Holi Festival
Essay No. 01
The Holi is one of the prominent festivals of the Hindus celebrated in India. It is the seasonal festival which marks the end of the winter season. It is the festival of fun and frolic, happiness and gaiety. The young and the old celebrate it with great joy.
There are two days attributed to this festival. They are known as “Chhotti Holi” and Bari Holi” or “Dulahandi”. On the “Chhotti Holi” day ladies and children in their best dresses go to worship a big pile of fire-wood. They throw rice and burn incense at it. Then at night at the auspicious hour this heap of fire-wood is set on fire. Men go to it with stalks of barley in order to put them into fire and then they embrace each other and wish “Happy Holi”. On this day even old enmities and differences are buried and forgotten. The night passes into the day which is called “dulahandi”—the day of coloured water and “Gulal”.
Various theories warp around this festival. Some say that Holi is commemorated in honour of Lord Krishna who killed a cruel demon on this day and filled the life of people with ecstasy. Others are of the view that it is celebrated in honour of Prahlad, a great devotee of the Supreme God. His haughty father “Hirnayakush” who was a king regarded himself greater than God. But Prahlad did not like this attitude of his father and went on worshipping God despite his cruel father’s threat. “Hirnayakush” punished his disobedient son by throwing him into the burning flames of fire but these flames could do no harm to the real devotee of God. Then he tied his son to a burning pillar out of which “Narhasingh” God appeared and killed his atheist father. Since then this day is celebrated by playing with colour.
In villages, towns and cities the Hob festival is celebrated by all people who express their joy by singing folk songs and dancing to the beats of drums. Before noon, people come out of their houses in groups. They have gulal in their hands and smear it on the forehead of each other. The Children get ready with syringes and buckets full of coloured water. They throw it on passers-by, friends and relatives. Some use water balloons which hit a person like a missile. So the Government has put a ban on the sale of balloons during the Holi festival. In the afternoon feasts are arranged and delicacies are enjoyed.
Some people spoil this festival occasion by drinking excessively and throwing mud and dust at others. Such a practice must be denounced by all of us. On this day procession of fools is also taken out by great poets and writers. They sit on donkeys and wear strings of shoes round their necks. Humorous and funny poems are recited in the fools’ conference. Thus everbody is seen in a jolly mood on this funny festival.
It is one of the most colourful festival of India.
Essay No. 02
Holi Festival
India is a land where festivals are celebrated throughout the year. These festivals are connected with great men and important events of history. Holi is one of these festivals. It is also called the festival of colours. It generally falls in the month of March. It foretells the coming of spring season.
Many legends are connected with this festival. Prahlad was a worshipper of God. His father, who was a king, did not like it. He told his sister Holika to finish Prahlad. Holika tried to burn Prahlad with herself but it was she who was burnt and Prahlad survived. Some say that Putna tried to kill Lord Krishna but instead it was Lord Krishna who killed Putna. This day is celebrated to mark the killing of two evil women-Holika and Putna.
On the day of Holi people go out in groups. They spray colours at one another. They rub coloured powders on one another’s face. Young boys and children spray coloured water and spoil clothes of people. However people don’t mind it. They forget ill-feelings and hatred on this day. People forget differences and come closer to each other. One day before the festival, people burn fire and dance around it.
Some people regard holi as a dirty festival. There are miscreants who spoil the spirit of the festival. They use the occasion to harass young girls. They go about on scooters and motor-cycles and misbehave with young girls. There are others who do not use colours. Instead they use mud and cow dung to rub on people’s faces. Such nonsensical activities result in street fights which spoil the whole show. Therefore, the festival should be celebrated in a friendly spirit.
Holi Festival
India is a land where festivals are celebrated throughout the year. These festivals are connected with great men and important events of history. Holi is one of these festivals. It is also called the festival of colours. It generally falls in the month of March. It foretells the coming of spring season.
Many legends are connected with this festival. Prahlad was a worshipper of God. His father, who was a king, did not like it. He told his sister Holika to finish Prahlad. Holika tried to burn Prahlad with herself but it was she who was burnt and Prahlad survived. Some say that Putna tried to kill Lord Krishna but instead it was Lord Krishna who killed Putna. This day is celebrated to mark the killing of two evil women-Holika and Putna.
On the day of Holi people go out in groups. They spray colours at one another. They rub coloured powders on one another’s face. Young boys and children spray coloured water and spoil clothes of people. However people don’t mind it. They forget ill-feelings and hatred on this day. People forget differences and come closer to each other. One day before the festival, people burn fire and dance around it.
Some people regard holi as a dirty festival. There are miscreants who spoil the spirit of the festival. They use the occasion to harass young girls. They go about on scooters and motor-cycles and misbehave with young girls. There are others who do not use colours. Instead they use mud and cow dung to rub on people’s faces. Such nonsensical activities result in street fights which spoil the whole show. Therefore, the festival should be celebrated in a friendly spirit.
