Holi

2017-3mar-13th-nithyananda-diary_DSC_9701_bengaluru-aadheenam-IA-Day16-holi-procession-swamiji.jpg 2017-mar-13th-nithyananda-diary_DSC_9908_bengaluru-aadheenam-IA-Day16-holi-procession-swamiji.jpg Nithyananda Diary March 13, 2017.jpg

"Holi is an important spring festival for Hindus, a national holiday in India, a regional holiday in Nepal and other countries. To many Hindus and some non-Hindus, it is a playful cultural event and an excuse to throw coloured water at friends or strangers in jest. It is therefore observed broadly in the Indian subcontinent. Holi is celebrated at the end of winter, on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month marking the spring, making the date vary with the lunar cycle. The date falls typically in March, but sometimes late February of the Gregorian calendar" (Holi).

"The festival has many purposes; most prominently, it celebrates the beginning of Spring. In 17th century literature, it was identified as a festival that celebrated agriculture, commemorated good spring harvests and the fertile land. Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring's abundant colours and saying farewell to winter. To many Hindus, Holi festivities mark the beginning of the new year as well as an occasion to reset and renew ruptured relationships, end conflicts and rid themselves of accumulated emotional impurities from the past" (Holi).

"It also has a religious purpose, symbolically signified by the legend of Holika. The night before Holi, bonfires are lit in a ceremony known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Little Holi. People gather near fires, sing and dance. The next day, Holi, also known as Dhuli in Sanskrit, or Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated. Children and youth spray coloured powder solutions (gulal) at each other, laugh and celebrate, while adults smear dry coloured powder (abir) on each other's faces. Visitors to homes are first teased with colours, then served with Holi delicacies (such as puranpoli, dahi-bada and gujia), desserts and drinks. After playing with colours, and cleaning up, people bathe, put on clean clothes, and visit friends and family" (Holi).

In celebration of Holi, one of the photographs shows how "The Avatar Blesses the people in many ways and in this the most fun way celebrating Holi with safe colros, using organic tumeric water" (Nithyananda Diary 13th March 2017).

 

The Vishnu Legend

"There is a symbolic legend to explain why Holi is celebrated as a festival of colours in the honor of Hindu god Vishnu and his follower Prahlada. King Hiranyakashipu, according to a legend found in chapter 7 of Bhagavata Purana, was the king of demonic Asuras, and had earned a boon that gave him five special powers: 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 (projectile weapons) nor by any shastra (handheld weapons), and neither on land nor in water or air. Hiranyakashipu grew arrogant, thought he was God, and demanded that everyone worship only him.

Hiranyakashipu's own son, Prahlada, however, disagreed. He was and remained devoted to Vishnu. This infuriated Hiranyakashipu. He 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 cloak that made her immune to injury from fire, while Prahlada was not. As the fire roared, the cloak flew from Holika and encased Prahlada, who survived while Holika burned. Vishnu, the god who appears as an avatar to restore Dharma in Hindu beliefs, took the form of Narashimha - 

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 eviscerated and 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 burned Holika" (Holi).

 

Works Cited

"Holi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

"Nithyananda Diary 13th March 2017 | Nithyananda Peetham, Bengaluru Aadheenam | Inner Awakening - Day 16 | Sadashivoham Day 5| HOLI CELEBRATIONS! | Inner Awakening Sessions: Mandala Session, Manifesting Shaktis, Banyan Tree Session." Nithyananda Diary 13th March 2017 | Nithyananda Peetham, Bengaluru Aadheenam | Inner Awakening - Day 16 | Sadashivoham Day 5| HOLI CELEBRATIONS! | Inner Awakening Sessions: Mandala Session, Manifesting Shaktis, Banyan Tree Session | Nithyananda Sangha's Official Web Site | Health, Wealth, Relationships, Excellence, Enlightenment, Yoga, Meditation. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.