Holi - (Festivals in India)

Bakri-Id - Festival of Sacrifice - Muslim
Buddha Jayanti - Buddha's Birthday - Buddhist/Hindu
Diwali - Festival of Light - Hindu
Dussehra or Dusshera - Lord Ram - Hindu
Guru Nanaks Birthday
Holi - Festival of Colour - Hindu
Kumbh Mela - Festival of the Pot -Hindu
Meelad-Id - The prophet Muhammed's birth and death - Muslim
Onam - South Indian celebration of good over evil - Hindu
Rakhi - Sibling closenes - Hindu/Many

Holi - Late March to Early March (Moon phase)

 

 

 

Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. It occurs around the end of Febrauary into early March. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.

 

 

 

Holi pre-dates Christ by several centuries although the meaning of the festival has changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped. Holi occurs on Phalguna purnima, the full moon that marks the year end. Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring. To many, particularly non-believers participating for the ‘experience', it is now the festival of colour.

The legend of Lord Krishna is associated with colours as the Lord started the tradition of playing with and applying colour on his beloved Radha and others. Gradually, the play gained popularity with the people and became a tradition. Throwing paint at each other, possibly under the influence of bhang (an opiate based milk drink), is affine way to spend an afternoon.

In some parts of India , specially in Bengal and Orissa, Holi Purnima is also celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ( A.D. 1486-1533). However, the literal meaning of the word 'Holi' is 'burning'. There are various legends to explain the meaning of this word, most prominent of all is the legend associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap and his sister Holika who is immune to fire; but only when she enters a blaze on her own. The legend is a triumph of good over evil as are other legends associated with the festival.