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By
Editorial Staff
Below are some interesting facts about Holi that will help you learn
more about this festival which is celebrated by millions of people from
various cultures and regions. Holi is awaited eagerly even in the United
States and Germany.
The festival is all about people coming together and getting rid of their
worries and spending a day or two with their friends and family.
Thus the demon king ordered Prahlad to sit on pyre (a structure, usually
made of wood, for burning a body as part of a funeral rite or execution)
along with Holika (who was immune to fire) the sister of the demon king.
When the fire started, Holika was burnt to death in spite of her immunity
to fire, and miraculously Prahlad was saved because Prahlad asked the
help of Lord Vishnu during the event.
3. Other legend behind the origin of Holi is that Lord Krishna as a baby was
poisoned by the breast milk of Putana and thus he developed the
characteristic blue color of his skin. Krishna was not sure if fair skinned
Radha and other girls would like him. Thus he approached Radha and
colored her face in some colors. Radha accepted Krishna despite the blue
color of his skin and since that day the festival of Holi is celebrated.
A traditional
color shop during the festival of Holi in India. Image credit – Ganesh
Dhamodkar
6. The festival of Holi is celebrated for at least 16 days in the Brag region of
India where Krishna was born.
10. Kids start using water balloon and water pistols a week or 10 days
before Holi. They hide and target the by-passers with balloons filled with
colored water and water pistols.
Indian Gujiya,
sweet dumplings, traditional Holi festival food.
11. A special delight that people make at their home is Gujiya. It is a
stuffed sweet delicacy where the stuffing consists of dry fruits and other
sweet items. It is very popular and people enjoy the delight to their full
extent.
12. A popular saying: The festival of colors is also popular for a
saying “Bura na mano, Holi hai!” which means “do not mind, it’s
Holi.”
14. It is a national festival in India and people from all the states
celebrate it.
15. The festival of Holi is celebrated by Hindus all over the world. People of
Nepali origin also celebrate it in different parts of the world. With every
passing year, the festival is being welcomed across the world in many
forms and people find great relief and satisfaction celebrating it with their
friends and family.
16. The festival starts on the night before Holi when people gather and start
a bonfire. The bonfire is lit up between 8 pm and midnight. People gather
around the fire to watch it while eating their favorite food items, and talk
with friends.
Bonfire during
Holi 2016. Image credit – Belur Math
17. The Holika bonfire is a place where people gather and do their religious
rituals. People during their religious rituals ask for forgiveness from the
god and pray that their evil should come to an end.
23. Holi is a festival of fun and colors for children. Children of all age groups
gather and celebrate the festival with oneness and vigor. They throw dry
colors and wet colored liquids on each other and family member.
People
celebrating Holi in India. Image credit – Harsha K R
27. The Holi also marks the demise of “Putana” who tried to kill Lord
Krishna.