Holi is full of life, fun and humour. This is the high time when Indians around the country and beyond become extra playful with unlimited excitement. Here we have an insight into this fun and frolic festival with reference to its traditional significance and celebration styles in different regions. 

First, a few facts about the festival:-

•    Initially, Holi is a spring festival that glorifies good harvest and land fertility
•    This is an ancient festival which has its reference in a 7th century Sanskrit drama
•    It marks the victory of good over evil.
•    Holi is an India-wide festival. However, it is largely popular in Northern India
•    Krishna-nagari Mathura and Vrindavan witnesses Holi celebration for more than a week.
•    Holi has different regional variations. It is known as Ranga Panchami/Rang-panchami in Maharastra,   Lathi-maar Holi in Mathura, Dol Purnima in West Bengal, Phagwa in Bihar, Kaman Pandigai in TamilNadu, Dulandi Holi in Haryana, Yaosang Festival in Manipur.
•    The festival renews and cements relationships. It is the time when special sweets are prepared, new cloths are gifted and people sing, dance, hug and funnily play with colours wishing ‘Happy Holi’ or cheerfully putting the excuse ‘Bura mat manna Holi hai’

Holi Legends:-As colourful as Holi itself

Legends tagged with Holi are many. As the most popular one goes, demon king Hiranyakashyap’s daughter Holika was burned to ashes while attempting to murder Bishnu devotee Prahalad. It signifies the true power of good over evil. People in many parts of India celebrate the story by burning Holika’s dummy on the fire.  According to another legend, the dark complexioned and playful young Krishna was a bit jealous of Radha’s fair complexion. As advised by mother Yasodha, he joyfully applied colours on Radha’s face to make her look like him. Since then, people celebrate this festival of colours which underscores fun and merry making.  Yet another legend has it that this is the day when Lord Shiva’s third day incinerated the love God Kamadeva when the latter successfully tried to upset his mediation in order to bring goodness for all earthly beings.

Celebration styles:-Funny, Interesting and Traditional
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Mathura’s Lathi-maar Holi: Mathura plays Holi just the way Krishna played it once. According to legends, the Nandgaon-grown Krishna used to come to Barsana (Radha’s birthplace) along with his humour minded friends to play Holi with his consort Radha and other Gopis. Quite interestingly, team Krishna had to run away from Barsana after a good deal of fun and humour as Gopis headed by Radha used to chase them away with lathis (sticks). Even today, the tradition of boys coming from Nandgaon to Barsana continues. The brave hearted escape the Prahar (beating) whereas the unlucky one gets good thrashing (no serious) from womenfolk.

Haryana’s Dulandi Holi: Holi in Haryana is completely full of humour and fun as this is the day when a Bhabhi (brother’s wife) gets social sanction to take revenge of the pranks done by her Devar (husband’s younger brother). It begins and ends humorously. After the celebration, the Devars bring sweets for their Bhabhis. Also other family members play Holi with much fun. Special sweets are prepared.

Gujarat, Maharashtra’s Pot Breaking Sport: Along with some other parts of India, Gujarat and Maharashtra has a special style of celebrating this fun festival. On this day, buttermilk pots are hung high with the help of tight ropes from one to the other end of streets. Men encircle and form a pyramid simply by climbing over one another. The one in the topper most end then breaks the pot with his head effort.  It is believed that Lord Krishna used to steal buttermilk from the houses of village people. Left with no other choice, they had to hang the pot containing buttermilk so that Krishna fails to reach it. But clever Krishna never failed to taste extra butter; something which this celebration lastly points out.

Bengal’s Basnata Utsav: Bengal celebrates Holi cheerfully. Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore founded Vishwa Bharati sees a grand celebration when young people clad in newly purchased traditional attires attend Prabhat pheris, recite the Tagore composed songs (Rabindra sangeet) and organize different cultural events. Bengal also sees Dol Purnima in Holi when the idols of Lod Krishna and his consort Radha are placed on swings. People sing devotional songs and play Holi with Abber (colours) 

Manipur’s Yaosang festival: Holi is played in different parts of easternmost India including Manipur where it is celebrated as six-day long Yaosang festival. Different cultural programs are organized with the presence of drummers, singers and dancers. Thabal Chongba, a dance under the moonlight is a major attraction of the celebration.
 
The festival abroad: Holy Holi Everywhere!

Indians out of India celebrate Holi joyfully. In the US, different Indian societies and organizations conduct cultural events, music programs, Holi meets and parades-giving children a chance to understand the underlying importance of this traditional festival. Holi is also observed in different other nations including but not limited to UK, South Africa, Trinidad and Australia.