Holi

 

Holi

 

Under the guidance of old man Lavani, Agudengba went to the home of Kumari, the Living Goddess of Nepal, located in the Temple Square of Bataan, the ancient capital.

On the way home, the old man Lavani said to Agudengba: In a few days, the Holi Festival in India will be held, and the Holi Festival is also the New Year in the Indian calendar. Holi was originally a celebration of spring, related to the act of creation and renewal, and represented the spring equinox and grain harvest. During the Holi Festival, everyone from dignitaries to ordinary people sing and dance, dressing up in colorful colors to welcome the arrival of spring. At that time, Indians will splash colorful paint on people to express their joy and blessing.

The colors of Holi, known as "Quran", were used in homes during the Middle Ages to make flowers from Tesu or Parash trees, which were also known as "Forest Flames". The flowers, which are bright red or deep orange in color, are collected from the forest and spread on mats to dry in the sun before being crushed into a fine powder on the ground. When this powder is mixed with water it creates a beautiful saffron dye. This pigment (also known as abir) is also derived from a naturally colored mica and is widely used in holi colors and is gentle on the skin, unlike the chemical pigments we use today.

Therefore, Holi is also called the Festival of Colors and usually lasts for a week.

The old man Lavani said: Holi originated from the famous Indian epic "Mahabharata".

Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a king Hiranka Yasip who was cruel by nature, but his prince Prahlad loved the people and was supported by them. The prince expressed dissatisfaction with his father's domineering attitude, so his father was furious and asked his princess Hollija, who was not afraid of fire, to jump into the fire with the prince in her arms, preparing to burn the prince to death. However, contrary to expectations, Holija was burned to ashes, but Prahlad was safe and sound because of Vishnu's protection. To celebrate, the people poured red water on the little prince. This is where Holi comes from.

There is another legend: Once upon a time, there was a tyrant who did not allow people to believe in the great god Vishnu. His son insisted on worshiping the great god. The prince expressed his dissatisfaction with his father's domineering behavior and was supported by the people. The father was furious, and the tyrant ordered his sister, the banshee Holika, to burn the prince to death on a full moon night. The next morning, when the people of the country rushed to rescue people with water vessels, they found that the prince was safe and sound, but Holika had turned into ashes. This was the result of the blessing of the great god Vishnu, so people poured seven colors of water on the prince to celebrate. Therefore, people regard Wangri in December of each year as the Holi Festival. On the second day of Holi, people splash and smear each other with water and various paints. At night, people throw the Holika statues tied with straw and paper into the fire and burn them.

Indians also drink a milky white drink during Holi, which is said to ensure peace and health in the coming year.

In Nepal, the celebration begins with the bamboo pole erecting ceremony. The festival lasts for a week, and people throw red powder and water balloons at each other. On the eighth day, people burn the bamboo poles and the festival ends.

Holi is one of the oldest Hindu festivals. Holi is held every year in February and March, and the length of celebration varies. A wide variety of supporting evidence has been found in wall reliefs in ancient temples. In a temple at Hamupi, the capital of Vezayanagar, a sixteenth-century panel carving shows a joyful scene depicting the festival of Holi, with princes and princesses waiting among standing maids. The end of the royal consorts' romping in the five-colored water. A scene of Vasantha Rajni is depicted in Ahmed Nagar paintings of the 16th century. It shows the royal couple sitting on a large swing, as well as music being played and colors sprayed with Pijikaris.

The old man Lavani sang a local Nepali blessing song "Holi":

 

winter is finally over

spring has arrived

Happy Holi Festival

Forget racial differences

 

Rebirth

Have fun

People throw red powder at each other

Chasing and throwing water balloons

 

Put aside the past grudges

Reconciled

Eliminates misunderstandings and resentments

We are all God's people

 

light a bonfire

Burning Holi

Celebrate the victory of good over evil

Holika thrown into fire

 

End the cold days

Welcome spring and blooming flowers

Celebrating Holi Festival

Pray for good health in the coming year