HOLI

Holi is the festival of colour. It is one of the most beautiful festivals in Hindu culture. It is a joyful festival celebrating the victory of good over evil. This festival is generally celebrated in the month of February or early March. People from Terai celebrate it a day later with joy and ceremony.

Fagu is another name for Holi. Fagu means the sacred red powder. It is mostly celebrated on the full moon, called Fagu Purnima. People play with different colours on this day. It is usually celebrated for a week in the Terai. However, it is only the last day that all people celebrate with colours. People can be seen going round the streets either on foot or on some vehicles, with a variety of colours smeared over their face and body.

During this festival, family members and friends get together and celebrate the occasion with a lot of merry making. It is also an outburst of youthful excitement throwing colours and water balloons (lolas) at each other.

There is a traditional belief behind the celebration of Holi. The festival, 'Holi' comes from the name of a mythical demon, Holika. The myth about Holi reveals that Holika and Hiranyakasyapu were sister and brother. Hiranyakasyapu had a son called Pralhad. He was a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu. However, Hiranyakasyapu was an atheist king, and planned to kill his son, Pralhad. He asked for the help of his sister, Holika. But their attempts always failed since Lord Vishnu protected Pralhad. Holika had received a blessing from Lord Bramha to be safe from fire. So she planned to kill Pralhad in fire. She jumped into a fire with Pralhad. But, Brahma's blessing could only be used for good purposes. Therefore, Holika was burnt in the fire whereas Pralhad was saved by the grace of God. Thus, Holi is said to be celebrated to rejoice Holika's death.

According to another story, from the Puranas and the Bhagawat Gita, Kansha sent a female demon named Putna to kill his nephew Lord Krishna. Taking the form of a nurse Putna went to Brindaban. The child Lord Krishna was growing up there. She tried to breastfeed him with her poisonous milk but the attempt backfired and she was killed. Her body was burnt on the night of Holi. So, some consider Holi as the festival of fire.

Holi is a time for fun and frolic for everyone. It is the time when one forgets worldly anxieties and just enjoys the finer things in life.

Ways with words

1. Match the following words with their meanings:

A B

(a) ancient (i) belonging to the past

(b) festivities (ii) disciple, follower, supporter

(d) ceremony (iv) disbeliever in god

(e) atheist (v) enthusiastic, passionate, eager

(vi) the activities while celebrating a special event

Problem Solved

(a) ancient: belonging to the past

(b) festivities: the activities while celebrating a special event

(d) ceremony: a formal religious or public occasion

(e) atheist: disbeliever in god

2. Write two or three lines about each of the following.

(a) Fagu (b) Holika (c) Myth (d) Prahlad (e) Kansa

Problem Solved

(a) Fagu

1. Fagu means the sacred red powder.

2. Fagu is another name for Holi.

3. Fagu is mostly celebrated on the full moon.

(b) Holika

1. Holika is the name of a mythical demon.

2. Holika had received a blessing from Lord Bramha to be safe from fire.

3. Holika was burnt in the fire because she used it for bad purpose.

1. The myth about Holi reveals that Holika and Hiranyakasyapu were sister and brother.

2. We can hear many myths about gods and goddesses.

3. Myths are hard to believe.

(d) Prahlad

1. Pralhad was a son of Hiranyakasyapu .

2. Pralhad was a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu.

3. Pralhad was protected by Lord Vishnu.

(e) Kansa

1. Kansa wanted to kill his nephew Lord Krishna.

2. Kansa sent Putna to kill his nephew.

3. Kansa is regarded to be very cruel.

Read and answer

1. Read the text again and answer the following questions.

(a) In which Nepali month does Holi mostly fall?

(b) What do people do with colours at Holi?

(d) What blessing had Holika received from Lord Bramha?

(e) How does Holi bring people of different castes and religions into harmony

and fraternity?

Problem Solved

(a) In which Nepali month does Holi mostly fall?

Answer: Holi mostly falls in the Nepali month of Falgun or Chaitra.

(b) What do people do with colours at Holi?

Answer: People play with different colours and throw them at each other at Holi.

Answer: Hiranyakasyapu was an atheist king whose son, Prahlad was a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu.

(d) What blessing had Holika received from Lord Bramha?

Answer: Holika had received a blessing from Lord Bramha to be safe from fire.

(e) How does Holi bring people of different castes and religions into harmony

and fraternity?

Answer: Holi brings people of different castes and religions into harmony

and fraternity because during this festival, family members, friends and people of different castes and religions get together and celebrate the occasion with a lot of merry making.