HOLY HOLI

             Soon we are going to fill our hearts with the tunes of HOLI SONGS…. Spring, as rightly said is King of all seasons & brings lot of joyful festivals to enlighten our lives. Holi is 1 of such awesome festivals we Indians always cherish.  But in India, it’s not just about celebrating. Every festival has some or the other scientific/biological reasons behind. Being technical people we are always interested in knowing such scientific importance behind whatever we follow.

            It is interesting to note that the festival of Holi is significant for our lives and body in many other ways besides providing joy and fun. We Should also thank our forefathers who started the trend of celebrating Holi at such a scientifically accurate time with so much fun incorporated in the festival.  

Biological Significance:

It’s time of the year when people have a tendency to feel sleepy and lazy. This is natural for the body to experience some tardiness due to the change due to temperature changes in the atmosphere. Singing or speaking loudly helps counteract this tardiness of the body. Brisk movements of body and loud singing help to rejuvenate the system of the human body.
            Besides, the colors when sprayed on the body have a great impact on it. Biologists believe the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates the body and enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body and adds health and beauty to it. Colors are important to avoid ailments related to specific colors.
               There is yet another scientific reason for celebrating the Holi. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Following the tradition, Parikrima (circumambulation or going around) around the fire, heat, serves purpose of killing the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it.
             In Maharashtra and South India, colors are sprayed on 5^th day of Holiand the day is known as Rangpanchami. On the next day of HOLI, Popularly known as DHULIVANDAN, people put ash (Vibhuti of HOLIKA) on their forehead and they would mix Chandan (sandalpaste) with the new leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume it to promote good health.
            People also clean-up their houses on Holi which helps in clearing up the dust and mess in the house and get rid of mosquitoes and others pests. A clean house generally makes the residents feel good and generate positive energies. 

Social Significance:

We in India, Value our relations and Social awareness more than self. So festivals are meant for Social gatherings, and spreading love. Festivals symbolize gratitude, affection & respect to our own people.

Another aspect of Indian culture is rich MYTHOLOGY where we relate all our traditions and rituals with different stories of our GODs/Legends. Now that we know scientific and social significance of celebrating this vibrant festival, I thought of sharing some of the interesting stories of how HOLI started.

Mythology behind Holi:

Legend of Prahlad:

            It is said that there were demon called Hiranyaksha & Hiranyakashyapu,who conquered the world and declared that they are GOD and everyone should worship only them. At this point of time when nobody dared to go against them,Prahlad, hiranyakashyapu’s son,started worshipping LORD VISHNU. Hurt demon, in his EGO, ordered his sister HOLIKA,who had boon of entering fire unscathed, to enter blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Legend says, Prahlad was saved for his extreme devotion for the lord while Holika paid a price for her sinister desire. The tradition of burning Holika or the 'Holika dahan' comes mainly from this legend. 

Legend of Dhundhi:

It is believed that there was once an Ogress called Dhundhi in the kingdom of Prithu (or Raghu). The female monster used to specially trouble little children.
Dhundhi, had a boon from Lord Shiva that she would neither be killed by gods, men nor suffer from arms nor from heat, cold or rain. Though almost invincible she had a weak point. She was also cursed by Lord Shiva that she would be in danger from boys going about crazy.
             Deeply troubled by the Ogress, the King consulted his priest and came up with solution. On Phalguna 15, the season of cold vanishes and summer starts.It's neither cold nor hot. Boys with bits of wood in their hands may go out of their house, collect a heap of wood and grass, set it on fire with mantras, clap their hands, go around the fire thrice, laugh, sing and by their noise, laughter and homa, the ogress would die.Thereafter, Loud singing, abuses and pranks  became a ritual and is allowed on this day.

Legend of RADHA-KRISHNA And Pootana :

          The story of Ogress POOTANA is well known and we know that she tried to kill Krishna with her poisonous milk. Lord Krishna Did not die but turned Black due to poison. At the same time, the demon shriveled up into ashes. 

    Young Krishna was very playful and mischievous, but in the childhood, Krishna was extremely jealous of Radha's fair complexion since he himself was very dark. Unaware of the reason of his dark complexion, one day, Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about the injustice of nature which made Radha so fair and him  so dark. To pacify the crying young Krishna, the doting mother asked him to go and colour Radha's face in whichever colour he wanted. 
In a mischievous mood, naughty Krishna heeded the advice of mother Yashoda and applied colour on her beloved Radha's face; Making her one like himself. So lord Krishna gives us 2 reasons for celebrating this day.

Legend of Kamdeva –Shiva:

      Due to disgrace of King Daksha , When Goddess SATI died & Lord Shiva became extremely sad. He renounced his worldly duties and went into deep meditation.Since Shiva was least interested in the affairs of the world, complications began to generate in matters of the world which made all the gods concerned and afraid.
            The gods then seeked the help of Lord Kaamadeva, the god of love and passion to bring Shiva back to his original self. Kaamadeva knew that he might have to suffer the consequences of doing this, but he accepted to shoot his arrow on Shiva for the sake of the world.
            As planned Kaama shot his love arrow on Shiva while he was in meditation. This made Shiva extremely angry and he opened his third eye - reducing Kaamadeva to ashes. However, Kaamadeva arrow had the desired effect & Destroyer of EVIL regained his senses to serve his worldly duties.
            A short while after this, Kaamadeva's wife, Rati pleaded Lord Shiva and said this was all the plan of the gods and asked him to to kindly revive Kaamadeva. An embodiment of love himself, Lord Shiva gladly accepted to do so.Thus the incident had a happy ending for all.

So take any legend, Holi is all about burning the evil and fill the world with GOOD and HOLY environment. It symbolizes victory of good over Evil. Let’s get rid of all the evil in our heart, all the grudges, all the ills, hatreds and selfishness. Let’s make this world of ours Pure & pristine. Happy & HOLY HOLI.

...Manasi.