Holi 2018: Date, History, Significance, Celebrations, Sweets & Cuisine for Festival of Colours
One of the most significant spring festivals which is celebrated with much zeal will be celebrated this year on March 2. Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi is scheduled on March 1, 2018.
The dynamic festival of colours, Holi is around the corner. A chaotic yet fun colourful celebration of the many myths, legends and deities are associated with it. Holi is marked by religious fervour and celebration also includes traditional dances and. Obviously, the rubbing of bright colours, gulal and abeer on friends and relatives is the biggest fun factor of the joyous festival. Different states and cities have their unique way to celebrate this festival. Some say that it is the victory of good over evil brought about with the burning of a demoness Holika. Let us find out more about the significance of this colourful festival.
Holi 2018 Dates
In this year, Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi is scheduled on March 1, 2018. The Rang Panchami or the splash of colours celebrated with much zeal will be celebrated this year on March 2. It will start in the evening of the Purnima falling in the Vikram Samvat Hindu Calendar, month of Phaguna. The festival of colours is linked with the arrival of the spring season and marks the end of winter season. In some parts of India such as Mathura and Vrindavan, the festival arrives a week earlier.
History and Significance of Holi
There are many stories which are associated with the celebration of Holi. The most popular remains the tale of Prahalad. According to the mythology, Hiranyakashipu who was a king in ancient India but was brutal since he considered himself to be the God. He wanted everyone to worship him. The cruel king had a young son named Prahalad who was a great devotee of Vishnu and never obeyed his father due to his cruelty. Fuming at his son’s disobedience, Hiranyakashipu punished his son multiple times which never affected the boy. The King planned with his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Holika then tricked Prahalad to sit on her lap while she sat in a fire. Their plan failed as the little boy kept chanting Lord Vishnu's name throughout and remained safe. But Holika burnt into ashes. The defeat of Holika signifies the burn of all the bad things. This is why, in some states of India, people lit a bonfire to mark the death of evil.
Celebration of Holi Across India
People spend the day smearing coloured powder, gulal and abeer all over each other’s faces, throwing coloured water, having parties and dancing under water sprinklers. Special Holi events with music, rain dances and colours are organized in many places in India especially the metro cities.
The individuals begin the celebration on the night before Holi with a Holika Dahan where people gather, perform religious rituals in front of a bonfire. They pray that their internal evil will be destroyed. The next day on the morning of Badi Holi, loved one’s bond as they play with colours, dance and sing together. People greet their friends and family everywhere.
Sweets and Cuisine
The most popular sweet consumed during the celebration is gujiya. To add that extra dose of thrill and excitement, people devour bhang, an edible preparation of cannabis. Bhang is usually added in a sweet creamy milk called thandai.
Only few days are left to celebrate the festival of colours. Gear up and get ready to gather your friends and family to smear their faces with brightly coloured powder and have a fun-filled Holi celebration. Stay safe and be merry this Holi.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 21, 2018 04:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).