Wishing you all a safe and happy Holi. May God bless you with good health. Holi- is the colorful festival of India. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and energy. India is- a land of countless cultures and traditions. Holi is celebrated in different states with different names and traditions. Like- In Uttar Pradesh it is celebrated in some parts as lath mar Holi. In Punjab as Hola Mohalla, In Udaipur, Rajasthan as Royal Holi, In Uttrakhand as Kumaoni Holi, In Maharashtra as Rang Panchami, etc. The spirit behind the celebration remains the same- The good overcoming the bad. And welcoming the season of fruitfulness and abundance. Holi is celebrated on the arrival of spring and the end of winter.

The Holi festival enables people to come together, get rid of their worries and stress, and spend a day or two with family and friends. In some parts, in Uttar Pradesh (Kanpur), it is celebrated for a week. And the festival ends by taking bath in the holy river- The Ganges.

During Holi, people get together- apply color to one another- hug each other- forgetting all misunderstandings or enmity (if any) and serve conventional dishes prepared specially during the festive season. It is the festival of love, brotherhood, forgiveness, and living together in a healthy way.

The history behind Holi.

The name Holi came from- Holika, the sister of demon king Hiranyakashyap. Hiranyakashyap asked his sister- Holika, who had immunity towards the fire to take his son Prahalad on her lap and sit in the fire. It was a punishment to Prahalad for taking the name of God- Vishnu. But during the process- Prahalad got escaped and Holika- who was immune to fire got burnt. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. The good overcoming bad.

Holi is also celebrated as a festival to remember -the divine and eternal love of Radha and Krishna. It is originated and mainly celebrated in India. Holi has also spread to other regions of Asia and parts of the western world through the diaspora of the Indian subcontinent.

How Holi- the colorful festival of India is celebrated?

Holi celebrations start on the night before the colors are played. During the night Holika Dahan is performed. People gather and perform religious rituals in front of the bonfire. People pray that their internal evil is destroyed- the way Holika, the sister of the demon king got burnt. On the next day, Holi- The colorful festival is celebrated by playing with colors both dry and wet. They apply colors on the faces of one another, throw colored water-filled balloons, and use water guns to throw colors on each other. Groups carrying drums and colors visit from place to place. They sing and dance and apply colors to friends, family members, and foes (forgetting and forgiving all the enmity). Specially prepared dishes are served to the visitors. In the evening people dress up in new clothes and visit their friends and family members.

Importance of Holi-the colorful festival- As per Ayurveda.

Holi- the colorful festival announces rejuvenation in the form of spring. It is the marking of the end of winters and the start of warmer days of summer. During this period many changes take place in our bodies. The rise in the risk of Kapha-related diseases becomes high. Due to the increase in temperature chances of infectious diseases also rises.

During the Holika Dahan, people move around the bonfire, which is called Parikarma. The heat of the fire helps the body to get rid of accumulated Kapha. Thus preventing the risk of Kapha-related diseases. Walking, dancing and singing activities also improve digestion and rejuvenate the body and mind.

The applying of natural colors help in reducing Kapha, and detoxification of the skin. The colored water thrown on one another helps the medicinal components to enter the skin through its pores and has a strengthening effect on the ions in the body. The colors have a huge impact on our bodies and mind. Colors are also associated with seven chakras of the body. Each chakra possesses a particular color. Therefore colors have an impact on our body energies. They can help overcome negative emotions and restore positive energies. This leads to a balance between three body energies- Vatta, Pitta, and Kapha. For more details about- Ayurveda leads to a healthy life. <<= Please click.

Wishing all a Happy Holi.

Play Safe- Stay Safe- Stay Healthy. Take all the precautions to cut down the risk of Covid-19 during the festive season. <<= Click on the link- To know how?

For awareness purposes only.

Surinder Bhalla

Blogger and Marketing Consultant

40+ years of experience in the healthcare industry. Modern medicine & Ayurveda.