My Favourite Festival Holi…

My favourite festival Holi… 

On this day, it was a magnificent event at Mathura once upon a time. 

At the banks of Yamuna, all gopikaas gathered I. Colourful dresses, well-articulated with decorative pearls and gems. All had pots full of holy water dipped in different hues. They had wooden sticks too painted beautifully to play Kolattam. 

Kolattam is a traditional game played by all with rhythm and sanctity. Ladies put steps with music / songs with sticks in hand hitting each other in an order to form a dance.. Lord krishna will be at the centre of attraction of course. He will spray coloured water with a spray gun and all ladies have to escape. Such a fun filled game is played even today on this Holi day. 

Holi depicts the True love of Radhe and Lord Krishna. Their way of expressing love was immortal, splendid. It creates a vibe in other gopikaas. They all loved him equally. They never felt jealousy, they were immersed in their own way of enjoyment and happiness when Krishna was around them. They were blessed to be with him. Radhe never misses that chance. In spite of her family members restricting her not to go near Yamuna bank, she used to escape herself with great mastery. She loved Krishna deeply. But, since both had the understanding of situations in family, they knew their limits. Always, love and respect to each other was prominent. 

So, today each one of us in India, celebrate this festival in full zoom and enthusiasm. Holi has long traditional links with Vaishnavite legends as such. Plunging with coloured water on one another is the love sports of Lord Krishna and Gopikaas. Of all the Hindu festivals, Holi is the most colourful one. 

  The story behind this Holi festival actually lends it the very name it bears is that, relating to the demoness, Holika. This was a sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. He once defeated the gods, claiming himself the supreme in the universe. His son Prahlad was a True devotee of lord Vishnu. 

Holika who was reputed to be immune to any damage from fire, herself carried Prahlad into the fire to make sure that he was burned to death. By the divine intervention, it was Holika that destroyed by the fire, and it was Prahlad who survived the test. Thus, holi is celebrated by burning and cremation of the evil Holika, the triumph of good over evil. 

  Holi is also a post-harvest festival during spring season. All fields will be filled with greenery, colourful flowering, echoing the animal world too. 

  Holi in initial days was celebrated as the cult of "Madana", a Love God, in Hindu mythology. 

Once, when Lord shiva sat in meditation mode, Parvathi sitting beside him. 

Madana, tried to wake Lord Shiva with his bow and arrow shot at Shiva, with flowers. His Intention was creating a love atmosphere between Shiva and Parvathi. But, instead, Lord Shiva was furious by this act of mischief, he opened his third eye. Madana got burnt alive. By his sad demise, his wife Rathi was In tears. She begged Shiva to grant him back to life, with excuse. ಶಿವ Being very humble and kind, granted Madana a rebirth from the ashes. All Gods were happy at the end. 

Thus, Holi is celebrated by burning unwanted items at home, (evils) on the previous night. Next day is a colourful event to rejoice for all. That is called "Madanotsava". Traces of this possible cult seem to remain to this day. The feast breathes an atmosphere of social merri - time. 

Hindu families with children enjoy this festival, wearing beautiful new dresses, preparing varieties of sweet dishes, with colourful water game. Indeed, a feast for eyes too.