Holi, The Festival Of Colour
India is widely known for being a melting pot of cultures, and people there know how to celebrate life and have fun. The Holi festival is a prime example, and it’s also known as the festival of color. The main idea behind Holi is that it helps celebrate the divine love between two gods, Krishna and Radha. In addition, it also allows us to commemorate the victory that good had over evil.
What Makes The Holi Festival Special ?
Holi is special because it celebrates good over evil. This tradition is associated with Prahlada’s devotion. A young prince who was a dedicated believer of Lord Vishnu, much to the chagrin of his father. Hiranyakashipu, a demon and king who demanded that everyone worship him or face his wrath.
This eventually turned on his own son, Prince Prahlada. Whose life became a living hell through continuous torture inflicted by his own father. Steadfast, the prince did not waiver in his devotion to Lord Vishnu. Unable to break him any further, the demon king enlisted the help of his own sister. Holika, was granted a boon that made her resistant to fire. And so she took Prahlada, her nephew and sat in a blazing fire. All the while confident that he would be consumed within the flames whilst she remains unharmed.
Prahlada’s unwavering belief in Lord Vishnu, intervenes in the flickering of the flames. Saving the young prince, while Holika no longer immune to fire, burns to ashes.
Therefore, in commemoration a bonfire called Holika Dahan is lit a day before the Holi celebrations. Symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
Generally, Holi is a festival that takes place right at the beginning of spring. You would normally celebrate it in early March every single year.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Holi has a religious purpose. Before Holi, people lit bonfires during the HolikaDahan ceremony, in order to push away those bad spirits and celebrate the next day. The festival also has many cultural rituals, and it helps show that you need to move on and forgive people for their mistakes. Holi offers a new lease on life, and it helps provide a unique array of opportunities to those that embrace life and all of its merits.
What Type Of Food Is Made During Holi Celebrations ?
A lot of people know Holi for the great colorful water throwing experiences. But what many don’t realize is that some Indian dishes also relate very closely to Holi as well. More specifically, we have Gojiya which is a very popular dessert that has a crispy outside and tasty stuffings. Another great Holi food is the thandai. This one is prepared with spices and milk, and it’s a very refreshing option.
Holi foods also include the Dahi Bhalle which is a combination of spices and curd, or the Puran Poli that’s tasty and a pleasure to prepare. You will also encounter other Holi dishes like the Rasmalai, Malpua, Badam Phirni or the Bhang Pakora. All of these are exceptional dishes and certainly something for you to try out.
There’s no denying that celebrating Holi is a great idea, and you can also do that by preparing and enjoying some of the aforementioned traditional dishes. All of these are very tasty, easy to prepare and closely related to the stunning Holi festival!