Holi 2023: How Is Holi Traditionally And Spiritually Celebrated?

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Holi is a 2-5-day celebration depending on regional preferences. It is known in various regions as Hori, Dolyatra. Hutashani mahotsav, holikadahan, kama dahanm vasantotsav or vasantaagamanotsav. It is an occasion where the basic instincts of man are conquered and this is celebrated as Holi. The spiritual significance is that the participants of Holi festival take a unanimous pledge to burn away their bad habits and renew their faith in Lord Vishnu, or the savior aspect of the holy Trinity.

Legends

1. There was a demoness by name Dhoundha who was fond of devouring small children. She entered a village one fine day and tortured the children in the area, she also generated incurable diseases. People abused her and cursed her, lit a fire and a set of wild kids chased her with sticks. Since she was cursed to meet her death in the hands of some unruly kids, she died as a response to this attack by kids.
2. In North India, an effigy of Putana, is burnt on the Holi night. Three days before Holi Bal Krishna is placed in a cradle and worshipped. On the Phalgun Poornima night Putana's effigy is burnt.
3. Lord shiva was always engaged in tapasya, due to which Madana or Kama was provoked to send a flower arrow in Lord Shivas direction. When Lord Shiva opened his third eye due to rage, Madana or Kama was burnt alive. Unable to hold her grief, his wife Rati pleads Lord Shiva to restore life back to him. And he survived in an invisible form. Hence on this day, the madan effigy is burnt to prove that Holi has a sway over even kama the God of Lust. Holi pyre has to be lit in front of a temple of a Gramdevata ideally, on the evening of Poornima

How To Worship Holika

In the middle portion of the fire one has to have an Areca nut tree around which cow dung cakes and wood are set up. After a bath, the worshipper should take a sankalpa or pledge that he and his family will worship Holika to get rid of the evil effects of Dhoundha.

After the Puja and Prasad distribution, saying a mantra to Holika, the pyre should be lit after which pradakshina has to be carried out around the pyre. This is when, holding palm over the mouth, the gives a shrill whistle and then pyre should be put out by pouring milk and ghee over it. Now fruits as Prasad, should be distributed to people gathered there.

The entire night, singing and dancing have to be done as a holi routine.The holi ash is so sacred that, it will cure mental and physical diseases if you dab it on your body and take bath the next day morning. After this, the remaining ash should be immersed in flowing water body after shouting out some expletives.

The expletives are uttered to calm down the aggression and evil in our mindset. Hence this is a norm for the day of Holi. Pray to the Holi God now. See that you burn dry wood only and do not beg borrow or steal wood for the Holi bonfire.

Lathimar Holi and Dhooli vandan are types of Holi carried out with different purposes. Although Lathimar Holi is a primitive game, certain modifications have been done to suit civilized tastes. Holikotsav, Dhulikotsav and Rangotsav are the three festivals that are very popular.

On the day of Dhoolivandan either the ashes of Holi or dust is worshipped on the Phalgun Pratipada day with a Lakshmi mantra. While Dhoolivandan involves worshipping of the destroyer aspect of the deities, Rangapanchami worships the savior form of deities. Rang Panchami is celebrated on the Panchami in the Krishna paksha of Phalguna.