HOLI

This
is one of the most popular and colorful festival celebrated in India. It comes
when the cold months give way to the summer. This most joyous festival falls on
the full moon day during the month of Phalguna, sometimes-late March. It is
seasonally the time when bodily humors change markedly, particularly the phlegm
- thawing with the onset of summer. Hence, physiologically people in India,
particularly in the north rave for more sensuous and sensual pleasures with both
the sexes longing to mate!

Holi
is generally associated with Lord Krishna, who in his childhood and adolescence
ran around with his band of cowherds and maidens of the village. Another story
goes like this: the demon named Hiranyakashyapu wanted all the people to worship
him and not Lord Vishnu. But even his son Prahlad did not follow this. The
demons tried all tricks to kill Prahlad but in vain. At last, Holika, the
demon's sister vowed to kill her nephew. So she sat on a pile of firewood along
with her nephew and asked the demons to set it ablaze. Since she had a boon as
to she would not be killed by fire, she readily did this act, but to everyone's
surprise she was killed but Prahlad was left unscathed, and to commemorate this
death of evil, people started celebrating holi.

Before
this day people sort out all unwanted things to be burnt on Holi day. This
"holi" is set ablaze at a precise "Muhurta" on the eve of
the actual holi day called Dhulendi. People gather around it singing and dancing
in Joy on the beat of Dholas and Nagaras.

The
next day starts with the sprinkling of colored waters and powders on one and
all. Flowers of the "flame of the forest" tree are soaked overnight in
huge vessels and in the morning they are strained by big clothes. To impart more
color unsoaked raw lime is added. This color is said to be good for the skin
unlike the various spurious colors that are easily available in the market for
Holi. The dress of every passer-by is ruined, but everyone takes it in a jolly
mood.

During
these days sweet homemade cakes called Goojhas are prepared and offered to every
guest. Apart from it "papri", "samosa", kachauris",
"kanje ke bari", etc are also prepared. There is no particular Puja
associated with Holi.

Holi
for the people is a festival of joy revelry and of abandonment of all taboos and
restrictions: to forget the innumerable obligations that weigh us down and
breathe the air of freedom.

I hope you all have a great Holiday! And not to get any paint in your eyes... That hurts! (LOL)

Have a great & Blessed Holiday!

Happy Holi day....!

Thanks alot for posting a meassage on my forum. And Belated Holi greetings. Sorry pal, I just checked that initmation mail.

That was a cool message. Do you have any name?

Rajesh