Holi is the World famous and colourful Hindu festival has different names in different regions of India. There is also a great and interesting story behind each of these names.
As the persons move from one state to another, each person discovers an extremely great number of things behind the story that is known as named Holi. All the stories will make you feel a deep pleasure of the rich cultural diversity of India.
Even though, The Gods that are worshiped on Holi are not the same in different corners of the country. The way to celebrate Holi also differs, but the nonphysical part of a person (spirit) is same that is the one of ”love and brotherhood”. In spite of the uniqueness of Holi in various states, the Holi celebration is considered to be the one which further improve the quality of the secular fabric of India.
Let’s now know the traditions of Holi by reading the story behind the different names:-
The birth place of Lord Krishna’s lover Radha, Barsana celebrates Holi with the highest degree of intense and eager enjoyment as Krishna was famous for playing pranks on Radha and Gopis. If truth be told, it has Lord Krishna who started the historical convention of colour by first applying color on Radha’s face.
On this day, The Bhabhi’s get a social penalty for disobeying a law to beat their Devars and make them pay the price of all the mischievous acts they played with them for the entire year. The Bhabhi turn up their saris in the form of rope in a tease rage and give a good run to their Devars. At last of the day, Devars are supposed to bring sweets for their Bhabhis.
In spite of this, there is also a tradition of breaking the pot of buttermilk hanging in the street by forming a human pyramid.
3->Rangpanchami – In Maharashtra, the people generally know this colours festival by the name of “Rangpanchami” – the play of colours is booked for the fifth day here. The local public of Maharashtra also knows Hindu festival Holi as Shimga or Shimgo.
The festival is mainly well-liked amongst the fisher community. They celebrate this festival on a big scale and revel in the festivities by singing, dancing and merry-making. The special dance provides them repressed feelings, needs & desires. People also complete sound through their mouths in a strange behavior by striking their mouths with the back of their hands.
4->Basant Utsav – The Hindu festival Holi by the name of Basant Utsav is celebrated in the state of West Bengal. The historical convention Vasantotsav, meaning “Spring Festival” was started by Poet & Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan (the University he founded).
Boys and girls enjoy and welcome spring season that is the symbol of hope not just with colours but with songs, dance, chanting of hymns in the serene ambiance of Shantiniketan. Anybody who got a chance to celebrate Holi in Bengal remembers it with fond memory for the rest of his life.
5->Dol Purnima – Famous Hindu festival Holi is also known by the name of “Dol Purnima” in West Bengal.
On the Dol Purnima day, early in the morning students dress up in saffron-colored clothes and wear a ring of fragrant flowers. The people sing and dance to a musical part which supports presenting a delightfully charming view to the onlookers and a memory to protect and care for years.
The Holi festival is also known as 'Dol Jatra', 'Dol Purnima' or the 'Swing Festival'. The festival is celebrated in an impressive manner by placing the Idols of Krishna and Radha on a strikingly pleasing decorated consisting of a large box which is taken round in the famous streets of the city. The devotees take turns to oscillate them while the ladies dance around the oscillator and sing devotional songs. Throughout the process, men keep spraying colored water and colored powder, ‘Abeer’ at them.
6->Hola Mohalla – The Hindu festival Holi is enjoyed in the Panjab state by the name of “Hola Mohalla” and is celebrated in a different manner entirely. Its meaning and significance are also slightly different here.
Actually, Hola Mohalla is an annual fair that is organized on a large scale at Anandpur Sahib in Panjab on just after one day of the Holi festival. This fair activity was initiated by Guru Govind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru. The motive of the fair was to physically strengthen the Sikh clique by holding military exercises and mock battles.
The festival is celebrated for three continuous days. In this festival, the members of Sikh community show their physical strength by performing dare-devil acts such as bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding horses, Gatka (mock encounters), tent pegging etc. This is followed by music competition to lighten the charged up atmosphere.
A number of courts of an Indian ruler are also held where Shri Guru Granth Sahib present and kirtan, religious lectures take place. These all improve the strength of the soul of the community. On the last day, led by Panj Pyaras, starts from Takht Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five Sikh religious seats, and passes through various important Gurdwaras like Qila Anandgarh, Lohgarh Sahib, Mata Jitoji and terminates at the Takht.
For visiting people Anandpur Sahib, langars (voluntary community kitchens) are organized by the local people as a part of sewa (community service). All the raw items like wheat flour, rice, vegetables, milk and sugar are provided by the villagers living nearby. Women to cook and others take part in cleaning the utensils. Traditional cookery is served to the worshippers who eat while sitting in rows on the ground.
The most interesting fact of Holi or Shimgmotav in Goa is the huge procession which is carried out in Panjim. The high point of this is a presentation of a group of dancers and cultural drama depicting mythological and religious stories. People from every cast and religion participate in this festival with great eagerness.
In some places such as Bihar, the Holi is also known as Phagwa as it is celebrated at the end of month Phalgun and at the beginning of month Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. With respect to the English months March-April.
The idea of New Year varies in the different territory of India. In some states, the month begins from the ‘Krishna-Paksha’ while in other states the month begins from ‘Shukla-Paksha’. Finally, the year ends on ‘Purnima’ of the month of Falgun. The new year begins next day - Chaitra, 1st day of the Krishna Paksha. For them on this day, the last year has died. Due to this reason, in some states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Holika Dahan is also known 'Samvatsar Dahan'. On the same day, all the bitterness and evil remembrances of the last year are burned with fire and celebrated the new year with renews all the happiness in life. Read more About Holi
As the persons move from one state to another, each person discovers an extremely great number of things behind the story that is known as named Holi. All the stories will make you feel a deep pleasure of the rich cultural diversity of India.
Even though, The Gods that are worshiped on Holi are not the same in different corners of the country. The way to celebrate Holi also differs, but the nonphysical part of a person (spirit) is same that is the one of ”love and brotherhood”. In spite of the uniqueness of Holi in various states, the Holi celebration is considered to be the one which further improve the quality of the secular fabric of India.
Let’s now know the traditions of Holi by reading the story behind the different names:-
1->Lathmar Holi - What is known as the hub of Holi in India –
“Barsana” that is recognized as Lathmar Holi. Its sounds like violence? During
Lathmar Holi celebration, the stick is in the hands of the women and the men
need to hard work to save themselves from the extremely charged up women's
community.
The birth place of Lord Krishna’s lover Radha, Barsana celebrates Holi with the highest degree of intense and eager enjoyment as Krishna was famous for playing pranks on Radha and Gopis. If truth be told, it has Lord Krishna who started the historical convention of colour by first applying color on Radha’s face.
The Womenfolk of Barsana wants to take sweet revenge of that prank of Lord Krishna. Even men have not left their playful misbehavior and are still eager to throw the colour on the women.
Due to the tradition, men of Nandgaon (Birthplace of Krishna) come to play Holi with the girls of Barsana, but in place of colours, they are welcomed with sticks.
Utterly aware of what welcome awaits them in Barsana, men come with fully covered with a soft material in order to protect and try their best to escape from the spirited women. The men are not generally assumed to fight back on the day. The unlucky men are forcefully led away and get a good act of physically beating from the women. Further, they are made to wear a female clothes and dance in public. It’s all in the spirit of Holi.
Next day, it’s the turn of men of Barsana. They do the same by invading Nandgaon and wet thoroughly the womenfolk of Nandgaon in colours of Kesudo naturally occurring orange-red dye and Palash. This day women of Nandgaon beat the attackers from Barsana. It’s a colorful view.
Next day, it’s the turn of men of Barsana. They do the same by invading Nandgaon and wet thoroughly the womenfolk of Nandgaon in colours of Kesudo naturally occurring orange-red dye and Palash. This day women of Nandgaon beat the attackers from Barsana. It’s a colorful view.
2->Dulandi Holi - The Hindu festival Holi gets this name in the state of Haryana. Here, Bhabhi, the brother’s wife gets an upper hand on Holi celebration day. And, Dewar’s, husband’s younger brothers need to watch out.
On this day, The Bhabhi’s get a social penalty for disobeying a law to beat their Devars and make them pay the price of all the mischievous acts they played with them for the entire year. The Bhabhi turn up their saris in the form of rope in a tease rage and give a good run to their Devars. At last of the day, Devars are supposed to bring sweets for their Bhabhis.
In spite of this, there is also a tradition of breaking the pot of buttermilk hanging in the street by forming a human pyramid.
3->Rangpanchami – In Maharashtra, the people generally know this colours festival by the name of “Rangpanchami” – the play of colours is booked for the fifth day here. The local public of Maharashtra also knows Hindu festival Holi as Shimga or Shimgo.
The festival is mainly well-liked amongst the fisher community. They celebrate this festival on a big scale and revel in the festivities by singing, dancing and merry-making. The special dance provides them repressed feelings, needs & desires. People also complete sound through their mouths in a strange behavior by striking their mouths with the back of their hands.
4->Basant Utsav – The Hindu festival Holi by the name of Basant Utsav is celebrated in the state of West Bengal. The historical convention Vasantotsav, meaning “Spring Festival” was started by Poet & Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan (the University he founded).
Boys and girls enjoy and welcome spring season that is the symbol of hope not just with colours but with songs, dance, chanting of hymns in the serene ambiance of Shantiniketan. Anybody who got a chance to celebrate Holi in Bengal remembers it with fond memory for the rest of his life.
5->Dol Purnima – Famous Hindu festival Holi is also known by the name of “Dol Purnima” in West Bengal.
On the Dol Purnima day, early in the morning students dress up in saffron-colored clothes and wear a ring of fragrant flowers. The people sing and dance to a musical part which supports presenting a delightfully charming view to the onlookers and a memory to protect and care for years.
The Holi festival is also known as 'Dol Jatra', 'Dol Purnima' or the 'Swing Festival'. The festival is celebrated in an impressive manner by placing the Idols of Krishna and Radha on a strikingly pleasing decorated consisting of a large box which is taken round in the famous streets of the city. The devotees take turns to oscillate them while the ladies dance around the oscillator and sing devotional songs. Throughout the process, men keep spraying colored water and colored powder, ‘Abeer’ at them.
6->Hola Mohalla – The Hindu festival Holi is enjoyed in the Panjab state by the name of “Hola Mohalla” and is celebrated in a different manner entirely. Its meaning and significance are also slightly different here.
Actually, Hola Mohalla is an annual fair that is organized on a large scale at Anandpur Sahib in Panjab on just after one day of the Holi festival. This fair activity was initiated by Guru Govind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru. The motive of the fair was to physically strengthen the Sikh clique by holding military exercises and mock battles.
The festival is celebrated for three continuous days. In this festival, the members of Sikh community show their physical strength by performing dare-devil acts such as bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding horses, Gatka (mock encounters), tent pegging etc. This is followed by music competition to lighten the charged up atmosphere.
A number of courts of an Indian ruler are also held where Shri Guru Granth Sahib present and kirtan, religious lectures take place. These all improve the strength of the soul of the community. On the last day, led by Panj Pyaras, starts from Takht Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five Sikh religious seats, and passes through various important Gurdwaras like Qila Anandgarh, Lohgarh Sahib, Mata Jitoji and terminates at the Takht.
For visiting people Anandpur Sahib, langars (voluntary community kitchens) are organized by the local people as a part of sewa (community service). All the raw items like wheat flour, rice, vegetables, milk and sugar are provided by the villagers living nearby. Women to cook and others take part in cleaning the utensils. Traditional cookery is served to the worshippers who eat while sitting in rows on the ground.
7->Shimgo – The lighthearted pleasure and eager enjoyment people of Goa know the Hindu festival by the name of Shimgo in their local language Konkani. People play with bright colors to welcome the arrival of spring. This is observed by rich, spicy chicken or mutton curry called Shagoti and sweet preparations. Some of the people also know the Holi by the name of Rangpanchami.
The most interesting fact of Holi or Shimgmotav in Goa is the huge procession which is carried out in Panjim. The high point of this is a presentation of a group of dancers and cultural drama depicting mythological and religious stories. People from every cast and religion participate in this festival with great eagerness.
8->Phagu Purnima – The Hindu festival Holi is also known by another name Phagu Purnima where Phagu means the holy red powder and Purnima means full moon day. On the full moon day, the festival ends.
In some places such as Bihar, the Holi is also known as Phagwa as it is celebrated at the end of month Phalgun and at the beginning of month Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. With respect to the English months March-April.
The idea of New Year varies in the different territory of India. In some states, the month begins from the ‘Krishna-Paksha’ while in other states the month begins from ‘Shukla-Paksha’. Finally, the year ends on ‘Purnima’ of the month of Falgun. The new year begins next day - Chaitra, 1st day of the Krishna Paksha. For them on this day, the last year has died. Due to this reason, in some states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Holika Dahan is also known 'Samvatsar Dahan'. On the same day, all the bitterness and evil remembrances of the last year are burned with fire and celebrated the new year with renews all the happiness in life. Read more About Holi
