Why celebrates holi

Some people also binge on some bhang, which is cannabis added to thandai, and it is intoxicating. Bhang is enjoyed by people on Holi across the country. Although Holi is celebrated the same way across the country, some states play Holi in a different yet special manner. Holi celebrations in Vrindavan and Mathura are very famous. Latest News. T20 World Cup. Viral News. Home Lifestyle. Another story tied to the Holi Festival is that of Radha and Krishna. As the eighth incarnation of the Hindu god Vishna, Krishna is seen by many as the supreme god.

Krishna is said to have blue skin because as legend has it, he drank poisonous milk from a demon when he was a baby. Krishna fell in love with the goddess Radha, but feared she would not love him because of his blue skin — but Radha allowed Krishna to dye her skin with color, making them a true couple. Holi Festival is mainly celebrated in India and Nepal, but over the years it has grown to be a celebration that takes place in many communities all across the globe.

The festival is most widely and openly celebrated in cities like Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, and while each city may celebrate slightly differently, you can expect to see plenty of colors, music, and dance. There are many Hindu populations in the United States, particularly in larger metropolitan areas.

In addition to the religious meaning of the festival, some have adopted it in the United States for the spectacle and entertainment. Holi Festival is celebrated on the last full moon day of the lunar month of Phalguna , which is generally around the end of March. The exact date of Holi may vary from year to year. The Holi Festival is wild: think big crowds, colored dye, water guns, music, dancing, and partying.

During the Holi Festival, people dance through the streets and throw colored dye on each other. The Holi Festival is a happy time when people come together as one and let go of their inhibitions. If you live in the United States, you may be able to find a large city that hosts a Holi Festival, or Festival of Colors. For the full experience though, you need to attend a Holi Festival celebration in India — and a great way to experience Holi in India is to volunteer there.

There are many programs that can offer you amazing experiences in India. Here are some of our favorites. International Volunteer HQ offers a number of volunteer opportunities in or near the Indian cities of Delhi and Kerala. In Delhi, volunteers can assist with childcare, health initiatives, and English teaching. IVHQ program participants can volunteer in India for as little as one week, and as long as six months.

This organization even has programs that combine adventures and sightseeing with volunteer opportunities. Programs range in duration from two weeks to at least 24 weeks, and they can be spread across different cities. Whether you want to road trip across India, take on a medical internship in Delhi, or even care for elephants, you can find an opportunity with GoEco.

In the region of Braj where Lord Krishna grew up in Uttar Pradesh , Holi is celebrated until the day of Rangpanchmi as a huge festival, in memory of the devotional love of Krishna and Radha. A local legend is associated with this as well. When Krishna was a baby, he acquired a distinctive blue skin colour after drinking the poisoned breast milk of the she-demon, Putana.

Later, when he became young, he would often feel sad about whether the fair-coloured Radha or other girls in the village would ever like him because of his dark colour. So when Krishna applied colour to Radha, they both became a couple, and since then, people have started playing with colours on Holi. Celebrating the colourful festival of Holi involves a number of rituals:. Preparing the Holika pyre. A few days prior to the festival, people start collecting wood and other inflammable things for the bonfire.

The combustible materials are then gathered in a pyre in colonies, community centres, parks or other open spaces. On top of the pyre, an effigy of Holika is placed to be burned as per the legend. Holika Dahan. The first day of the festival is celebrated as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi. After sunset, people gather around the pyre, perform puja prayers and then light it.

People even sing and dance around the pyre, as it symbolizes the triumph of good over bad. Playing with colours. This is the day when people apply colours to one another, party and enjoy. Children and youngsters play in groups with dry colours called abir or gulal, pichkaris water guns , water balloons filled with coloured solutions and other creative things.

You might even find groups of people with drums and other musical instruments on streets, dancing and singing their way from one place to another. The special feast. Gujiya is a special sweet, which is made in every household in India during Holi. It is a dumpling filled with khoya a dairy product and dried fruits. The customary drink of Holi is thandai , which generally contains bhang marijuana. Other mouth-watering delicacies enjoyed are gol gappe , papri chaat , dal kachori , kanji vada , dahi bhalle , chole bhature , and variety of namkeen.

The after-party. After playing with colours during the day, people clean themselves up, bathe, sober up and get dressed.