If there’s one thing synonymous with Spring, it is Holi. Today it is popularly known as the Festival of Colours, it was originally called Holika.
There are a few legends which revolve around Holi.
Hiranyakashyapu, a dictator, wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him. While everyone obeyed him, his son Prahlad said he would worship only Lord Naarayana. Enraged, Hiranyakashyapu commanded his sister, Holika, to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad on her lap. Hiranyakashyapu received a boon that ensured his invincibility and Holika got a boon by which she could enter a fire without getting burnt. But she did not know that it would work only if she were to enter the fire alone. She was burnt to death while Prahlad was saved.
Holi, or burning, celebrates the victory of good over evil.
In another legend, it is believed that Lord Krishna’s love for colours knew no bounds and it was he who started this festival as he applied colour on Radha and other gopis . Gradually, this gained popularity and became a tradition.
Annual clean up“I want to start a bonfire” is a popular cry. A precursor to Holi, people clean up their houses and their surroundings. In the evening a bonfire is lit. The ash from the bonfire is believed to bring luck. This bonfire brings together friends and neighbours and is a time of fellowship and new beginnings.
CelebrationsWhile some families conduct religious ceremonies, for the rest, Holi is a time for fun. There’s music in the air and people are often seen dancing and playing with colours. It is a day when there is no distinction between caste, class, age or gender. Pichkaris , buckets and balloons filled with coloured water and sprayed or splashed on people who often squeal and scramble away with cries of “ Bura na mano Holi hai ” ringing in their ears. Delicious snacks like gujia , malpua and savouries like dahi vada are made on this occasion.
Retracing roots
A 16th century panel sculpted in a temple at Hampi, Karnataka, depicts a joyous scene of Holi. The painting shows a prince and his princess standing with maids waiting with syringes or pichkaris to drench the royal couple in coloured water.
A painting found at Ahmednagar in 16th Century circles around the theme Vasanta Ragini — spring song or music. It shows a royal couple sitting on a grand swing while women play music and spray colours using pichkaris .
A Mewar painting found in 1755 shows the Maharana with his courtiers. While the ruler is bestowing gifts on people, a merry dance is on, and in the centre is a tank filled with coloured water.
Cool off withthandaai
What you need
> 1 litre milk
> 3 cups water
> 1/2 cup sugar
>1/2 tbsp aniseed ( saunf )
>8 almonds
> 10 peppercorns
> 6 saffron strands
> 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
> 1 tbsp dried watermelon seeds
> 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds
> 1/4 cup fresh rose petals
Method
Boil the milk and cool it. Soak aniseed, almonds, watermelon seeds, poppy seeds and rose petals in two cups of water for about half an hour and then grind to a smooth paste. Now add the sugar, peppercorns, powdered cardamom, saffron and mix well. Add the milk and blend well.
Serve chilled.
Stay safe
You can choose to play with natural colours or with plain water.
Use turmeric, beetroot and mehendi (henna ) to make natural yellow, red and green colours.
Mix and match ingredients to get creative and make more colours.
Apply a generous helping of cold cream on the body, and oil on the hair so that the colours don’t harm your skin.
Close your eyes when somebody throws colours on you.
Old clothes are preferable as you can discard them after playing with colours.
