March is the month to welcome spring and different cultures around the world celebrate it in different ways, like few days back on 20th March it was the day of equinox and the beginning of spring season and in the Persian culture this day is celebrated as the New Year day. Likewise in Indian culture Holi is on the evening of the full moon of the Phalguna month which marks the beginning of Spring. This is the time when the farmers also start with the harvesting of their crops. Holi is also symbolic for victory of good over the evil. It's regarded as the festival of fertility. On the night before Holi a bonfire is made and lot of offerings are done in it like different types of grains and other things which symbolizes abundance in life.
There are a couple of stories behind this festival, but the one that I most believe in, is the one which was a part of my school studies. There was a king named Hiranyakashipu who was blinded by power and wanted to be considered as God in his kingdom, but his own son Prahalad refused to do that because he was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, Lord Vishnu is considered to be the God of Salvation. When Prahalad refused to bow down to his father, his father ordered his sister Holika to take Prahalad on her lap and sit on a pyre of fire. Holika was chosen for this because she had a special cloth that would protect her from fire but not Prahalad. When Holika sat on the pyre with Prahalad, he started praying to Lord Vishnu for protection. Even with the protection cloak around her Holika got burnt and Prahalad was safe being in the fire, nothing happened to him. It signified the victory of the good over evil. There is also a story of Radha and Krishna around Holi.
Holi is celebrated with colors. People come together and play Holi with colors. In some parts of India this festival gets celebrated in big and special ways, majorly in the North, like Mathura and Vrindavan, the birth place of Lord Krishna. I too enjoy celebrating this festival. Last year I was with my friends place where there was a big celebration in their society. This year too they had plans but I did not feel like celebrating it this year. This time I would like to spend some quiet time to myself.
During the day time I do not even wish to step out of my home as on the roads there is possibility of people throwing colors on you. Towards evening time, I will step out and visit the Temple near my home. Later in the evening I have plans to go by the sea side and spend some time at my favorite place Marine Drive. Tomorrow I will fly back to Muscat again, I am going with a little heavy heart this time but time will heal the wounds and I know it's going to be fine in a couple of days.
I wish all my Indian friends a very Happy Holi and may this festival of colors bring in lots of joy and abundance in to your lives
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