Holi Festival 2024: Guide to the Festival of Joy
Colours are a crucial aspect of daily life, specifically to often provide a break from monotony. When it concerns colours, there’s nothing nicer than enjoying Holi. It is a colourful Hindu occasion that symbolizes compassion, the arrival of spring, and the success of good over evil. Several mythologies or tales centring on Hiranyakashyap and Prahlad are related to Holi. Moreover, other stories about Radha and Lord Krishna also link to Holi celebrations.
As Holi marks the arrival of spring, Holi Puja is also performed in which Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped. During the puja, flowers, fruits and sweets are offered to the deities, along with prayers and mantras to seek blessings.
Details about Holi Festival
Holi is a famous ancient Indian festival, also known as the “Festival of Love”, the “Festival of Colours”, and the “Festival of Spring”. The festival celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha Krishna. It also signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it marks the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu.
Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, and the blossoming of love and for many, it is a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon Day) falling in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. The first evening is known as Holika Dahan (burning of Demon Holika) or Chhoti Holi, and the following day as Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dol Purnima, Dhuleti, Dhulandi, Ukuli, Manjal Kuli, Yaosang, Shigmo or Phagwah, Jajiri etc.
The vibrancy of colours brings a lot of positivity into our lives, and Holi the festival of colours, is a day worth rejoicing. Holi is a famous Hindu festival celebrated in every part of India with utmost joy and enthusiasm. The ritual starts by lighting up the bonfire one day before the day of Holi, and this process symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. On the day of Holi, people play with colours with their friends and families, and in the evening, they show love and respect to their close ones with Abeer.
Holi Festival 2024 Celebrations
Holi is a Hindu festival honoured yearly on the full moon day of Falgun month. In 2024, it will be celebrated on 25th March. The Holika Dahan, commonly called Chhoti Holi, will occur on 24th March 2024, one day earlier.
Why is Holi Festival Celebrated?
Religious Significance
Holi, primarily commemorating several tales linked with the occasion, reconnects us to religion.
- It honours the tale of Lord Vishnu, who assisted in Hiranyakashipu’s slaying, the demonic monarch, by Hindu mythology. This success is life over demise, light against dark, and truth over bad practices.
- This Festival also commemorates the Krishna and Radha tale, which describes Krishna’s immense excitement at sprinkling Radha and many other gopis with colours. After that, this Krishna-inspired jest evolved into a Holi celebration ritual.
Cultural Significance
The Holi observance reassures the community of the truth’s strength since the message of many tales associated with Holi is the eternal success of goodness or truth against evil.
The Prahlad and Hiranyakashyap tale demonstrates the value of intense devotion to deities since God will always keep hold of his devout followers.
Each of these beliefs inspires individuals to lead meaningful lives and embrace integrity. It is critical in today’s modern world, where many individuals use unethical methods to benefit from and condemn the truth.
Besides, a period of a year while the crops are wholly bloomed and individuals hope for a healthy crop would be the time Holi is enjoyed. Individuals now have an excellent opportunity to celebrate, feel joyful, and indulge in the Holi mood.
Social Significance
Holi fosters tolerance and diversity and reinforces the humanist basis of our nation. Because everyone wishes to participate in this lively, vibrant, and cheerful holiday, non-Hindus gladly participate in the festivities. Moreover, as per Holi traditions, many adversaries become friendly and overlook all troubles they might have been facing.
Everybody participates in the celebration in a spirit of generosity and unity without distinguishing among the poor, rich, bad, or good. Also, people attend to family and friends in the twilight to share presents, refreshments, and Holi wishes.
Besides, Satyanarayan Puja is performed on Holi in some cultures. Conducting this puja brings joy and happiness to the family. Are you willing to perform Satyanarayan Pooja? “SmartPuja” is an online religious portal that facilitates pandit booking for more than 400+ pujas ceremonies, astrology, and e-puja services. Our knowledgeable pandits will guide you and perform the perfect puja and other rituals for the occasion.
Holi Festival Traditions and Rituals
Holika Dahan (The Night Before Holi)
Hiranyakshyap was a mighty devil-king who believed in himself as a divinity and intended that everyone would embrace him. Prahlad, his son, chose to revere Lord Vishnu, which deeply angered him.
Since Holika had the blessing to face fire unharmed, Hiranyakshyap ordered her to embrace a raging fire with Prahlad to rid himself of his son. As per history, Holika was condemned for her wicked intent, but Prahlad was freed since he had a profound dedication to God. This mythology is solely accountable for the ritual of flaming Holika, also called “Holika Dahan.”
Samagri Needed for Holika Dahan
- Wood and cow dung cakes for Holika Dahan
- Flowers
- Rice and sweets as prasad
- Coconut shells
- Ghee
- Tulsi, neem, and other herbs.
Holi Puja (Prayer Ceremony)
- Purify the puja place after a thorough cleaning
- Arrange a clean cloth
- Place an altar, images, and idols of deities
- Offer flowers to the deities
- Lit the diya or lamp
- Offer fruits and rice, and apply sandalwood paste on the deities’ forehead
- Chant mantras, offer prasad, and perform aarti.
Samagri Needed for Holi Puja
- Sandalwood paste
- Rice
- Flowers
- Incense sticks
- Fruits
- Vermillion powder
- Diya or lamp with ghee
Breaking of Fast
Many cultural and traditional preferences are there to break fast during Holi, such as consuming traditional foods, sweets, etc., once a day in the evening after the puja is completed.
Samagri Needed for Breaking Holi Fast: Fruits, Staple foods, like rice, dal, vegetable, Sweets.
Preparations for Holi Festival
Cleaning And Decoration of Homes
- People usually clean their residences for the Holi festival to welcome family and friends for this joyful occasion.
- Besides, houses are decorated with flowers; puja places are decorated with diyas, lamps, and other decorations.
- Some Hindu families also create rangoli to welcome people who visit their homes to celebrate the occasion.
- Also, people arrange for music and dance as they celebrate the Festival with their community. Despite religion, almost everyone plays with each with colors and offers sweets.
Shopping For Holi Essentials (Gulal, Sweets, Etc.)
Almost every market across the Indian region is decorated a week or ten days before the Holi festival. People buy essentials for Holi, including colours, sweets, decoration products, puja needs, etc. Many families make gujiyas, ladoos, mathri, etc., at home, while others buy them from the market.
Planning Holi Celebration With Family And Friends
Holi is a joyful opportunity for Indians to share and spread joy and happiness. You can plan a Holi celebration with family and friends by following a few tips as mentioned here:
- Select the outdoor venue and send an invitation to your friends and relatives.
- Arrange traditional foods, including thandai, gujiya, puran poli, etc.
- Decorate the location by keeping in mind the colourful vibe of Holi.
- Arrange for music and dance area.
- Pile up the required colours, water, balloons, etc.
However, you must remember about the safety of people since some colours may be harsh on the skin, and people might get hurt. So, you must be careful, plan for everyone’s safety, and arrange a first aid kit.
Celebrating Holi
Throwing of Colored Powders (Gulal)
Among the Holi festivities’ most identifiable and entertaining features is the showering and rubbing of coloured granules, popularly called gulal. It is a method for bringing excitement, compassion, and vibrancy to people close to you.
Singing And Dancing To Traditional Holi Songs
Dancing and singing traditional songs is Holi’s most looked-for and crucial aspect, bringing the community and people together. Dancing to the tunes of traditional songs and singing them brings joy and excitement and reflects their religious significance.
Feasting On Traditional Holi Foods
Feasting on traditional Holi foods is greatly arranged during this colourful festival. People offer and share many traditional dishes, sweets, and drinks like thandai, mathri, balushahi, etc.
Playing With Water
Playing with water on Holi offers a pleasant and pleasant way to cool down since Holi is observed during the year’s hot season.
Visiting Friends And Family For Holi Greetings
People often visit their family and friends for Holi greetings since exchanging wishes connects people. They also share sweets, holi colours, delicacies, flowers, drinks, etc., for the occasion.
Holi Festival Around the World
Holi festival is celebrated throughout the Indian religion despite colour, caste, or creed. It is also celebrated across many nations, including Nepal, Mauritius, etc.
Do’s and Dont’s During Holi Festival
Do’s
- You must perform the Holika Dahan carefully
- Use premium quality materials for Holi Puja
- Use high-quality organic colours to play Holi
Don’t’s
- Avoid going close to the lit fire during Holika Dahan.
- Children must stay far from Holika Dahan or not reach the lit fire.
- Do not use low-quality colours for Holi
- Do not put colours on anyone’s eyes and ears.
- Do not rub colours on anyone’s face
Frequently Asked Questions
Holi is celebrated on the full moon of Purnima day’s evening in the Falgun month.
Many tales mark the origins of the Holi Festival, including that of Parahald, Hiranyakashyap, Lord Krishna, and Radha.
People throw colours to enjoy during the festival, as Lord Krishna did when the diety used to throw colours on Radha.
Holi is a celebration of Krishna and Radha’s infinite and blessed adoration.
Holi is celebrated in different regions by throwing colours, and water, performing puja, Holika Dahan, and other ceremonies.
Some common rituals of Holi are Holika Dahan, Holi or playing with colours, Jajiri or Phagwah, Shigmo, Yaosang, Manjal Kuli, Ukuli, Dhulandi, Dhuleti, Dol Purnima, Rangwali Holi, etc.
Yes, anyone can participate in Holi celebrations.
