Holi
Holi also known as the festival of colors and sometimes festival of love originated from India it is a hindu holiday where friends, family, strangers play with dry colored powder or colored water in water guns or balloons some people carry various musical instruments and pound them hard. Holi is usually celebrated on the full moon usually in March but sometimes in February according to the Hindu calendar.
There is a symbolic legend to explain why holi is celebrated. The word "Holi" originates from "Holika", the evil sister of demon king Hiranyakashipu . King Hiranyakashipu had earned a boon that made him virtually indestructible. The special powers blinded him, he grew arrogant, felt 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 ( shawl ) that made her immune to injury from fire, while Prahlada was not. As the fire roared, the cloak flew from Holika and encased Prahlada. Holika burned, Prahlada survived. Vishnu appeared and killed Hiranyakashipu. The bonfire is a reminder of the symbolic victory of good over evil, of Prahlada over Hiranyakashipu, of fire that burned Holika. The day after Holika bonfire is celebrated as Holi.
Traditions are that days before the festival people start gathering wood and combustible materials for the bonfire in parks, near temples and other open spaces. On top of the pyre is an statue to signify Holika who tricked Prahalad into the fire. Inside homes, people stock up on colour pigments, food, party drinks and festive seasonal foods. On the night of Holi, usually at or after sunset, the pyre is lit, signifying Holika Dahan. The ritual is symbolic of the the victory of good over evil. People sing and dance around the fire.
Influence on the US The color run ,Run or Dye, Color in Motion, Color Me Rad, The Graffiti Run, and other fun runs are starting to spread over the United States . They combine the bright colours of Holi with the intensity of a 5K race. Runners show up wearing white running outfits and every kilometer they run, they are doused in a different colour. Holi is also celebrated in a non-sporting format, as a social event in parts of the United States . For example, at Sri Sri Rahda Krishna temple in Spanish Fork , Utah . Holi is celebrated as the Festival of Color, where thousands of people gather from all over the United States , play and mingle.
By: Ohm Shah |
