the festival, people celebrate with spreading colors, eating delights and enjoying the music.

Holi Safety Tips:

The best option to play Holi is to play with natural colors or homemade colors. If the natural color is not possible then please buy it from a reputed store.
Play safe. And don’t be rude to anyone.
Use a more red or pink color that looks good or can be easily taken off. Other colors such as yellow, purple, green, etc are made from chemicals
Apply coconut oil on your face, hair, and hands so that color can be easily removed.
Cover your hair with hats or caps to protect your hair from being colored.
If possible avoid going outside your home, at least for the peak hours of celebration. The premises of your home ensure that you are safe from pouncing hooligans, even friends who can be a little rough on the day.
Put off your worst clothes that are of no use.
Avoid running on wet floors, so that you don’t slip and injure yourself.
Do not drive if you are high on alcohol or bhang.

Holi Date and Muhurat:

Holika Dahan: 9th March 2020

Holika Dahan Muhurat: 06:22 pm to 08:49 pm

Bhadra Punchha: 09:37 am to 10:38 am

Bhadra Mukha: 10:38 am to 12:19 pm

Rangwali Holi: 10th March 2020

Purnima Tithi Begins: 03:03 (9th March)

Purnima Tithi Ends: 11:16 (9th March)