Hindu Festivals (7)

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Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal,

 

7. HOLI

 

(Phalguna Suddham)

(March - April)

 

 

IN DAYS of yore, there were communities of cannibals in India. They caused much

havoc. They threatened the lives of many innocent people. One of them was Holika

or Putana. She took immense delight in devouring children. Sri Krishna destroyed

her and thus saved the little children. Even today, the effigy or figure of

Holika is burnt in the fire. In South India, the clay figure of Cupid is burnt.

This is the origin of the great festival of Holi.

It begins about ten days before the full moon of the month Phalgun

(February-March), but is usually only observed for the last three or four days,

terminating with the full moon. This is the spring festival of the Hindus. In

the spring season all the trees are filled with sweet-smelling flowers. They all

proclaim the glory and everlasting beauty of God. They inspire you with hope,

joy and a new life, and stir you on to find out the creator and the indweller,

who is hiding Himself in these forms.

Holi is known by the name of Kamadahana in South India, the day on which Cupid

was burnt by Lord Siva.

Another legend has it that once upon a time an old woman's grandchild was to

be sacrificed to a female demon named Holika. A Sadhu advised that abuse and

foul language would subdue Holika. The old woman collected many children and

made them abuse Holika in foul language. The demon fell dead on the ground. The

children then made a bonfire of her remains.

Connected to this legend of the demon Holika is Bhakta Prahlad's devotion to

Lord Narayana, and his subsequent escape from death at the hands of Holika.

Prahlad's father, Hiranyakashipu, punished him in a variety of ways to change

his devotional mind and make him worldly-minded. He failed in his attempts. At

last he ordered his sister, Holika, who had a boon to remain unburnt even in

fire, to take Prahlad on her lap and enter into the blazing flames. Holika did

so. She vanished, but Prahlad remained untouched and laughing. He was not

affected by the fire on account of the Grace of Lord Narayana.

This same scene is enacted every year to remind people that those who love God

shall be saved, and they that torture the devotee of God shall be reduced to

ashes. When Holika was burnt, people abused her and sang the glories of the Lord

and of His great devotee, Prahlad. In imitation of that, people even today use

abusive language, but unfortunately forget to sing the praises of the Lord and

His devotee!

In North India, people play joyfully with coloured water. The uncle sprinkles

coloured water on his nephew. The niece applies coloured powder on her aunt's

face. Brothers and sisters and cousins play with one another.

Huge bundles of wood are gathered and burnt at night, and everywhere one hears

shouts of " Holi-ho! Holi-ho! " People stand in the streets and sprinkle coloured

water on any man who passes by, be he a rich man or an officer. There is no

restriction on this day. It is like the April Fool's Day of the Europeans.

People compose and sing special Holi songs.

On the festival day, people clean their homes, remove all dirty articles from

around the house and burn them. Disease-breeding bacteria are thereby destroyed.

The sanitary condition of the locality is improved. During the festival, boys

dance about in the streets. People play practical jokes with passers-by. A

bonfire is lit towards the conclusion of the festival. Games representing the

frolics of the young Krishna take place joyously around a fire.

On the last day of Holi, people take a little fire from this bonfire to their

homes. They believe that their homes will be rendered pure, and their bodies

free from disease.

Nowadays, people are found indulging in all sorts of vices in the name of the

Holi festival. Some drink intoxicating liquor like toddy and fall unconscious on

the roads. They indulge in obscene speech as a result of drinking. They lose

respect for their elders and masters. They waste their money in drink and

dice-play. These evils should be totally eradicated.

Festivals like Holi have their own spiritual value. Apart from the various

amusements, they create faith in God if properly observed. Hindu festivals

always have a spiritual significance. They wean man away from sensual pleasures

and take him gradually to the spiritual path and divine communion. People

perform havan and offer to the gods the new grains that are harvested.

On such holy occasions there should be worship of God, Satsangs, and Kirtan of

the Lord's Names, not merely the sprinkling of coloured water and lighting of

bonfires. These functions are to be considered most sacred and spent in

devotional prayers, visiting holy places, bathing in sacred waters, and Satsang

with great souls. Abundant charity should be done to the poor. Then only can

Holi be said to have been properly celebrated. Devotees of the Lord should

remember His delightful pastimes on such happy occasions.

All great Hindu festivals have religious, social and hygienic elements in

them. Holi is no exception. Every season has a festival of its own. Holi is the

great spring festival of India. Being an agricultural country, India's two big

festivals come during the harvest time when the barns and granaries of our

farmers are full and they have reason to enjoy the fruits of their hard labour.

The harvest season is a festive season all over the world.

Man wants relaxation and change after hard work. He needs to be cheered when

he is depressed on account of work and anxieties. Festivals like Holi supply him

with the real food and tonic to restore his cheer and peace of mind.

The religious element in the Holi festival consists of worship of Sri Krishna.

In some places it is also called the Dol Yatra. The word dol literally means " a

swing " . An image of Sri Krishna as a babe is placed in a little swing-cradle and

decorated with flowers and painted with coloured powders. The pure, innocent

frolics of little Krishna with the merry milkmaids—the Gopis of

Brindavan—are commemorated. Devotees chant the Name of Sri Krishna and sing

Holi-songs relating to the frolics of little Krishna with the Gopis.

The social element during Holi is the uniting or " embracing " of the great and

the small, of the rich and the poor. It is also the uniting of equals. The

festival teaches us to " let the dead bury the dead " . We should forget the

outgoing year's ill-feelings and begin the new year with feelings of love,

sympathy, co-operation and equality with all. We should try to feel this oneness

or unity with the Self also.

Holi also means " sacrifice " . Burn all the impurities of the mind, such as

egoism, vanity and lust, through the fire of devotion and knowledge. Ignite

cosmic love, mercy, generosity, selflessness, truthfulness and purity through

the fire of Yogic practice. This is the real spirit of Holi. Rise from the mire

of stupidity and absurdity and dive deep into the ocean of divinity.

The call of Holi is to always keep ablaze the light of God-love shining in

your heart. Inner illumination is the real Holi. The spring season is the

manifestation of the Lord, according to the Bhagavad Gita. Holi is said there to

be His heart.

(By Swamy Sivananda)

 

to be Continued. . .

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry.

 

 

 

 

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