Hindu Spring Festival
Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring festival widely celebrated in India and Nepal. Holi is celebrated as a welcoming of Spring, and a mythological triumph of good over evil. This Holi festival has many elements of primitive and prolific rites. When it comes to translate a celebration in action, nothing compares to the style of this celebration. People chase each other smearing of coloured powder on each other, and throwing water. Local people are simply believing that it is a, this festival of joy, and this is the way to express it.Holi is traditionally celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month. This year, the festival will be held on the 1st of March. Food preparations begin many days in advance before the real celebration. The main dishes are: gujia, papads, kanji and various kinds of a lot of snack items. Sweets are the vital element of Holi celebrations. After an exhaustive morning and afternoon, it would be a sin not to enjoy the holi sweets and savories.
The mythological origins of this festival vary in different parts and different countries. The most popular story is a story about Kamadeva, a god of love. Kamadeva’s body was destroyed when he shot his weapon at Shiva in order to disrupt his penance and help Parvati (a mother goddess) to marry Shiva. As a punishment, Kama’s body was reduced to ashes. However, Shiva restored him due to request of Kamadeva’s wife Rati, but only as a mental image, representation of a spiritual state of love. The Holi bonfire is said to be celebrated in honor of this event.
Holi is one of the most ancient festivals in Hindu religion. There are not enough words to describe this amazing festival. It is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and joyful of Hindu festival. No matter how old you are, come to this street festival, celebrate and douse each other with colour powder.
