Holi is a festival of colors that is celebrated by\nHindus all over the world with utmost passion and sheer happiness. Holi is\npopularly known to be the second biggest festival for Hindus after Diwali. Holi\nis popularly symbolized as being the festival of colors wherein everyone plays\nwith colors to mark the celebration. It is one of the most awaited times of the\nyear which brings people closer and marks the period of harvest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holi, the festival of colors is praised for two days.\nThe main day is known as Holika Dahan. Holika Dahan alludes to Kama Dahanam in\nSouth India. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second day is known as Holi\/Dhulandi – the day\nwhen individuals play with colors Alternate names by which this day is called\nare Dhuleti, Dhuli Padvo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the first day, campfires are lit after dusk time at\ncorrect Holika Dahan Muhurat.On this day, they worship campfire and offer\ngrains to God. The following day, Dhulandi is celebrated when people enjoy Holi\ndelicacies and play with wet and dry colors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holi Dates 2020<\/strong><\/p>
Holika Dahan on Monday, March 9, 2020<\/strong><\/p>
Holika Dahan Muhurta – 06:04 PM to 08:30 PM<\/strong><\/p>
Duration – 02 Hours 26 Mins<\/p>
Holi on Tuesday, March 10, 2020<\/strong><\/p>
Bhadra Punchha – 09:37 AM to 10:38 AM<\/p>
Bhadra Mukha – 10:38 AM to 12:19 PM<\/p>
Holika Dahan during Pradosh with Udaya Vyapini Purnima<\/p>
Purnima Tithi Begins – 03:03 AM on Mar 09, 2020<\/p>
Purnima Tithi Ends – 11:17 PM on Mar 09, 2020<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Story Behind Festival Of Holi<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are numerous ceremonies that are related to the\ncelebration of the Holi festival. A day prior to Holi, a splendid campfire is\nlit. This day is Holika Dahan. It symbolizes the triumph of good over bad.\nThere is an exceptionally fascinating story related to this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holika Dahan Story<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
According to Hindu Mythology, there was a wicked demon king Hiranyakashyap who forbade the people of his kingdom from worshipping the Lord Vishnu. He wanted to be immortal so that he could rule the world and to fulfill his desire, he worshipped Lord Brahma and did a hard penance. As a result of his strong prayers, Lord Brahma gave him a boon which stated that neither inside the door nor outside the door, neither human nor an animal, neither during the day nor in the night, neither on the land nor in the water or air, nor by any weapon could the king be killed. The boon made Hiranyakashyap powerful and as a result, he became more wicked and treacherous. However, he had no power over Prahlad, his own son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prahlad was a righteous child and the biggest devotee\nof Lord Vishnu. To stop him, he made various attempts but at last, the demon\nking plotted to slaughter him with the help of his sister Holika, a woman with\na boon to not get burnt in the fire. But when Holika tried to kill Prahlad by\ntaking him into the pyre of fire, fired devoured her while Prahlad lived.\nLater, to save him from his wicked father, Lord Vishnu took the form of\nNarsimha. He killed the demon king with his sharp nails while laying him in his\nlap at the doorstep during the dusk, thus saving his righteous devotee and the\neffect of the boon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To celebrate this victory of good over evil, the Hindu\ncommunity partakes to light the fire. They keep a mud pot of new grains under\nthe fire so that it may get devoured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, quite often the predictions are made for the\nfuture harvest based on the flames of fire. The fiery remains of this fire are\nviewed as exceptionally promising and auspicious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
People light smaller flames at home with coals and\nkeep the cinders which is believed to guard against illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holi\nCelebrations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After Holika Dahan, the next day on Dhulandi, the air\nis loaded with colors (known as gulal and abeer). The sky looks full of Holi\ncolors and there are only sounds of \u201cHoli Hai\u201d everywhere. Youths dance on the\nbeats of drums(Dhols) and apply colors on each other and on the feet of the\nelders of the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Water guns( known as Pichkaris) of different shapes\nand sizes swarm the business sectors. Seeing everyone pouring shading on each\nother and entire heartedly taking an interest in the merriment makes an ideal\npicture of bliss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some people are more interested in playing with dry\ncolors only. However, numerous individuals feel that Holi festivities are\ndeficient without wet colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wet color is applied on the face and is made on the\nspot by blending little measure of water with dry hued powder. People also\nblend colors in full pail of water to soak the whole body in wet colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the banks of the River Ganga, individuals sit\nsplashed in colors and get ready thandai with cannabis (bhang) and this has an\nexceptionally inebriating impact. The fun is definitely appreciating and\nexciting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gujiya, mathri, laddoos are devoured by the bounty in\nthe event of Holi. Bhang is additionally used to amplify the Holi fun, it is\ntaken as a drink or mixed with sweets. In some areas, especially cities, big\nHoli events, pandals or Holi parties are organized by keeping special themes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the day of Holi, the social media platforms are\nbombarded with Holi Greetings and Holi stories. \u201cBura Na Mano Holi Hai\u201d take\nrounds and help people gel together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Various Holi\nCelebration in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The most famous Holi celebration in India is in the\nBraj regions. Braj regions are basically the areas of Uttar Pradesh that are\nassociated with Lord Krishna. Among these Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan, Gokul,\nNandgaon, and Barsana are the most popular ones. However, like any other\nfestival, Holi also shares its own set of variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holi in Barsana<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This place from Uttarpradesh is famous as the\nbirthplace of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna. It is said that Lord Krishna used\nto come here from his hometown, Nandgaon to tease Radha and Gopis. He used to\nput colors on them, drench them in water and mock fights which later turned as\na tradition at this place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On this date of Holi, men from Nandgaon visit this\nplace to take over the temple of Shri Radhikaji and in response to their\nactions, women from Brasana stop them with their bamboo sticks or Lathis. This\nkind of Holi celebration is known as Lathmar Holi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holi in\nShantiniketan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Celebrated at the abode of Gurudev Rabindra Nath\nTagore, Holi at Shantiniketan is quite famous in India. Here, Holi is popularly\ncelebrated to mark the arrival of the Spring season, known as Basant Utsav. At\nthis time, the whole area of Shantiniketan is surrounded by melodies of Baul\nsingers and you may hear the eternal songs of Rabindra Nath Tagore played on\ninstruments. Like spring, the Holi here is full of colors, flowers and great\nambiance where you may see vivacious Bengali culture amalgamated with\nmesmerizing dance and music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holi in\nPushkar<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Situated 10 km away from Ajmer, Pushkar is known for\nits Kapda Faad Holi. As name, here, only men are said to rip off their shirts\nwhile entering the Holi event. It is one of the most famous Holi celebrations\nof India that is visited by tourists from all over the world including Israel,\nFrance, Belgium, Netherlands, England, Italy and many more. Here, the Holi\nparty usually starts at 10 in the morning and lasts until late 5 in the\nevening. Holi is played by flowers and colors. DJs and electronic music are\nplayed on the streets and the whole street looks like a small village where\npeople from all the parts of the world dance out their hearts, play with colors\nand celebrate Holi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holi in\nVrindavan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Holi celebration at Vrindavan is of utmost\nsignificance as it is the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Holi here is celebrated\nmainly at Banke Bihari Temple where devotees from far places gather to play\nHoli with colors, flowers, water, and other Holi items. You may hear Radha\nKrishna Holi bhajans or songs in the background and enjoy the mesmerizing\nambiance of Temple while dancing on the drum beats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holi\nCelebrations Around the World<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Guyana<\/strong>–\nKnown by the name of Phagwa, Holi is a national holiday and main festival that\nis celebrated with great vigor at Guyana. Here, people gather in streets to\nplay with colors, effigy burning, and dance to the devotional songs of the\ncity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nepal<\/strong>–\nThe neighboring country of India with a good population of Hindus is known to\ncelebrate Holi with great vigor. Like other places, people here use colored\nwater called \u201cLolas\u201d and Holi colors to play on the last day of the Holi\nfestival, known as \u201cChir\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
USA<\/strong>–\nWith a huge number of Indians residing, Holi is celebrated with enthusiasm in\nthe USA with immense joy and pleasure. On the day of Holi, parades are taken\nout where people throw hues and play Holi while dancing, singing with their\nloved ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trinidad and\nTobago<\/strong>– In the Caribbean twin islands of Trinidad and\nTobago, Holi is celebrated by singing a special folk song, \u201cChowtal\u201d. To sing\nit, people basically use two musical instruments known as \u201cDholak\u201d and \u201cManjeera\u201d.\nThey dance on their beats and exchange Holi greetings and sweets to show their\nhappiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Singapore<\/strong>–\nRang Barsay is the most popular Holi event that is organized in Singapore. In\nthe event, people dance on various upbeat songs, eat sweets, drink cocktails\nand enjoy drenching each other with colors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the above information, now you know how vibrantly\nand vividly celebrated Holi is. So, enjoy this auspicious day and live each\nmoment to the fullest at the Holi festival 2020.<\/p>\n