Holi The Festival Of Colors, Photo Essay

Holi in India heralds the  arrival of Spring.

It is also believed  to  be  day when Prahlada the son of Hiranyakasipu was saved from Fire where his father made for him by Lord Vishnu.

The Day is celebrated with people spraying colors on each other.

The Ritual.

Ritual time

Holi fire in front of Jagdish Temple in Udaipur, Rajasthan, 2010

Dharma Sindhu and Nirnaya Sindhu, Sanskrit texts of festive rituals and dharma shastras says morning of holi should be spent joyfully by playing with cows and calves; Holika dahan should be performed after evening.

Having constructed a platform hallowed with ‘Go Maya’ (cow dung) one should arrange a stack of sticks with Agni and perform Holika Puja with the ‘Sankalpa’ and ‘Aavaahana’ of

“Sakutumbasya mama Dhundhaa Rakshasi preetyartham tatpeedaa parihaa –raartham Holikaa pujanam karishye/ —Asmaadbhirbhayasantrastaih krutaatwam Holikeyatah, Atastwaam Pujayishyaami bhutabhuti pradaabhava!” (As were afraid of you Holika Devi! we seek your compassion and thus are resorting to shodashopachaaraas to you. Do kindly show us fearlessness and prosperity!)

The mantras addressing Holika Devi state that the ten days from Panchami and Purnima are quite propitious and during these days even stealing of ‘Indhana’ or fire-wood ignored to celebrate Holi fire on the Purnima Day when throwing of water, smearing on other’s faces with colours and using of indecent language etc., are ignored as gestures of friendship especially with neighbours and friendship circles; there would be group singing, dances and exravaganza of merriment all through the day and night. This is how the Raakshasi Holika would be satisfied.

Next morning, a Chandaala is touched before taking bath and after carrying out nitya karmaas, Holika Devi be greeted and take up one’s own duties so that the year ahead would be devoid of diseases, difficulties and mental problems.(wiki).

An Indian child reacts as colored powder is smeared on her hair during Holi festival in Chennai, India, on March 27, 2013. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also marks the advent of spring, is being celebrated across the country Wednesday. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

Indian Hindu devotees throw colored powder at the Radha Rani temple during the Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana, on March 21, 2013. Lathmar Holi is a local celebration, but it takes place well before the national Holi day on March 27. (Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images)

A Hindu devotee, face smeared with colored powder, leaves the Banke Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, India, on March 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Hindu devotees play with color during Holi celebrations at the Banke Bihari temple on March 27, 2013 in Vrindavan, India. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

Indian revelers cover each other with colored powder look on during Holi festival celebrations in Siliguri, on March 27, 2013. (Diptendu Dutta/AFP/Getty Images)

Source:The atlantic.com. visit the site for more images.

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/03/holi-2013-the-festival-of-colors/100483/?utm_source=Atlantic+Media