Holi celebration in India: Holi is a popular Hindu festival which is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Phalgun month in the month of March. This festival of colors is celebrated with great pomp across the country. All of us devotees know the story of Prahlad and Holika Dahan, which is associated with the festival of Holi. But very few people know how the words ‘Holika’ and ‘Holi’ came into existence. Along with this, there are different names of Holi festival in other states besides Gujarat. So let’s know about this interesting information.
Different names of Holi in different states
Holi in Haryana is called ‘Dulandi’, Holi in Punjab is called ‘Hola Mohalla’, while Holi in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh is called ‘Phag and Lathmar’, Holi in Maharashtra is called ‘Phalgun Purnima’, and in South India it is called ‘Kamdhan’.
Diversity in Holi celebrations
Along with various names of Holi, there is a variety in traditions to celebrate it. The festival of Holi is celebrated with flowers in Vrindavan. In Radha Krishna temples, devotees celebrate Holi by throwing flowers on each other. Therefore only pink or yellow roses are used in some places. When sandalwood and saffron are mixed with water in some places
How did the word ‘Holi’ come into existence?
A history or story is hidden behind any festival or its name. Something similar is true for the word ‘Holi’. It is said that on the day of Phalgun Purnima, the ancient Aryan people used to start Agnihotra by burning new wheat and tide stalks in the fire of Havan. Grain peels are called ‘Halk’ in Sanskrit. This made the words ‘Holika’ and ‘Holi’. The word ‘Holi’ has come into existence from Gujarati’s ‘Holi’.
Traditional Story of Holi-
According to the legend related to Holi, there was a demon named Hiranyakashyap. Her husband’s name was Prahlad. They do not like this when Kunwar Prahlad worships God. Hiranyakashyap’s sister Holika took her on a wooden pyre to kill Prahlada. When the pyre was lit, a miracle happened. Holika was burnt to ashes, but Prahlad survived. Thus, truth and devotion won.
Holi worship and celebration tradition
On the evening of Holi, people worship Holi by burning Holika and burning coconut. From young children to the elderly, everyone revolves around Holi. Nine couples perform and receive blessings. Therefore, women wish for good health of their children and family. People do not eat cooked grains during the day, but eat millet, rice, gram and dates. After watching Holi in the evening, the whole family goes home and eats food.
In this way, the festival of Holi is a festival to give a message to our life to be painted with the colors of the moon, the glory of integrity, and giving the message of burning unbearable activities prevailing in the human mind and human society.
