Holi or Rangwali Holi or Dhulandi 2017
Holi is a Festival of Color in India. It is the most awaited festival after Diwali. Kids,youngsters,and old age all do welcome this festival with open heart. And why not this day we can put color on any one,and can run away with shouting ‘Bura Na Mano Holi hai’.
So, Holi is a Hindu spring festival that is celebrated in India and Nepal, also known as the festival of colors.Holi signifies victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.
Holi lasts for two days starting on the Purnima of Falgun. The first day is known as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi and the second day is celebrated as Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan.
Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika bonfire where people gather, do religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi where people chase and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water, with some carrying water guns and coloured water-filled balloons for their water fight. Groups carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. Holi is not only loved for colors .but for its eatable also Bhang, an intoxicating ingredient made from cannabis leaves, is mixed into drinks and sweets and consumed by many. In the evening people dress up new cloths and visit friends and family.
Holi | Rangwali Holi | Dhulandi 2017: Date & Time
Holika Dahan on 12th, March
Rangwali Holi | Dhulandi
(Monday)
Holi |Rangwali Holi| Dhulandi 2017 : Significance
There are so many stories related to why Holi is being celebrated, one of the most famous story is of God Vishnu and his follower Prahlada.
According to the legends,
King Hiranyakashipu was the king of demonic Asuras, and had earned a boon that he could be killed by neither a human being nor an animal, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither at day nor at night, neither by astra nor by any shastra, and neither on land nor in water or air. Hiranyakashipu became arrogant, and wanted everyone to accept him as god and worship only him.
Hiranyakashipu’s own son, Prahlada,was devoted to Vishnu.Thus Hiranyakashipu subjected Prahlada to cruel punishments, none of which affected the boy or his resolve to do what he thought was right. Finally, Holika, Prahlada’s evil aunt, tricked him into sitting on a pyre with her. Holika was wearing a cloth that made her not to burn into fire, while Prahlada was not. As the fire roared, the cloth flew from Holika and encased Prahlada,who survived while Holika burnt. Vishnu, took the form of Narasimha – half human and half lion, at dusk (when it was neither day nor night), took Hiranyakashyapu at a doorstep (which was neither indoors nor outdoors), placed him on his lap (which was neither land, water nor air), and then killed the king with his lion claws (which were neither a handheld weapon nor a launched weapon).
The Holika bonfire and Holi signifies the celebration of the symbolic victory of good over evil, of Prahlada over Hiranyakashipu, and of the fire that burnt Holika.
Another story is of Krishna and Radha:
In the Braj region of India, where Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated until Rangpanchmi . As a baby, Krishna developed his characteristic dark blue skin colour because Putana poisoned him with her breast milk. In his youth, Krishna despaired whether the fair-skinned Radha and other girls would like him because of his skin colour. His mother, tired of thequestion asks him to approach Radha and colour her face in any colour he wanted. This he does, and Radha and Krishna became a couple. Ever since, the playful colouring of Radha’s face has been done as Holi.
Holi | Rangwali Holi | Dhulandi 2017: Tradition
There are several cultural rituals associated with Holi.
Holika Dahan
In most regions Holi festival is celebrated for two days. The first day, Holi bonfire is done. This day is also known as Chhoti Holi and Holika Dahan. Holika Dahan is referred to Kama Dahanam in South India.
Rangwali Holi or Dhulandi or Dhulendi:
The second day is known as Rangwali Holi – the day when people play with colored powder and colored water. Rangwali Holi which is main Holi day is also known as Dhulandi or Dhulendi (धुलण्डी). Also known as Dhuleti, Dhulheti.
On first day bonfires are lit after sunset at Right Holika Dahan Muhurta. Main Holi day when people play with colors is always next day of Holika Dahan or Holi bonfire. Next day in the morning people play Holi with dry and wet colors.
We wish you all a color full Holi 🙂
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