Holi - Festival Of Colors

Significance of Holi festival

   Festival of color, Holi is a spring festival celebrated by the Hindus in all over the world. It is the most charming festival of India celebrated in each part of the country.  There are many stories associated with the origin of Holi festival. It is mainly believed to be related with lord Krishna. It is said that lord Krishna often complained of his dark skin to his mother comparing his skin color to the Radha's fair color. His mother decided to apply the color to Radha. Later on Krishna played such pranks on Radha and other Gopikas. Thus the festival is celebrated to commemorate Radha’s celestial love for Krishna.
  The festival of Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter. The festival usually falls on the last full moon of day of Phalguna (Feb- March) month. On the eve of the Holi festival particular bonfire is set on fire thus marking the mythological incidence of Holika Dahan in which Holika (a demoness with a boon that she could not be burnt) dies of burning when she sits on pyre with Prhalad (an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu) who escapes the fire unhurt due to supernatural power of the god lord Vishnu.
  Celebration of Holi contains the activities of people throwing colors mixed with water and applying colors to each other. The festival of Holi gets different flavor in different parts of the country. There are many form of the festival of Holi celebrated in different ways. Lath Mar Holi in Barsna is very striking. Thousands of people gather at the compound of Radha Rani temple to witness the women striking hard with sticks to men who are seen protecting themselves with some kind of shields. Mathura, Vrindavan, Braj, Agra are some of the places related with lord Krishna and hence celebration of Holi there is very religious and divine.

Holi in different states of India

  Holi is also known by different names in different parts of the state. In West Bengal and Orissa it is known as Dolyatra of Basant Panchami while it has other name of Phagawa in Bihar. In Maharashtra and Goa Holi is known as Dhulivandan. Baithki Holi and Khari Holi are some forms of main festival of Holi. Holi festival abolishes the gap between rich and poor, men and women, young and old, rich and poor who all comes together to celebrate colorful Holi.