HOLI FESTIVAL

Hare Krsna Mataji,

PAMHO.

Holi as a festival can be understood at various levels. I will try to explain as many aspects of the festival as I have understood over the years.

First, in India we celebrate at the change of each season - Diwali, sankrant/ pongal, holi... It signifies the change of season from winter to summer. Second, it is the festival of colours. These colours were made of natural substances. The original holi was with kesar and gulabjal (saffron and rosewater). Both are out of reach to the common man anymore. The other natural substances used were natural dyes, turmeric etc. The purpose was that by playing with these colours at this time of the year, there would be no skin diseases. Now, with corruption, it is quite the opposite. Third, the pyre we light the night before the festival of colours has the purpose of burning away all the germs and insects that are typically present at any change of season in a tropical country like India.

Now for the spiritual background - Holi pyre was lit to signify a pastime of Prahlada maharaj and his aunt, Holika. Hiranyakashipu was very anxious to kill Prahlada Maharaj because of his refusal to accept him as Supreme and insistence that Visnu is supreme. At the time, all the attempts being made were backfiring (like falling from hilltop, crushing by elephant), then his sister Holika came up with the idea that she has got a boon that she cannot be burned by fire. Therefore, she will sit with Prahlad on her lap on a pyre and that should be lit. Prahlad will be burned and she will be saved because of the boon. Hiranyakashipu agreed to the plan and it was executed. The mercy of the lord was such that Holika was burned and Prahlada was saved. That is why when the pyre is made ready even today, there is a sugarcane which is kept in the middle and removed immediately on lighting the pyre at night. A lot of people will go and do some puja before the pyre is lit (called thandi holi ki puja). That is to pray to the lord to save Prahlada maharaj from the calamity of being burned. They are putting tika on the sugarcane if you notice.

Holi with colours was played by the lord - the holi of Vrindavan and Barsana is famous. Therefore its ok if a devotee wants to play with colours with the lord. What a lot of people do (including me) is to play with the lord with kesar and gulabjal, then with flowers. I basically do pushpa abhishek once a year - on Holi. In that coloured condition, I offer atleast thandai, alongwith other bhoga if possible and then clean up the place, deities and altar. In our house, we start with playing holi with the lord, then if desired, it can be played among ourselves.

This year, Gaur Purnima is one day before the festival of colours, meaning it is on the day we do holika dahan - the burning of Holika's pyre. Gaur purnima is celebrated by fasting till 6.00 pm , then abhishek and then ekadasi prasadam.

I hope I have answered to your satisfaction mataji. If you have anything to ask, please feel free.

Haribol,

YOur servant,

Radha Rasamayi DD

The Holi festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.

The festival itself is believed to have origins from the Prahlada Puri temple of Multan in the Punjab region. The original temple of Prahladpuri is said to have been built by Prahlada Maharaja, Hiranyakashipu's son.

It is celebrated at the end of winter, on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalgun (February/March).

On that thay, every year, Iskcon vaishnavas celebrate Gaura Purnima, which is appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (mainly copied from wikipedia)

Image result for gaura purnima 2016

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Radha Rasamayi DD March 18, 2016 at 10:36am

Hare Krsna Mataji,

PAMHO.

Holi as a festival can be understood at various levels. I will try to explain as many aspects of the festival as I have understood over the years.

First, in India we celebrate at the change of each season - Diwali, sankrant/ pongal, holi... It signifies the change of season from winter to summer. Second, it is the festival of colours. These colours were made of natural substances. The original holi was with kesar and gulabjal (saffron and rosewater). Both are out of reach to the common man anymore. The other natural substances used were natural dyes, turmeric etc. The purpose was that by playing with these colours at this time of the year, there would be no skin diseases. Now, with corruption, it is quite the opposite. Third, the pyre we light the night before the festival of colours has the purpose of burning away all the germs and insects that are typically present at any change of season in a tropical country like India.

Now for the spiritual background - Holi pyre was lit to signify a pastime of Prahlada maharaj and his aunt, Holika. Hiranyakashipu was very anxious to kill Prahlada Maharaj because of his refusal to accept him as Supreme and insistence that Visnu is supreme. At the time, all the attempts being made were backfiring (like falling from hilltop, crushing by elephant), then his sister Holika came up with the idea that she has got a boon that she cannot be burned by fire. Therefore, she will sit with Prahlad on her lap on a pyre and that should be lit. Prahlad will be burned and she will be saved because of the boon. Hiranyakashipu agreed to the plan and it was executed. The mercy of the lord was such that Holika was burned and Prahlada was saved. That is why when the pyre is made ready even today, there is a sugarcane which is kept in the middle and removed immediately on lighting the pyre at night. A lot of people will go and do some puja before the pyre is lit (called thandi holi ki puja). That is to pray to the lord to save Prahlada maharaj from the calamity of being burned. They are putting tika on the sugarcane if you notice.

Holi with colours was played by the lord - the holi of Vrindavan and Barsana is famous. Therefore its ok if a devotee wants to play with colours with the lord. What a lot of people do (including me) is to play with the lord with kesar and gulabjal, then with flowers. I basically do pushpa abhishek once a year - on Holi. In that coloured condition, I offer atleast thandai, alongwith other bhoga if possible and then clean up the place, deities and altar. In our house, we start with playing holi with the lord, then if desired, it can be played among ourselves.

This year, Gaur Purnima is one day before the festival of colours, meaning it is on the day we do holika dahan - the burning of Holika's pyre. Gaur purnima is celebrated by fasting till 6.00 pm , then abhishek and then ekadasi prasadam.

I hope I have answered to your satisfaction mataji. If you have anything to ask, please feel free.

Haribol,

YOur servant,

Radha Rasamayi DD
3ruf705dlznca March 17, 2016 at 2:41pm

The Holi festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.

The festival itself is believed to have origins from the Prahlada Puri temple of Multan in the Punjab region. The original temple of Prahladpuri is said to have been built by Prahlada Maharaja, Hiranyakashipu's son.

It is celebrated at the end of winter, on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalgun (February/March).

On that thay, every year, Iskcon vaishnavas celebrate Gaura Purnima, which is appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (mainly copied from wikipedia)

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