This year Holi is being celebrated on 8^th March 2023. In recent times, Holi celebrations have gone truly global, thanks to the Indian diaspora around the world.

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In India, Holi is synonymous with playing with colours, pichkaris (water guns), water balloons, and gorging on indulgent festive food (thandai, bhang, gujia, dahi bhallas, among others). It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and is a celebration of love, harmony, and oneness.

Holi celebrations span over two days starting on the evening of Phalugun Purnima (full moon day) with Holika Dahan followed by Rangwali Holi also known as Dhulandi on the next day.

The Legends Behind Holi

Holi has its fair share of mythologically significant stories which tell how the festival came into being.

King Hiranyakashyap and Prahlad

Among the many legends associated with the festival of Holi is the story of the demon King Hiranyakashyap and his son Prahlad from Hindu mythology.

King Hiranyakashyap for his severe penance was granted a boon that he could not be killed by any man or animal. Believing that he was immortal, the king forced people to worship him. However, his son Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu refused to do so. Acting out of anger and spite, the demon king asked his sister Holika to kill him.

Holika had the boon of protection against fire, so she took Prahlad into a fire pyre thinking Prahlad would burn and she would remain unscathed. But the opposite happened.

Prahlad for his devotion and faith remained unharmed and Holika was burnt to ashes. Later, Lord Vishnu in his Narasimha avatar, killed the demon King Hiranyakashyap signifying the victory of good over evil.

Holika Dahan Celebrations

For Holika Dahan (‘Burning of Holika’) celebrations on the eve of Holi, a bonfire is lit and people perform rituals while offering prayers for the internal evil in all of us to be destroyed. Devotees complete the prayers by walking around the bonfire three, five, or seven times along with vessels of water.

Lord Krishna and Radha

Another popular legend associated with Holi is of the eternal love of Lord Krishna and Radha. It is said that Lord Krishna, conscious of his dark skin colour, worried if Radha would accept him.

He sought the advice of his mother, Yashoda, who suggested that he colour Radha in any colour he liked. In his mischievousness, Lord Krishna smeared colours on Radha’s face and professed his love for her.

Playing with colours in Holi commemorates the divine love between Lord Krishna and Radha and is the most loved tradition of the festival of colours.

In Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Nandagaon, and Gowardhan, places related to Lord Krishna, Holi celebrations have a different fervour and enthusiasm.

Another Holi celebration in India that stands out is the Lathmar Holi in Barsana, the home of goddess Radha. Women hitting men with lath (sticks) as men try to shield themselves is a part of the celebrations here.

Holi Celebrations with Colours

On the day of Holi, people play with colours and smear each other in a riot of colours. Water guns, water-filled balloons, music, and dance makes for an exuberant atmosphere and everyone is a fair game to colour.

It’s common for people to say – bura na mano holi hai (‘Don’t mind it’s Holi’) while drenching others (even strangers) with colours. People dance to the Holi songs with the ever popular ‘rang barse’ still staying at the top of the charts.

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It is customary for people to visit friends and family and come together to eat, drink and partake in Holi delicacies.

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The fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Magha month (January/February) in the Hindu calendar marks the beginning of this auspicious festival.

The day is a celebration of knowledge, education and the arts. It is also a time to revel in kite flying, feasting, and music, and it is considered one of the holiest days for marriages.

Students, teachers and others celebrate this festival to seek the blessing of the goddess Saraswati for their academic or intellectual pursuits.

Indo Thai News  brings you an insightful guide into the lifestyle and culture of India and Thailand.  Keep reading to uncover interesting facts about the Vasant Panchami festival.

The Legend of Vasant Panchami

Various Hindu religious scriptures talk about the origin of Vasant Panchami; some of the most popular stories among them are:

 The Creation of Earth

• • Lord Brahma created the Earth and was mesmerised by it. He decided to walk among the living beings and experience the world he had made.
  • As he came down to earth, he felt a haunting silence that prevailed. He felt distraught by the void that the silence had created. He then summoned an angel to solve his conundrum.

• The goddess decided to play her Veena (string musical instrument) and sing hymns to break the silence. Since then, the goddess became known as Saraswati, aka Veena Vadini (harp player). She also blessed the earth with speech, music, art, creativity and enthusiasm
• Devotees began to celebrate this day as the birthday of the goddess Saraswati to mark the day when she bestowed the gift of speech, love, music and enlightenment upon the mortal world.

Matsya Purana Storyline

• The Matsya Purana mentions a captivating story of the Hindu god of love, Kamadeva. The god of love once tried to woo lord Shiva to marry Parvati and, in the process, was turned into ashes.

• Rati, the wife of Kamadeva, underwent 40 days of strict penance to appease lord Shiva. Finally, Kamadeva was restored to his original form by Shiva, who was impressed by the devotion of Rati.
• In many parts of India, this day symbolises the reunion of Kamadeva and Rati and is known as Rati-Kaam Mahostsav. Thus, it is also considered an auspicious day for weddings and other romantic celebrations.

How is Vasant Panchami Celebrated?

• People begin this day by praying to the goddess Saraswati. People dress in yellow, the colour of spring and the goddess, and offer yellow clothes, yellow flowers, gulal, akshat, incense, lamps, smells etc., to the goddess Saraswati.
• People sing hymns and devotional songs in honour of the goddess and play musical instruments such as the sitarand tabla.
• Vasant Panchami also has a cultural undertone. During the festival, people prepare traditional sweets and savouries like kesar kulfi, dahi bhalla, and khichdilater offered as prasad(sacred food) to the gods.

• Most people in North India fly kites to exemplify the season change from winter to spring. The advent of spring brings a new zeal of life. Colourful flowers bloom, animals and birds emerge from hiding, and you can feel a new energy brewing in and around you. People fly kites to acknowledge these changes and thank the gods for the blessings.
• Many educational institutions organise special prayers and cultural programs to mark the occasion. Children are particularly excited about the festival as they try to learn something new on this day.

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Conclusion

Vasant Panchami is celebrated enthusiastically in most parts of India.

The festival has its roots in ancient India and is an important festival in Hindu Culture. It is a festival that brings people together to celebrate the arrival of spring and the blessings of the goddess of knowledge and learning.

Let’s celebrate this festival with great joy and enthusiasm and seek the blessings of the goddess Saraswati.

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