celebrated – Safe Holi

Holi Celebrations Around The World

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:29:18 +0000

Holi, often called the festival of colors, is a spring religious festival celebrated by Hindus where people throw coloured powder and coloured water at each other and make merry. The festival is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and any country where there are large Indic populations.

The tradition of playing with colours on Holi draws its roots from a legend of Radha and the Hindu God Krishna. It is believed that young Lord Krishna was jealous of Radha’s fair complexion. After questioning his mother Yashoda on the darkness of his complexion, Yashoda, teasingly asked him to colour Radha’s face in which ever colour he wanted. In a mischievous mood, Lord Krishna applied colour on Radha’s face, hence the tradition of applying color.

Below are pictures snapped yesterday on the eve of Holi in different parts of the world.

Devotees at the Swaminarayan Temple celebrate the Holi festival of colours with Indian heir to the Swaminarayan Temple, Lalji Maharaj Shri Vrajendraprasdaji Maharaj (unseen) at Swaminarayan Temple in Kalupur, Ahmedabad.

People apply coloured powder to a woman’s face as they celebrate Holi, also known as the festival of colours

Revelers celebrate the Indian festival of Holi on the deck of the ship Peking at South Street Seaport in Manhattan in New York City.

Indian women play with coloured powder during festivities marking Holi in Calcutta, India.

Pakistani Hindu children celebrate Holi at Swami Narain Temple in Karachi.

A Hindu devotee coloured by powder prostrates himself at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, about 140 kilometers from New Delhi, India. Vrindavan is a famous place for Holi celebrations, where according to legend, the Hindu god Krishna played Holi with his consort Radha.

People react after getting splashed by a bucket of water while celebrating the festival of Holi in Kathmandu.

Children smear coloured powder on each other during festivities marking Holi in Gauhati, India.

Holi associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:41:43 +0000

Holi is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha, the day begins with worshipping Krishna by lovingly smearing his idol with ‘gulal’ – the colours used to play Holi.

Krishna playing Holi with Gopis

This is a festival that is as much a gateway to celebrate the arrival of spring as much as it is a way to celebrate the season of love. According to the Hindu belief, Krishna was a reincarnation of lord Vishnu himself. It was Krishna, or, Krishn, the king of the ancient city of Dwarka, who popularised the tradition of Holi. The origin of the colorful and frolicking tone of Holi lies in the boyhood of Krishna. It all came up as part of his pranks, he used to play with his boyhood mates of Gokul and Vrindavan. Situated in north India, these are the places where he spent his childhood. It was at this time of year, Krishna used to play pranks by drenching the village girls, with water and colors. At first it offended the girls. But they were so fond of this mischievous boy that soon their anger melted away. And, it did not take long for other boys to join in, making it a popular sport in the village.

Radha & Krishna

When is Holi celebrated

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:12:53 +0000

Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), (PhalgunPurnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March.

The dates vary every year due to the fact that the Hindu calendar is based on solar cycles. This is a colorful festival celebrated with much joy and fervor all over northern India. The most famous Holi is played in Vrindavan-Mathura regions of the state of Uttar Pradesh. So if you are wondering as to when is Holi and want to know the date of Holi in 2012 and other following years, check this list below:

Holi 2012 – 8th March
Holi 2013 – 27th March
Holi 2014 – 17th March
Holi 2015 – 06th March
Holi 2016 – 23th March