Why Holi festival in India is celebrated with colours?

Question

Pls. answer logically.

Answer 1

The legend from which the tradition of playing colours started is full of colours in itself. The story goes that the very colourful Indian god, Lord Krishna was jealous of his soul mate Radha's fair complexion, since he himself was very dark.

Naughty young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about this injustice of nature. To placate the child, doting mother asked Krishna to apply colour on Radha's face and change her complexion according to his choice.

Playful and mischievous Krishna appreciated the idea and implemented it. The game of applying colours thus gained so much popularity that it became a tradition and later it turned out to be a full fledged festival.

Till date, lovers desired to colour and be coloured by their mates. The application of colours has in a way become an expression of love..

Answer 2

Celebration of HoliOn the first day, a bonfire is lit at night to signify burning Holika. On the second day, known as Dhulandi, people go around until afternoon throwing colored powder and water at each other. A special drink called thandai is prepared, sometimes containing bhang (Cannabis sativa). People invite each other to their houses for feasts and celebrations later in the evening. Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami (fifth day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colours.

Answer 3

Logic - Colours used in thoise early days had medicinal values. A good bye message to the spring, and welcome message to the summer when the colour of nature starts drying up. A message to human beings, that no matter what, we gotta enjoy all colours of life the way we enjoy holi, embracing each other...

:-)

Answer 4

It's a celebration for rejoicing the return of Lord rama from his exile. the colors are supposed to be festive and "color people's lives" with blessings!

Answer 5

The legends associated with Holi are as diverse and interesting as the many colours of this unique Hindu festival.

The most common one that we recall is that of Prahlad, the son of King Hiranyakashyap. Legend has it that the King, enraged by his son's refusal to accept him as God, commanded his sister, Holika, to sit at the centre of a bonfire, with Prahlad on her lap. Holika who was said to be immune to fire and imperishable agreed to brother's request. While seated on her lap, Prahlad prayed to Lord Vishnu and he was saved, while Holika was burnt to ashes. Holi, in North India, is therefore celebrated by the burning of bonfires, signifying the death of Holika and the triumph of good over evil.

Keeping with the spirit of spring, Holi is also celebrated as a festival of courtship. The youthful passion of Lord Krishna and the gopis of Brindavan is the theme for many a Holi celebration. Thus in this context, the festival is also a celebration of love.

Holi could also said to have its roots in the Puranic legend of the burning of Lord Kaama. Legend has it that Parvati, the daughter of the King of the Himalayas, was undergoing penance to win the love of Lord Shiva. Kaama, the God of Love came to her aid and shot his passion-inducing arrows at Shiva. Disturbed from his trance, Shiva opened his third eye and burnt Kaama to cinders in anger. He then granted Parvati's wish and married her. Holi celebrates this divine union with colour and aplomb.

A commemoration of such sacrifice, love and devotion is celebrated with a burst of hues and happiness, making Holi a festival to look forward to. And it's tough to forget, what with the pink skin, orange tinted hair and Technicolor streets that linger on for days to come!