Hundreds of Hindus will celebrate the joy and mirth brought by Basanta Pooranmashi (Spring Full moon) by throwing colored powder and water at each other on Dhuli Vandana, Dhulheti, or Dhulendi (the main day of Holi) today . Holi, the Hindu festival of colors and love, is celebrated every year at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month that marks the arrival of spring (February-March). The practice of applying colors to the faces of loved ones started when Lord Krishna’s mother applied some color to Radha’s face to hide the contrast between her son’s dark skin and his lover’s (Radha) fair skin.
The ritual became a common practice when some people in Bengal started spraying colored water at each other with bamboo syringes while following the traditions of the playful Lord of love, Krishna. Devotees visited Krishna temples and put red color on the idol as a symbol of love, passion and desire and then distributed the color amongst all community members to share the acquired blessings and prosperity. Just one day before the Holi festival, small bonfires are lit to commemorate the burning of the evil demoness Holika who, according to Vaishnava Theology, died in the fire that she had lit to kill her brother Prahlada who was saving the Heavens from destruction. The Basanta-Utsav (spring festival) celebrations will last for a fortnight.
Let the colours play
