The surrounding area’s temperature rises by 50–60 degrees Celsius when Holika burns. As per the custom, the heat from the bonfire destroys microorganisms in the body and purifies them when individuals do Parikrama or go around the campfire.
After Holika Dahan, certain people in the nation apply ash to their foreheads and chandan, a paste made of sandalwood mixed with mango tree blossoms and young leaves. It is believed to promote good health.
Mythological Significance:
Different stories about the origin of Holi are found in several ancient Indian literary texts.
One traditional telling of the tale holds that a terrible king rose to such prominence that he compelled his followers to worship him as a deity. To the king’s fury, however, his son Prahlada persisted in becoming a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, a Hindu deity. The enraged king planned to murder his son with the help of his sister Holika.
Prahlada was deceived into sitting in a pyre with Holika, who had fire resistance. The celebration gets its name from Holika, who was burned to death despite her immunity, but the boy, who was devoted to Lord Vishnu, survived the burning.
The story of Lord Krishna, a different manifestation of Lord Vishnu, and his spouse Radha is also connected to the celebration. The celebration, which honors the heavenly love of Radha and Krishna, is observed until Rang Panchmi in the Braj area, where Krishna is thought to have grown up.
Once, when dark-skinned Krishna made fun of his skin tone, his mother assured him that Radha loved him just the way he was and that he could even ask her to paint their faces any color she wanted. Radha consented to this, but her complexion color affected him and the other way around. Thus, this was the moment when Radha and Krishna united and started to be perceived as a single entity.
Holi Celebrations
Holi holds a distinct position in popular culture because of these mythological stories. Numerous tales and melodies depict individuals putting aside their rivalry and issues during Holi. The line “Holi ke din dil khil jaate hain, rangon mein rang mil jaate hain” (On the day of Holi, hearts bloom, colors blend with each other) is a well-known Hindi song that expresses this feeling.
On the day of Holi, people toss coloured powder into the air and splash it on others, turning entire streets and cities crimson, green, and yellow. Every hue has a symbolic meaning. For instance, the color red represents love and fertility, whereas the color green represents fresh starts.
In celebration, people also squirt each other with water. In addition to throwing colored water-filled balloons from rooftops, people often utilize water cannons to shoot water. Families join together for joyous feasts later in the day. It’s also customary to give candy to friends and neighbors.
Regional Specialties
There are regional specialties from India, such as gujia, but nothing quite embodies the festival’s essence like “bhang,” aside from its vibrant hues. The female cannabis plants’ seeds and leaves are used to make bhang, which is simply a green paste with a higher THC content than that of the male plants. The plant material is first ground into a paste by soaking it, and then the paste is rolled into smooth balls known as bhang goli.
Some cultures in North India pair bhang with “thandai,” a chilled drink made with milk, sugar, and a decadent blend of nuts and species including cardamom, saffron, fennel seeds, watermelon kernels, rose petals, pepper, and poppy seeds.
Mughal Background:
The final Mughal ruler, Bahadur Shah Zafar (1775–1862), enthusiastically celebrated Holi. Holi, also known as Eid-e-Gulabi, was observed with the same splendor as Eid in the Red Fort, the ceremonial royal home. As a sophisticated poet himself, Bahadur Shah composed several original shayari to mark the event. Zafar did not hesitate to celebrate Holi royally, even during periods of unrelenting decline.
The celebrations at Shahjahanabad would begin with fairs, assemblies, street performers, and ballads by renowned courtesans. Sufism has also accorded special significance to Holi, a festival that is often observed in Sufi shrines.
Tips: Before You Play Holi
Apply a thick layer of moisturizer, petroleum jelly or coconut oil all over the body to prevent colours from coming into direct contact with your skin.
Oil your hair and scalp with olive, coconut or castor oil.
What you choose to wear should cover maximum parts of your body. Wear dark colour-full sleeves cotton clothes.
Avoid lenses. Apply a lip balm for your lips.
Drink plenty of water before you start playing Holi. This will keep your skin hydrated. Also keep sipping water carefully while playing Holi.
Don’t consume bhang, excessive intake may lead to heart attack/failure.
Tips: After You Play Holi
Do not scrub the color off with soap.
Apply besan with milk/milk cream on your body to remove colors.
Avoid hot water, it will stick the color on your body.
Agrita Chhibber is a research Scholar and from Jammu
Images from different sources
Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking. You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com (For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary)
Vanishing Shores, Shifting Borders: The Global Warming Reshaping India, Bangladesh, and Assam CLIMATE CHANGE and Displacement in Bangladesh: A Global...
Read moreDetails
Mahabahu: An International Journal Showcasing Premium Articles and Thought-Provoking Opinions on Global Challenges - From Climate Change and Gender Equality to Economic Uplift.
Oops!! The Content is Copy Protected.
Please ask permission from the Author.
