Holi 2020: When, why is it celebrated in India
New Delhi, Mar 04: The festival of vibrant colours, Holi, one of the ancient festivals of Hindu, but later became popular among all religions in India. This year, Holi falls on 10th March and the 'Holika Dahan' will be on 9th March.
Mahurat of pooja:
Purnima
Tithi
Begins
-03:03
AM
on
Mar
09,
2020
Purnima
Tithi
Ends
-11:17
PM
on
Mar
09,
2020
Holi heralds the arrival of spring after winter. It signifies the victory of good over evil and is celebrated as a day of spreading happiness and love. The festival is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.
Holi
celebrations
start
on
the
night
before
Holi
with
'Holika
Dahan'
(burning
of
demon
Holika)
or
'Chhoti
Holi'
and
the
following
day
as
Holi,
Rangwali
Holi,
Dhuleti,
Dhulandi,
or
Phagwah.
Ranging
from
socio-cultural,
religious
to
biological
there
many
significant
reasons
why
we
must
heartily
celebrate
Holi.
Happy Holi: Interesting facts about festival of colours
Holi is famous as 'Basant Utsav' in rural India as it falls in during the spring season. Being one of the major festivals in India and it is celebrated with extreme enthusiasm and joy. 'Gulal', 'abeer' and 'pichkaris' are synonymous with this festival.
There are many interesting stories associated with the origin of Holi as one moves across the different states from North to South and East to West.
The most significant one is the story of king Hiranyakashyap, the legend of demons, who wished to end his blessed son, Prahlad's life with the help of his sister Holika, as he worshiped Lord Vishnu instead of worshiping arrogant Hiranyakashyap. Holika was burnt in the fire and no harm was caused to Prahlad. Since then the day is celebrated in the victory of good over bad.
In some states, the legend of Radha and Krishna is closely linked with this tradition of colors on Holi.
Whereas, in Bengal Holi is celebrated as 'Basant Utsav', and the tradition was reintroduced by poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan.
However, the festival has various significance, names, and stories but it is celebrated with great fun and frolic across the country and also in other countries too.