Holi celebrations have begun in India, where the two-day festival is marked with colours.
The Fagu festival or Holi is being celebrated on by smearing ´Abeer´ or red vermilion powder and throwing colour and water-filled balloons at each other. An important festival for all Indian people, Holi begins on the eighth day of the new moon and ends with the burning of the “Chir´, which was installed earlier, on the full moon day. The festival of Fagu or Holi is a government holiday. The festival has been linked with the burning of Holika. People come and bow at burning of Holi fire. In modern times, use of eco friendly Holi. Mostly, youth celebrate Holi among their group. Some parts of India have their own ways of celebration. Most people play Holi with water. “Tomato Holi” is celebrated in Ahmedabad, in order to celebrate Holi in a unique way.
Traditionally, Holi festival revolves around the mythology of the demon king Hiranya Kashyapu ordering his sister Holika to enter a fire with Pralhad, son of the demon king and a devout follower of Lord Bishnu, in her lap so that Pralhad would stop chanting the name of the Lord. The catch was that Holika wouldn´t burn in the fire because of a boon she had received from god. But it so happened that the fire burnt Holika whereas Pralhad remained unharmed and came out of the fire still chanting the name of god.Then onwards, the festival is being celebrated by smearing colour in enjoyment.There is also a saying that Lord Bishnu had told Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if it was misused.Revelry in the form of pelting pedestrians with water-filled balloons from the upper windows of houses usually marks the festival.
