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Hinduism >
Festival Meanings & Significance
 HOLI
| The Indian sky
is changing - the March winds are coming in and winter begins
to bow out. Holi is the festival that carries the country
into the bright days of summer. A feeling of plenty is in
the air - the crops have been cut, threshed and stored or
sold. The farmer is at rest and money is at hand. 'Holi'
falls on the full moon, in the month of Phalgun, which spans
the end of Februry and the beginning of March on the Gregorian
calendar. A time when Spring is in the air. |
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| The legend of
King Hiranyakashipu is associated with the festival of Holi.
This legend signifies the victory of good over evil, of
devotion surpassing ambition. King Hiranyakashipu was an
ambitious ruler, one who wanted absolute power so that he
would be worshipped as God. When this wish was made known,
the King's own son, Prahlad, refused to obey his father.
Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, and it was
only to his Lord that he gave allegiance. The proud King
was enraged by Prahlad's disobedience and decided to punish
him severely. He asked his sister Holika for help. It was
believed that Holika was immune to fire and would never
be burnt, so the King asked Holika to sit in the centre
of a bonfire with Prahlad on her lap.The bonfire was lit,
and young Prahlad sat in Holika's lap, in its centre, praying
to Lord Vishnu. His devotion saved him, leaving him untouched
by the flames, but Holika was burnt to ashes. To mark this
legend, huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Holi. |
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| Vrindavan
and Lord Krishna's legend of courting Radha and playing
pranks on the Gopis are also the essence of Holi. Krishna
and Radha are depicted celebrating Holi in the Hamlet of
Gokul, Barsana and Vrindavan, bringing them alive with mischief
and youthful pranks. |
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| Holi
was Krishna and Radha's celebration of affectionate panorama
of feeling and colour. These scenes have been captured and
immortalised in the songs of Holi. The festival that is
also the harbinger of the light, warm, beautiful days of
Spring.. |
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