Holi is popularly known as the festival of colors across the world, it signifies the victory of good over evil, and the festival indicates the arrival of spring bringing an end to winter. It repairs broken relationships with colors love and joy.
The festival lasts for two days starting on the full moon day “Purnima” falling in the Hindu Calendar month of Falgun, which falls between the end of February and mid-March.
The first day is known as Holika Dahan (Choti Holi) and the second day as Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan.
The celebrations begin night before Holi with a bonfire where people gather, and pray that their internal evil should be destroyed as the bonfire starts. The following morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi.
The legend of Prahlad and Hiranyakshyap:
According to the legend, there was a powerful demon king, Hiranyakshyap, a self-claimed god, who demanded worships from everybody.
But his own son, Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, which kept pinching Hiranyakshyap.
In order to get rid of his son, Hiranyakshyap requested his sister, Holika to enter pile of fire with Prahlad in her lap, as she had a boon to enter fire unscathed.
But due to Prahlad’s extreme devotion towards Lord Vishnu, he was unaffected by the blazing fire, while Holika paid a price for her sinister desire. The tradition of burning Holika or the 'Holika Dahan' comes mainly from this legend.
Some of the Holi festivals in the Bay Area this year:
I.March 12, Newark Junior High, Newark
II.March 18, Cardoza Park, Milpitas
III.April 8, Rainbow Park, San Jose
IV.April 8-9, Stanford
AMandeep
