HOLI / DOL YATRA
Holi or Dol Yatra, the festival of colour , is such a festival, for which from a child to elderly, everyone waits. Holi’s traditions vary from one province to another and have their roots in Indian mythology.
In many places the festival is associated with the legend of Hiranyakashipu, a demon king in ancient India. It is said that Hiranyakashipu enlisted the help of his sister, Holika, to kill his son, Prahlada who was a devoted worshipper of Vishnu. The term ‘holi’ has been derived from the word ‘Holika’.
It is celebrated on the full moon night or fifteenth day of the Bengali month Falguna. Holi is celebrated for consecutive two days. Holika Dahan taks place on the day before full moon night and and the main Holi festival is celebrated on the next day with great enthusiasm.
The Holil starts with lighting up the bonfire one day before the day of Holi and this process symbolizes the triumph of good over the evil or bad.On this day people get united forgetting all their miseries and all types of bad feeling towards each other. People pay respect to the elders by touching their feet and giving Aabeer.
Most of the people enjoy this day with utmost enthusiasm by playing with colours, having good food and sweets etcetera. The day also celebrates the eternal love between Radha and Lord Krishna.
Holi is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India. But the main aim to observe this day is to forget unhappiness and forgive others and celebrate all the goods over evils.
Holi is a festival that unites each other with colour and love. That’s why the festival is known as the festival of colour. This festival helps to strengthen any relationship with each other. Therefore, not only in India, but also in other countries, people wait for this day eagerly as it comes ones in a year.
