[priya]

One of the most important Hindu festivals, Holi embodies all the festivity, liveliness and exuberance of Spring season. The cheerful faces smeared with colors and flower extracts look not much different from the blooming blossoms. The fragrance and the romanticism of the season touch all hearts. It is the festival of letting go of what has already passed and awaken the hopes and strengthen our ties with our friends and loved ones. Holi is a festival of pranks. Particularly the youth go around the villages and communities, playing colors and pranks, shouting 'Bura Na Mano, Holi Hai!' (Don't be angry, it's Holi!).

Often associated with the love-play of naughty Krishna, his beloved Radha and the cowherd boyss and maids known as 'Gopis', Holi is the day for young hearts. Spraying colors, dancing on traditional Holi songs, rhythmic drum beats and wild processions are the common scenes that one comes across during this festival.

Colours of India

As well as one of the more traditional recipes

Be curious & look.....

[kullukid]

[quote name='priya' post='21839' date='Mar 2 2007, 10:49 AM']One of the most important Hindu festivals, Holi embodies all the festivity, liveliness and exuberance of Spring season. The cheerful faces smeared with colors and flower extracts look not much different from the blooming blossoms. The fragrance and the romanticism of the season touch all hearts. It is the festival of letting go of what has already passed and awaken the hopes and strengthen our ties with our friends and loved ones. Holi is a festival of pranks. Particularly the youth go around the villages and communities, playing colors and pranks, shouting 'Bura Na Mano, Holi Hai!' (Don't be angry, it's Holi!).

Often associated with the love-play of naughty Krishna, his beloved Radha and the cowherd boyss and maids known as 'Gopis', Holi is the day for young hearts. Spraying colors, dancing on traditional Holi songs, rhythmic drum beats and wild processions are the common scenes that one comes across during this festival.

[url="http://www.thecolorsofindia.com/"]Colours of India[/url]
Holi Shmoley Priya!
As well as one of the more traditional recipes

[url=http://www.thecolorsofindia.com/recipes/xxxxxxxxx.html]Be curious & look.....
Be even curiouser?? & drink!  KK

[iwanttogoback]

but it doesn't give a quantity for the leaves...

[kullukid]

iwanttogoback, on Mar 2 2007, 03:07 PM, said:

but it doesn't give a quantity for the leaves...

Oh, about 1 mature plant per person should suffice!      Please note i am not a doctor & you should seek professional medical advise!    KK

[iwanttogoback]

damn, but this is a travel forum, not a medical one!

[kullukid]

iwanttogoback, on Mar 2 2007, 03:43 PM, said:

damn, but this is a travel forum, not a medical one!

Well 1 plant p/p should be ample to send you on the Trip of a lifetime.   Trust me i'm not a doctor!     KK

[Yashodhara]

I played Holi for the first time yesterday. When we entered the Indian shop for a new set of movies ( ), we were welcomed with a handful of red color and a loud "Holi Hai". In the evening the Hindu temple had a Holi program with music performances, lots of colors and food of course.

[kullukid]

Snakes as well!
Look at this.
http://www.orange.co...yweekinpictures

[jyotirmoy]

Holi also symbolise the end of winter. I remember to have written about the traditional way of handling these leaves.... Unfortunately alcohol has taken over... along with it comes rowdism.... Sad

[torryquine]

Can anyone confirm the daes for Holi this year please?  We saw a website which informed us it was the 3rd/4th March, and booked our flights accordingly - now I see other information which tells us it is nearer the end of March - damn!!

[gautam]

torryquine, on Jan 12 2008, 02:58 PM, said:

Can anyone confirm the daes for Holi this year please?  We saw a website which informed us it was the 3rd/4th March, and booked our flights accordingly - now I see other information which tells us it is nearer the end of March - damn!!

March 6 Shiva Ratri

March 21 Holi : on the full moon always towards the warmer than the cooler part of the month; i.e. towards April. Celebrations begin some days before, depending on traditions in various parts of the country: burning of various "demoness" effigies at night, representations of Holika, and so forth. Plus the paralel bacchanalia which nowadays have gotten out of hand with the withering of traditional controls, leadership and authority,  everywhere denounced as Hindutva, regardless of what it might actually be. Challenges to the present Holikas?

http://vcal.iskcongb...amp;Gaurabda=52


6  Mar 2008 Th  Caturdasi                         K Siva      Dhanista        
                 Siva Ratri
7  Mar 2008 Fr  Amavasya                          K Siddha    Satabhisa        
8  Mar 2008 Sa  Pratipat                          G Sadhya    Purva-bhadra    
                 Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji -- Disappearance
                 Sri Rasikananda -- Disappearance
9  Mar 2008 Su  Dvitiya                           G Sukla     Uttara-bhadra    
10  Mar 2008 Mo  Tritiya                           G Brahma    Revati          
11  Mar 2008 Tu  Caturthi                          G Indra     Asvini          
                 Sri Purusottama Dasa Thakura -- Appearance
12  Mar 2008 We  Pancami                           G Vaidhriti Bharani          
13  Mar 2008 Th  Sasti                             G Viskumba  Rohini          
14  Mar 2008 Fr  Astami                            G Priti     Mrigasira        
----------------- Mina Sankranti (Sun enters Pisces) -----------------
15  Mar 2008 Sa  Navami                            G Ayusmana  Ardra            
16  Mar 2008 Su  Dasami                            G Sobana    Punarvasu        
17  Mar 2008 Mo  Ekadasi (suitable for fasting)    G Atiganda  Pusyami         *
                 Fasting for Amalaki Vrata Ekadasi
18  Mar 2008 Tu  Dvadasi                           G Sukarma   Aslesa          
                 Break fast 06:09 - 10:10 (Daylight saving not considered).
                 Sri Madhavendra Puri -- Disappearance
19  Mar 2008 We  Trayodasi                         G Dhriti    Magha            
20  Mar 2008 Th  Caturdasi                         G Sula      Purva-phalguni  
21  Mar 2008 Fr  Purnima                           G Ganda     Uttara-phalguni *
                 Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu -- Appearance
vcal.iskcongbc.org (version 1.2)                             Based on VCal 4.01

                           Visnu Masa , Gaurabda 522                  
            Allahabad, U.P., India (081E50 25N29, Time zone = +5.30)

DATE            TITHI                         PAKSA YOGA      NAKSATRA     FAST
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22  Mar 2008 Sa  Pratipat                          K Vriddhi   Hasta            
23  Mar 2008 Su  Dvitiya                           K Dhruva    Hasta            
24  Mar 2008 Mo  Tritiya                           K Vyagata   Citra            
25  Mar 2008 Tu  Caturthi                          K Harsana   Swati            
26  Mar 2008 We  Caturthi                          K Vajra     Visakha          
27  Mar 2008 Th  Pancami                           K Siddhi    Anuradha        
28  Mar 2008 Fr  Sasti                             K Vyatipata Jyestha          
29  Mar 2008 Sa  Saptami                           K Variyana  Mula            
30  Mar 2008 Su  Astami                            K Parigha   Purva-asadha    
                 Sri Srivasa Pandita -- Appearance
31  Mar 2008 Mo  Navami                            K Siva      Uttara-asadha    
1  Apr 2008 Tu  Dasami                            K Siddha    Sravana          
2  Apr 2008 We  Ekadasi (suitable for fasting)    K Sadhya    Dhanista        *
                 Fasting for Papamocani Ekadasi
3  Apr 2008 Th  Dvadasi                           K Subha     Satabhisa        
                 Break fast 05:52 - 10:01 (Daylight saving not considered).
                 Sri Govinda Ghosh -- Disappearance
4  Apr 2008 Fr  Trayodasi                         K Sukla     Purva-bhadra    
5  Apr 2008 Sa  Caturdasi                         K Brahma    Uttara-bhadra    
6  Apr 2008 Su  Amavasya                          K Indra     Revati          
7  Apr 2008 Mo  Pratipat                          G Vaidhriti Asvini          
8  Apr 2008 Tu  Tritiya                           G Priti     Bharani          
9  Apr 2008 We  Caturthi                          G Ayusmana  Krittika        
10  Apr 2008 Th  Pancami                           G Saubhagya Rohini          
                 Sri Ramanujacarya -- Appearance
11  Apr 2008 Fr  Sasti                             G Sobana    Mrigasira        
12  Apr 2008 Sa  Saptami                           G Atiganda  Ardra            
13  Apr 2008 Su  Astami                            G Sukarma   Punarvasu        
----------------- Mesa Sankranti (Sun enters Aries) -----------------
                 Beginning of Salagrama and Tulasi Jala Dana
14  Apr 2008 Mo  Navami                            G Dhriti    Pusyami         *
                 Rama Navami: Appearance of Lord Sri Ramacandra
                 (fast till sunset)
15  Apr 2008 Tu  Dasami                            G Ganda     Aslesa          
16  Apr 2008 We  Ekadasi (suitable for fasting)    G Vriddhi   Magha           *
                 Fasting for Kamada Ekadasi
17  Apr 2008 Th  Dvadasi                           G Dhruva    Purva-phalguni  
                 Break fast 05:38 - 09:54 (Daylight saving not considered).
                 Damanakaropana Dvadasi
18  Apr 2008 Fr  Trayodasi                         G Vyagata   Uttara-phalguni  
19  Apr 2008 Sa  Caturdasi                         G Harsana   Hasta            
20  Apr 2008 Su  Purnima                           G Vajra     Citra            
                 Sri Balarama Rasayatra
                 Sri Krsna Vasanta Rasa
                 Sri Vamsivadana Thakura -- Appearance
                 Sri Syamananda Prabhu -- Appearance

Edited by gautam, 13 January 2008 - 01:25 AM.

[torryquine]

Thanks Gutam, looks like we'll be missing it this year - that just means we'll have to plan another trip.....

[priya]

Holi is around the corner once again

[jyotirmoy]

Brats on the balconies and roofs with colour filled balloons.

[priya]

We're slightly more civilized here - only water pistols and powders....... (when the adults aren't looking)

[sadhuji]

priya, on Mar 20 2008, 11:10 AM, said:

We're slightly more civilized here - only water pistols and powders....... (when the adults aren't looking)

please allow me to add my little bit on this colorful occasion ....

The festival of Holi, celebrated on the full moon (poornima) day, is the Indian answer to the Valentine’s Day of the West. It is an occasion when people revel by throwing colors on others – some sprinkle different colored powder that is easy to remove, others love to spray colored liquid on unsuspecting passers-by. In Tagore’s Shantiniketan, it heralds in spring and programs of song and dance are conducted by the staff and students as Vasant Utsav. In some localities, the local youngsters arrange for huge vessels filled with colored water and douse the other youngsters in it, drenching them. Since the summer heat is in the atmosphere, no one objects much. Along with these revelries are the songs – the old time favorites of Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachhan rule the roost. Wonder why our modern day heroes have not sung Holi songs of their own. The festival is extremely popular in the Northern parts of India as also in Bihar but is not so in the Southern parts of the country. In Maharashtra, it is celebrated five days later and is identified as the Rang Panchami or Vasant Panchami. While coloring one another with the harmless gulal is acceptable, the problems arises when youngsters go beyond the levels of decency – they try to humiliate whosoever dares to venture out of the house is bound to be a victim. There have been instances when balloons, filled with dirty water, were hurled at passing trains.

The Doctors have cautioned against use of certain types of colors – Black contains lead oxide which might cause renal failures, Green contains copper sulphate which might cause allergy in the eyes and even temporary blindness, Silver contains aluminium bromide which is carcinogenic in nature, Blue is from Prussian blue which might cause dermatitis and Red contains mercury sulphide which might result in skin cancer.

Happy Holi with organic colours

BALASORE, March 18: If you are not playing Holi fearing of the chemical reactions on your skin, then feel relaxed and enjoy the colourful occasion with organic colours. Mrs Kusum Mishra, a resident of Balasore town has been producing organic colours for last seven years.

http://thestatesman....d...9&id=222706

[priya]

Sadhuji, the youngsters here will only be having fun at the Hindu Community Centre - otherwise it is relatively conservative.  We are lucky enough too not to have the dangerous powders you have in India.  Ours mostly consist of kumkum, chalk powder and a few with food colouring in the water pistols.  Pretty harmless, and a lot of fun.   Of course, the adults adhere to the more serious side of Holi.

[kullukid]

Here's a good link to a site explaining the meaning,customs,mythology & history of Holi.
http://www.holifesti...ry-of-holi.html
There's even a recipe for Bhang Priya!!     KK
http://www.holifesti...ng-recipes.html

[priya]

Sssshhhh, KK - there's also a link on the first post for a recipe!!!

[cyberhippie]

Here in Canacona the festivities are well under way and my bloated stomach will bear testament to this, we've had invites to eat from all and sundry. Tonight we'll attend our 4th feast! Jyoti you would love it traditional home cooked Goan food!!

The drums and ropes have been dusted down and a general feeling of well being pervades the air. Later this evening the color festivities will begin and everywhere from Chaudi to the smallest hamlet, you'll come across gangs of men festooned with garlands and colorful head gear, slowly beating time on the way to the next household on the list.
The rope dances are known to all, even 8-9 year old boys can perform the intricate patterns as they gyrate and step forming neat patterns formed by the individual ropes forming one.

Here in Canacona there's is a separate tradition that happens every two years three days before Holi : Hira Mare

Runners are prepared in for two months in the famous Mallikarjun Temple. These runners belong to a particular family who's duties have been handed down through the centuries.
Having been prepared for this special night, the runners set off along a age old prescribed route.
Locally the electricity is turned off for some 4 hours and side roads along the road blocked by an eagerly awaiting audience, it's wise not to be out at this time, as tradition has it that these runners should nor be disturbed along this holy path, at prescribed halts, gifts and sweets are heaped upon them, but they quickly move on, some say like ghosts in the night. Villagers believe that and uninterrupted journey will bring good luck to the village, and often if something untoward happens along the route to break the energy, villagers will harp back to this for every disaster that befalls the village in subsequent years.
This is tradition is as far as I know only to be seen in Canacona, even the neighboring provinces within Goa don't celebrate this, or  are even aware of it.