Holi- Festivals of Color and 12 Famous Holi of India

Holi- Festivals of Colour and 12 Famous Holi of India 

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India is also known as a country of festivals, we have many festivals every month as per season, time, or planetary motion. There is a scientific reason too behind every Indian festival. These festivals are celebrated for ages and I believe that these festivals will be celebrated for the coming ages too. Children always wait for one or another festival so that they can enjoy these festivals and celebrate them. One can not imagine India without festivals. Indian culture as well as different Festivals are the soul of India.  Festivals are part of our life. We celebrate so many festivals but today we will talk about Holi - the festival of Colours.

Holi Celebrated On: Holi is a festival of life and colours. Holi is celebrated on the last full moon day of Falgun as per the Hindu Panchang. Mostly it is celebrated in the month of March as per the International calendar system. 

Why Holi is Celebrated: There several mythological stories behind the celebration of Holi. 

• This Mythological story is well known to everyone but still, I am writing it. Holi is also celebrated as a victory of good over evil. It is said that once there was a Demon King named Hiranyakashyap, he was a very powerful demon king, no one had the guts to fight with him, he was like an unconquerable king. He had a son named Prahlad. Prahlad used to worship Lord Vishnu, but his father didn’t like that, so to stop him worshipping Lord Vishnu, Hiranykashayp sent him to go through many obstacles and troubles so that Prahlad can finally stop worshipping Lord Vishnu but even after trying all the things Hiranyakashayp couldn't stop his son. At last, Hiranykshayp called his Sister Holika. Holika had a boon that she can’t be burned by fire. So, Hiranykshayp made Prahlad sit in Burning Pyre with his aunt Holika. As soon as they sat in the pyre Prahlad started to chant Lord Vishnu’s name, and due to this burning pyre started to burn the Holika. In this way, Holika was burnt alive by the pyre despite her boon and Prahlad came out without any harm from the pyre. 

In this way, Holi has celebrated the victory of Good over evil. 

• One more tale is believed that the day Lord Krishna put colour on Radha from that day Holi is celebrated. 

How Holi is Celebrated: - Holi is celebrated in various ways in a different part of the country. Holi festival celebrated for several days in a different part of India. 

On Day One Holika Dahan is performed. In this people gathered and light up a pyre to perform Holika Dahan. 

On Day 2 the actual celebration of colours starts. People use dry or wet colour to celebrate Holi in this way this festival goes on for a week. 

12 Different Names of Holi and How it is celebrated:-

1. Dulhandi: -  Holi is celebrated with great energy and enthusiasm, in Haryana, it is known as “Dulhandi or “Dulandi”. On this day people meet each other and exchange greeting. In Haryana, there is a tradition to break the pot and play with colours. In Haryana’s Holi special attraction is the fight of colours between Sister-in-law(Bhabhi) and brother-in-law( Devar). This is the age-old practice here, where sister-in-law takes a kind of revenge for the prank done of her by his brother-in-law throughout the year. 

2. Rangpanchmi:- RangPanchmi as its name suggests that it is celebrated on Panchmi after Holi Dahan especially in Maharastra. Mostly Rangpanchm is celebrated with dry gulal and special food named Puranpoli is prepared by the people. People meet each other and enjoy Ranpanchmi with Gulal or colour as well as Puranpoli.

 3. Phaguwa: - In Bihar Holi is also known as Phaguwa. Since it celebrated in the later part of Phalgun month and the early part of Chaitra as per the Hindu calendar it is called Phaguwa. Holika Dahan is performed a day before and the next day people play with colour and greet each other. People sing a traditional song and play folk music.

4. Royal-Holi: - In Rajasthan, Holi celebrated by the Royal families is known as Royal-Holi, especially by the Royal Mewar Family of Udaipur. Here horses are decorated along with the Royal-Band. Holi is celebrated in a grand manner here. People sing folk songs and play traditional music while playing with colour flowers and gulal. People greet each other and enjoy the festival. 

5. Lathmar Holi: - This is one of the most popular forms of Holi celebration. Lathmar Holi specially celebrated in Barsana, a village in Braj, Mathura. In this Men come with their shields to protect themselves from the lath used by women. Every year thousands of people come here to celebrate this Holi and wanted to be a part of this celebration. 

6. Hola Mohalla: - This form of Holi is mainly celebrated in the Panjab. A big fair is organised to showcase traditional Martial Arts by Nihang Sikhs along with folk music and folk dance of Panjab. Special Langars are organised at various Gurudwaras in Panjab. 

7. Kahila Holi: - In Uttarakhand Holi is known as Kahila Holi. To celebrate the Holi festival people gathered at various places in their traditional dresses and then sing folk songs and dance throughout the city.

8. Dola: - Holi in Odisha is known as Dola. Also Known as DolaGovinda, this is mainly to celebrate the Lord Jagannath.

9. Manjal Kuli: - In Kerala Holi is celebrated as Manjal Kuli or Ukuli. The Kudumbi and Kinkani Communities of Kerala celebrates this form of Holi in a traditional manner. 

10. Shigmo: - Shigmo the form of Holi celebrated in Goa. Shigmo is the celebration of Spring in Goa. People gatherers and sings folk music & dance on the streets. In some places Shigmo Parades also conducted.

11. Basant Utsav: - In Kolkata Holi is celebrated as Basant Utsav or Dol Jatra.  Women wear yellow colour dresses during Basant Utsav. Procession of Lord Krishna is taken through the streets of the city and people gather and sing & dance along with this procession.

12. Yaosang: - This form of Holi is celebrated in Manipur. Yaosang is celebrated for 6 days. Thabal Chongba a form of traditional folk dance is mail highlight of this celebration.