Holi – the festival of colors – is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of Hindu festival. It’s an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colors!
Holi, celebrated with great pomp and show. Though play of colours takes place on the last day, a ceremonial pole called, ‘chir’ is installed on the first day. Chir is a bamboo pole fringed with strips of clothes representing good luck charms. As the pole is put up in the street at Basantapur, the festivities and worship commences for the week and then the celebrations starts. For that period the entire country gets drenched in the colored water. This is great merry making occasion celebrated with family and friends.
There is a popular legend behind the installation of chir. The story is about the mischievous nature of Krishna who just loved to pray pranks with the milkmaids or gopis. Playful as he was, it is said that once he seduced all the local girls with his dashing good looks. He then danced with them all and when they fully engrossed in him, then he thought they were ripe for a tease. He doused them in coloured water and stole all their clothes while they were bathing in the water of river Yamuna. Naughty Krishna then hung their clothes on a tree to bug them. Chir symbolizes that very tree.
The legend popular behind the celebration is linked with Prahlad and his devilish father, Hiranyakashyap. Hiranyakashyap asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. However, Prahlad was saved for his extreme devotion by Lord Vishnu while Holika paid a price for her sinister desires. And this marked the victory of good over evil. Good things will always win.
While reading some information about Holi I have found this line “During Holi, practices, which at other times could be offensive, are allowed. Squirting colored water on passers-by, dunking friends in mud pool amidst teasing and laughter, getting intoxicated on bhang and reveling with companions is perfectly acceptable.” Is it really that? is that really acceptable? Why to show the dirty behavior to the strangers? We can not get real fun teasing other peoples who are not interested on it. Some people show really vulgar behavior that is not acceptable for me… Enjoy Holi with your real frens, your family who can really help you to enhance your fun level…
HAPPY HOLI TO ALL… ENJOY!
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