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Wednesday 9 April 2014

Holi

Today is the eighth day of 'A to Z challenge'. My theme is Festivals of India. To day I am enjoying the colours of Holi. I invite you to join .....

Holi hai, Holi hai,have fun! This is a very colourful festival, full of joy, hilarity and fun. Children love this festival. This festival is celebrated in March and signifies end of winter. The celebrations start from the previous night, when Holika is burnt. Holika was the sister of a demon king, Hirayakashpu, who considered himself to be God. His son Prehlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. His father tried all means to change his mind but could not succeed. Hiranyakaspu’s sister, Holika had a boon that fire could not burn her. A big bonfire was lit. Holika sat with Prehlad on her lap. Holika was burnt dead and Prehlad came out unscathed from the fire. The Holi signifies victory of good over evil.

People start throwing colors on each other from early morning. Groups of people are seen playing drums and dancing on the streets to the rhythm of the drums. Old rivalries are forgotten and people hug each other. 




Ready to kick off
                                                  
  Holi colours
Holi Celebration, India
Holi hai

 The Holi of Brindaban, where lord Krishna played Holi with Gopi’s is very famous. It signifies pure love. In Mathura, Lath Mar Holi is played. Lath is a  heavy stick,with which women kick the men.                                



Holi Celebration, India
Colours of Holi


Apart from the usual fun with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality. The streets are full of people running, shouting, giggling and splashing. Marijuana-based bhang and thandai add to the uninhibited atmosphere. Some people play Holi with complete abandon. They use eggs, beer, and other drinks at each other.There are some who play a very decent Holi. They don’t use  colours.  They play with flowers. After playing Holi, a sudden calm is noticed on the streets.  This is one festival, which every one enjoys, whether young or old.
  Here is a video recording of kicking off the festival.




Video YouTube
Words 275
Pics courtesy Google

39 comments:

  1. As kids we used to have some awesome fun playing Holi. We play it still with great fervor but the skin does not respond well to the colours now and usually shows allergies and eruptions! "|

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    1. Kids ,love this festival.I think some chemicals are added in the colours.

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  2. oh yea...!! everything is spectacular about this festival... from the colours to the delicacies....!!

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  3. I played my first Holi this year. It was absolute fun! Thanks for sharing :)
    Shalzzz|Loving Life
    Check out my latest at Tale of Two Tomatoes

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  4. Holi is such a colorful festival no...We Indians are really lucky no?
    Random Thoughts Naba

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    1. Yes Naba most of our festivals are enjoyable.

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  5. Just name the festival and I am ready for celebrations. Holi has just went! Colors and getting painted and enjoying with total fun and frolic, dancing, music, sweets everything is amazing about it!!!!

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  6. One of my favorite festivals after Durga Puja..

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  7. colorful holi!! the name itself makes one excited :) but it has been quite a few years since i last played holi!!

    http://swathishenoy.blogspot.in/2014/04/h-for-hatred.html?m=1

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    1. Thanks Swathi. Why you did not play Holi?

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  8. HOLI, the festival of colors :)
    I still have the last holi fresh in my mind!
    I have to pay a cost for playing holi, but i don't miss a year. Thanks for this colorful post!

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  9. Interesting.
    The painting "colours of Holi" looks wonderful- splash of colours.

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  10. Holi sounds exciting and colorful! Loved reading all about it. ♥

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  11. Let everyone's life get splashed with colors of Holi :) I had written one about holi too ...though a bit different .
    plz do read ma'm when you find time

    http://drsushreedash.blogspot.in/2014/03/colors.html

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    1. Thank you Sushree. I read yours. It is very emotional.

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  12. H is indeed Holi <3 Lovely festival!!! colors and bhaang and of late the balam pichkari song!! <3

    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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    1. Thank you Srilakshmi. I became nostalgic.

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  13. I really like the spirit of this festival, but somehow never enjoy the festivities, I don't know why :) Strange na? :)

    Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal

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  14. I love Holi - it makes you shed your inhibitions and enjoy to the fullest. One of the best festivals of India.

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  15. i love to watch the people splashing colors, getting drenched in color rain and applying it on each other from my balcony. somehow, the idea of getting drenched in water does not appeal to me. But people around me enjoy and i love watching the holi fun.

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    1. Thank you Asha. It is fun to see others enjoying.

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  16. it's been so long since I celebrated holi. Miss playing with colors.

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  17. Colourful post, Just felt like drowning in the colours :D

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  18. Holi celebration is on a larger scale in northern parts of India. I have seen people go crazy with colors though I have never played holi.

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  19. Love the colours in your pictures. almost as much as I love the festival. The kids go alittle crazy that day.

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  20. I have avoided Holi for decades becasue of wet colours.

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