Holi - Rang Bhoomi Mythologies

Holi is celebrated from between two to five days beginning the full moon day of the month of Phalgun(February/ March) according to the Hindu calendar. The festival is a celebration of spring and heralds the beginning of a new crop season for farmers. India historically has been an agricultural economy, celebrates many festivals with tandem crop cycles. #RangBarse has been historically celebrated by farming communities as a ritual that seeks to usher in a successful harvest. It is the community’s show of hope as well as collective rejoicing in the spring.

Mythology: 

Radha and Krishna: Holi is also said to originate in Krishna’s boyhood. Krishna is an incarnation of Vishnu and is often considered one of the most human of gods. Krishna is known for playing pranks on the young women of his village, the Gopis. The story goes that Krishna is playing with his favorite Gopi, Radha, and notices that her skin is fair while he is dark. He sulks at his mother and she tells him to throw color on Radha’s face so that the difference can be erased. Hence during the morning of the main festivities, people play with color and water, hoping to erase the difference of color, creed, and religion, in the hope that this is what will make it a truly equal society.

The sacrifice of Kamadeva: The three main Gods of the Hindu pantheon are Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. Together they symbolize the circle of life. According to a legend, Goddess Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, one of the first sons of Lord Brahma, married Lord Shiva against the wishes of her father. Thus, Daksha did not invite her and her husband to a grand Yagya arranged by him. When Sati came to know about the event in her father’s house, she thought it to be a slip of the mind and proceeded to participate in the event despite the warnings of her husband. But once she reached there, she realized her fault and was infuriated by the insult of her husband. As penance for her disobedience, she entered the fire. When Lord Shiva came to know of her sudden demise, he was furious. Even after he controlled his anger, he started a severe meditation and renounced all work. The world’s balance soon crumbled in his absence and Sati took rebirth as Goddess Parvati to try and win Lord Shiva’s heart and wake him up from his trance. She tried all ways to get the attention of Shiva. When she had exhausted all her feminine ways, she invoked the help of Kamadava, the Indian cupid-god, who agreed to help her in the cause of the world despite the risks involved. He shot his love-arrow on Shiva’s heart. Disturbed in his trance, Lord Shiva opened his third eye that fired anger and instantly incinerated Kamadeva. It is said that it was on the day of Holi that Kamadeva had sacrificed himself for the good of all beings. Later, when Lord Shiva realized his mistake, he granted Kamadeva immortality in invisible form. This incident of burning off kama is called kamadahana or Holi. As the lust was won over by Lord Shiva the kamadahana or Holi festival is celebrated as an event associating with the Bliss of God. So following kamadahana during Holi, people put the powders on themselves and others remembering this victory over lust.

Invincible Dhundhi: During the reign of Prithu, there was a terrible ogress called Dhundhi, who loved to devour innocent children. She had performed severe penances and had won several boons from the deities that made her almost invincible. However, due to the curse of Lord Shiva, she was not so immune to the pranks and abuses of young boys as she was to weapons and arrows. One day, the courageous boys of the village decided to get rid of her forever and chase her away from the village forever. They got intoxicated on bhaang and drunk and then followed Dhundi to the limits of the village, beating drums, making a loud noise, shouting obscenities, and hurling insults at her and continued doing this until she left the village for good. This is the reason that even today young boys are allowed to indulge themselves in rowdiness, using rude words and intoxication on Holi.

Prahlad & Holika: There was a mighty demon king named Hirnakashyipu who had won all the three worlds of heaven, earth, and hell and had thus, become very proud. He assumed that he could defeat even Lord Vishnu with his valor. He went to the extent that he had enforced a law that everybody would worship him instead of gods and deities. However, his little son Prahlad refused to accept his commands and continued to worship Lord Vishnu with complete devotion. Infuriated by this defiance of his son, he ordered his soldiers to throw him down a hill. Praying fervently and having full faith in Lord Vishnu, Prahlad did not retract from his word. True to his faith, Lord Vishnu rescued him at the last moment. Flustered by this news, Hirnakashyipu invoked the help of his sister Holika, who had a boon that she could walk through the fire unharmed to do away with his son. The wicked aunt agreed to the evil desires of his brother and entered the fire with her nephew Prahlad. However, the brother and sister had forgotten that Holika could only enter the fire alone or she would perish. Thus, blessed by Lord Vishnu, the child Prahlad remained unharmed but Holika got burnt and died instantly. Holi is thus celebrated to commemorate the death of the evil aunt, after whom the festival is named, and the new life granted to Prahlad for his devotion and faith. To this day, cow dung is hurled into the fire, and obscenities are shouted at the Holi fire at some places to insult Holika.

Pootana: Yet another legend says that there was an Ogress known as Pootana. Lord Krishna's devil uncle Kansa sought the help of Pootana to kill baby Krishna by feeding him poisonous milk. Pootana masked herself as a simple and sacred woman and faithlessly fed baby Krishna with her poisoned milk. Lord Krishna, however, sucked her blood which revealed the monster behind that sacred woman, and laid her to death. On the night before Holi, there is a practice to burn an effigy of Pootana - the ogress who nearly killed baby Krishna. The tradition is symbolic of the victory of good over evil forces.

Description of the festivities:

Holika bonfire: This fire is a symbol of rejuvenation and a new start. The whole community helps to build the bonfire, bringing various old things that they no longer need or want. Neighborhood kids also collect wood in the days leading up to the bonfire. Around midnight, everyone gathers around a designated bonfire site to set it ablaze. People sing, chant prayers, cheer and yell. The community also often shares sweets and small treats.

Rangpanchami: The final day of Holi is characterized by a loosening of social norms and codes, where the whole community comes together to celebrate the festival of colors. People fill the streets and squirt one another with colored water, water balloons and paint each other’s faces. Everybody looks like one another, symbolizing the erasure of difference. The bright colors also signify the beginning of spring. They are often made from naturally occurring vegetable dyes.

Holi Sweets and prayers: The ‘Festival of Colours’ is here. Holi is celebrated with much fervor and fanfare in India. No celebration is complete without sweets, and Holi is no exception. Holi is a time for merriment, Delicacies like gujia, thandai, lavang latika, and khoya burfi are synonymous with Holi. Holi is done infamous temple in Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar .

May all the seven colors of the rainbow come together this Holi and bless your life with happiness and joy. Wishing you health, prosperity, and blessings from the gods."Happy Holi"!