The year is about to end. One of the exceptionally remarkable remembrances of this year was the Holi celebration in my society. It was the time when I lived to the fullest.
Firstly, Holi is recognized as the carnival of colors. It is glorified with immense happiness, all over the nation. Holi is comprehended by several names in diverse territories of India such as Lathmaar Holi, dulandi Holi, rangpanchmi, Basant Utsav, etc.
It is observed to rejoice in the accomplishment of good over evil. They say, there once lived a demon and a mighty king, Hiranyakshyap who regarded himself a deity and desired everybody to worship him. To his great fury, his son, Prahlad began to worship Lord Vishnu.
To get divested of his son, Hiranyakshyap asked his sister, Holika to enter a smoldering fire with Prahlad in her lap, as she had a boon to enter the fire unharmed. Prahlad was saved for his passionate devotion to the lord while Holika paid the price for her wicked desire. The practice of burning Holika came to be known as Holika Dahan.
Interestingly, there is a biological significance for this festival too. We undoubtedly have to thank our ancestors who instituted the trend of commemorating Holi at such a scientifically precise time and also integrating tremendous enjoyment into the festival. As Holi comes at a time of the year when people tend to feel drowsy and lethargic. This is natural for the body to undergo some tardiness due to the shift from cold to heat in the atmosphere. To compensate for this tardiness of the body, people sing and speak loudly.
All of this helps to renovate the system of the human body. Likewise, the colors when sprayed on the body influence bolstering the ions in the body and adding health and beauty to it. The transformation period of winter and spring yields the development of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, the temperature rises to approximately 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Following the custom when individuals perform Parikrama ( going around) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, purifying it.
People even clean up their houses on Holi which helps in vacating up the dust and mess in the house and getting alleviate mosquitoes and other pests. A clean house typically makes the residents feel good and generate positive energy.
This year, on the 16th of March, Holi knocked the door. I was extremely enthusiastic about the festival, not for Holika Dahan, but for dhulivandan (playing with colors). I was up early in the morning. The time was passing tediously. By 9 AM, all my friends were ready for the battle.
We picked up our colors, gulals, water balloons, and buckets and commenced the play. That day, I did not feel drained even for a microsecond. I was optimistic to see all the members of the society celebrating the festival without any discrimination or hatred. Holi is indeed the time when you neglect all your old hatred of people and celebrate the festival along with them and that’s the speciality of our nation India.
By: Varada Sakore
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