Holi, the festival of colours, is a joyous celebration that brings together people of all ages and backgrounds. With vibrant colours flying through the air, the atmosphere is filled with excitement and a sense of community. It’s a time to forget any grudges and forgive, to spread love and kindness, and to embrace the coming of spring. From delicious sweets and traditional music to colourful clothes and dancing, Holi is a festival that engages all the senses. As the colours settle and the music fades, the spirit of Holi lingers on, reminding us to embrace life with joy and positivity.

The Hindu lunar calendar, which is based on the motion of the moon, determines when Holi will occur. It usually occurs during the Phalguna full moon in the Hindu month of February or early March. In Hinduism, the Phalguna Purnima full moon, which marks the beginning of spring (which marks the end of the winter season according to the Gregorian calendar, takes place in February or March) and the victory of good over evil, is a fortunate occasion.

Below is the Holi 2023 date and timing, as per the Indian Standard Time (IST)

Holi Date – 26th March 2024 (Monday)

HolikaDahan – 25th March (Sunday)

Purnima Tithi Begins – 09:54 AM on Mar 24, 2024

Purnima Tithi Ends – 12:29 PM on Mar 25, 2024

What Rituals Are Connected to Holi?

There are numerous rituals connected to the Holi festival. According to regional cultural customs, people celebrate Holi in various ways across the globe. In general, HolikaDahan Puja is a significant component of the event in addition to the use of colour. It should be done at the right moment because doing it at the incorrect time could result in bad luck for you.

Let’s learn more about this

• For the Holika Puja, people begin gathering wood in fields and other open areas for the bonfire. The mythological story of Holika and Prahlad is referenced in this, which is known as HolikaDahan.

• Cow dung, whole Moong Dal, unbroken rice or Akshat, Roli, flowers, incense sticks or Agarbatti, cotton thread, Batasha, coconut, and grains of recently harvested crops like wheat are among the ingredients used in the Puja. All of the Puja supplies must be kept on a dish.

• The pile contains cow dung-made statues of Holika and Prahlada. The Prahlada idol is taken down on the day of HolikaDahan.

• You must face the East or the North when you are seated for Puja.

• Worship Lord Ganesha, Goddess Ambika, Lord Narsimha, and Prahlad after taking the Sankalp. Use all the Puja items and perform entire rituals of adoration for them.

• Present Holika with rice, incense, flower coconut, etc. Tie a circle around the Holika using the raw yarn. You can go around it or take three or five steps. seven cycles,

• The water pot should then be emptied into wood piles. Holika is then set on fire. In the evenings, enormous bonfires are ignited. Everyone came for the Holika Dahan celebration to light the woodpile on fire to commemorate the ultimate victory of good.

• For worship, coconuts are tossed into the fire.

• Elders then grant blessings to the populace. They roast new crops and offer them to the campfire. As prasad, the toasted grains are served.

Holika Puja is thought by devotees to be the key to overcoming all fear. The practitioners of this puja are said to receive prosperity and wealth. The burning ashes of the bonfire are thought to be extremely lucky. For this reason, worshippers bring the ashes home. Devotees also smear the ash on their bodies because they believe it to be pious. It is thought to purify the body and the soul. The day after

Holika Dahan, which is Holi, is joyfully celebrated.

• They observe Holi by rubbing Gulal or Abeer (dry coloured powder) of various hues on one another and the feet of their elderly relatives.

• Children love Pichkaris (water cannons), which come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are widely available in markets. These water cannons are used by people to splash coloured water on one other. Using water balloons and water pistols, kids have fun.

• They dance to the beat of the drums and sing along to folk music during Holi. It is seen as a time for merriment.

• People partake in popular Holi treats like Gujiya, Mathri, Ladoos, Tandai, etc. on this occasion. Another traditional Holi beverage that is highly popular during this celebration is bhang.

Holi is a time for people to have fun with their loved ones in general.

What Is the Significance Of The Holi Festival

Holi is noteworthy from an astrological perspective because it happens while the moon is in Virgo and the sun is in Pisces. Pisces is a water sign that represents feelings, intuition, and creativity, whereas Virgo is an earth sign that represents practicality, attention to detail, and selflessness.

According to Vedic astrology, there is a strong energetic tension between these two signs because they are located on opposite sides of the zodiac wheel. During Holi, we can use this tension to help us let go of our negative feelings and turn them into uplifting energy. According to legend, the colours used during the festival stand for various emotions, with red denoting love and passion, blue denoting peace and tranquility, yellow denoting joy and optimism, and so on.

We are symbolically letting go of negative emotions and allowing positive energy into our lives by hurling these colours at each other while simultaneously celebrating the entrance of spring and the victory of good over evil. Everyone who wants to build greater joy, happiness, and positivity in their lives may find this to be a wonderful exercise.

Holi is known for its usage of colours as well as other spiritual activities like chanting, meditation, and prayer. These rituals can strengthen our relationships with the divine and ourselves, as well as the transformational force of the festival.

The story behind the Holi celebration

Holi is a well-known Hindu holiday that is observed mostly in India and Nepal, as well as in other nations where there is a sizable Hindu diaspora. The celebration is often referred to as the “festival of colours” or the “festival of love”.

The fable of Prahlad and Holika from Hindu mythology is one of the most well-known stories and traditions connected to the birth of Holi.

The story goes that Prahlad was a youthful Lord Vishnu devotee, but his father Hiranyakashipu was a strong and haughty ruler who desired to be worshipped as a god. Prahlad was saved by Vishnu’s divine intervention after Hiranyakashipu attempted to kill him multiple times because of his devotion to Vishnu.

Ultimately, Hiranyakashipu instructed his sister Holika to carry Prahlad into a raging fire while wearing a boon that gave her impervious to flames. Holika’s scheme failed, and she perished in the flames, but Prahlad survived uninjured thanks to his devotion to Vishnu.

The principal themes of the Holi festival, which is observed by dousing one another in colourful powder and water while dancing and singing, are the triumph of good over evil and the defence of the innocent. The celebration also denotes the end of winter and the beginning of spring, signifying the regeneration of the natural world and the victory of life over death.

Flavours of Holi celebration in India

Holi is a well-known event that is observed throughout India according to various traditions and customs.

Here are some of the ways that various regions of India celebrate Holi:

North India: The event is fervently and enthusiastically observed in North India. They enjoy traditional Holi foods like gujiya, dahi-bhalla, and thandai as well as playing with colour and singing and dancing to traditional Holi music. A special Holi puja is done at temples in various regions of North India, and people also burn bonfires to symbolise the triumph of good over evil.

South India: In contrast to the rest of the country, Holi is celebrated in South India under the name Kamavilas. The night before Holi, people light a bonfire and worship Kamadeva, the god of love. The following day, people participate in colour-based activities and eat traditional Holi treats like sweet pongal and vadai.

East India: Holi is known as Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima in West Bengal and other regions of East India. Participants parade around the streets with Radha and Krishna idols atop a painted palanquin, or “dol,” while singing and dancing to devotional songs to mark the festival. Also, people enjoy traditional treats like sandesh and rasgulla as well as painting one another with colours.

West India: Holi is enthusiastically celebrated in Western India, where people consume thandai, gujiya, and puran poli as well as playing with colour and singing and dancing to traditional Holi songs. They also light a bonfire in Maharashtra to symbolise the triumph of good over evil.

In general, Holi is a festival that is joyfully and enthusiastically observed throughout India. It brings people together to rejoice in the victory of good over evil and the beginning of spring.

So, as we celebrate Holi, let’s keep in mind to take good care of ourselves and our loved ones on this important occasion by adhering to all the safety precautions and instructions. Let’s celebrate sensibly and share a message of happiness and love. To all the great folks, Happy Holi! I hope this holiday brings you all the joy and prosperity you deserve.