Holi, the festival of colours is coming up on March 8, 2023. This festival can be as spiritual and sublime or as rowdy and crazy as you want it to be.
(The painting above is my work from 2006.)
The festival dates back to the time of Radha and Krishna. Radha being fair complexioned, Krishna’s mother said that Radha would not agree to marry Krishna because he was dark skinned. Radha offered colours to Krishna saying that He could colour her in any hue He fancied! The famous bhajan, “Rang de chunariya He Giridhaari … apne hi rang mein, rang de Murari …” resonates the feelings of Radha and many a devout soul. The Holi of Vrindavan, Mathura and Barsaana (the village of Radha) is world famous.
My grandfather, a famous lawyer of Ferozepur, would always go to Mathura and Vrindavan for Holi. He was called ‘Bansuri waale bauji’. He would sit in the temple for days and play the flute for Krishna, during the Holi festival. He would sing, dance and play Holi with the devotees there. He would return, dyed in yellow, green, pink … much to the dismay of my simpleton grandmother!
Just as Dussehra celebrates the victory of good over Evil, Holi too celebrates the same. The demon king Hiranyakashayapu, proclaimed himself to be God and ordered that everyone worship him. Everyone followed suit, except his own son Prahlada. Prahalada worshipped Lord Vishnu, but this did not go down well with his father.
Legend has it that Holika, the sister of Hiranyakashayapu had a boon that fire would not harm her. She sat on a pyre holding Prahlada, assuming that Prahlada would be burnt away, while she would be unharmed. But Holika was burnt to ashes whereas Prahlada was unharmed! In rejoicing over the burning of Holika, people played with her ashes and flung handfuls of it into the air. This too became a part of the tradition of Holi!
Hiranyakashayapu had a boon from Lord Brahma that he would not die in the morning or at night, on the Earth or in the sky, inside or outside, by Astra or Shastra, by a human or an animal. One day, Hiranyakashayapu hit and broke a pillar in anger, asking Prahalada that if your Vishnu is omnipresent, where is He in this pillar? Lord Vishnu incarnated from within the pillar, in the form of Narasimha (half man- half lion) and sat in the doorway (neither inside, nor outside). It was dusk (neither day, nor night). He put Hiranyakashayapu across his thighs (neither on Earth, nor in the sky) and tore open his body with his nails/claws (neither astra, nor shastra).
After the horrendous death of the evil Hiranyakashayapu, people across the kingdom danced, sang and distributed sweets out of sheer joy.
The Indian calendar is punctuated with festivals like Holi, Dusshera etc. wherein there are subtle reminders to check the path we are treading and if required, make amends. Holi also heralds in the spring season which signifies new beginnings and transformations along with prayers for a bountiful harvest.
Let’s pause here to reflect on the power of devotion. It was because of Prahlada's devotion and love for Lord Vishnu that He assumed the intimidating form of Narasimha and annihilated Hiranyakashayapu.
With every festival, comes its share of sweets and goodies. Around Holi, Ghevar, Gujiya, Phirni and Pakoras are the favourites. Most people play with colours and enjoy the goodies, dance and music, while others consume all the wrong stuff and go berserk. They create a ruckus and are a public nuisance. Some dwell on the spiritual aspect, leading to introspection and self-improvement.
Well! Enjoy the fun and dance; gorge on the goodies to your hearts content but do find a moment to pause and ponder upon the real significance of Holi.
Weed out your vices and start afresh like the blossoms of the Spring season! May your Holi be Happy and Holy!
(This article is published in the Hindustan Times today, 26.02.2023. I would be happy if you would share your thoughts in the comments section below.)
Sons of Aditi and Kashyapa-12 Adityas | Family tree of Diti and Kashyapa | Hari Vamsa-09
Sons of Aditi and Kashyapa-12 Adityas | Family tree of Diti and Kashyapa | Hari Vamsa-09
Daughters of Daksha Prajapati
Daksha Prajapati had 13 daughters who were wedded to Sage Kashyapa. The names of the 13 daughters are as follows:
1) Aditi Devi: mother of 33 Devatas, or 33 devatas representing the levels or grades (koti). She was the mother of 8-Vasus, 11-Rudras, and 12-Adityas, 1-Indra and 1-Prajaapati.
She was also the mother of Lord Vamana, who was also known as Upendra…
