HOLI

HOLI

Holi is the most famous festival of colours. It is celebrated every year in the month of Falgun (March). It is a two day festival which symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Holi festival is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm as it brings feeling of love and closeness among people.

The first day is known as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi and the second as Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan.

Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika bonfire where people gather, do religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil should be destroyed as the bonfire starts. 

The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi - a free-for-all carnival of colours, where participants play, chase and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water, with some carrying water guns and coloured water-filled balloons for their water fight.

Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes to throw coloured powders on each other, laugh and gossip, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks.

ome drinks are intoxicating. For example, bhang, an intoxicating ingredient made from cannabis leaves, is mixed into drinks and sweets and consumed by many. In the evening, after sobering up, people dress up and visit friends and family.

Holi is a must attend festival of India there is comparison of fun and livelihood as this festival it is very similar to La Tomatina festival of spain but the spirit of people on this festival is amazing.

Fun Fact😆😆😲😮

A town near Mathura in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh, celebrates Lath mar Holi in the sprawling compound of the Radha Rani temple. Thousands gather to witness the Lath Mar Holi when women beat up men with sticks as those on the sidelines become hysterical, sing Holi songs and shout "Sri Radhey" or "Sri Krishna". The Holi songs of Braj mandal are sung in pure Braj, the local language. Holi celebrated at Barsana is unique in the sense that here women chase men away with sticks. Males also sing provocative songs in a bid to invite the attention of women. Women then go on the offensive and use long staves called lathis to beat the men, who protect themselves with shields.

Lath mar Holi

Chapchar Kut

The Chapchar Kut is a festival of a place which is known as “land of the hill people” yes, It is none other than Mizoram. Chapchar Kut is celebrated on the second Friday of March.

Chapchar Kut literally means – a festival held during the period when the bamboos and trees that have been cut down are being awaited to dry to be burnt for next crop to be grown known as jhumming. During this brief layoff period of jhumming, the Mizo ancestors could have all the time for themselves. They spend their leisure time in hunting games, fishing, et al. The Chapchar Kut festival evolved sometime between 1450 -1600 A.D. when the Mizo forefathers inhabit Lentlang.

On this day the Cheraw or bamboo dance is performed by young boys and girls in the big grounds for their mesmerising performance. The boys across the performance ground clap bamboos with a synchronized beat, while the girls step within the bamboo patterns created by the boys. The footwork steps change from time to time along with the beat and the girls have to be careful not to get hurt.

Their head dress is called the Vakiria. The band that holds it to the head is woven in different patterns and feathers are attached to it.  A stick is fixed at the back – parallel to the shoulder line and has strings of ‘pingpih’ beads and metal tassels attached. These make a pretty tinkling sound when the girls sway their heads.

It is apparent that there is no cultural, religious or nationality barrier among the waves of sea of people dancing. But then, where else in India, if not in the world, would you chance upon such  hospitable people, other than in Mizoram.

Discover Festivals Of India

India is an Incredible country rich in tradition and culture. Festivals are celebrated throughout the year with great joy and enthusiasm. This is the reason there is no age to celebrate them be it old, young or a child they all contribute equally in the fun and energetic aura created around them.

Hence it is our aim to create awareness about the different festivals celebrated in India and become part of the their tradition and to enjoy these festivals along with them. So let’s come and explore the different fairs and festivals which are being celebrated by people with no age limit.