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Holi
Amongst India's innumerable
festivals, Holi ranks as the most colourful. It celebrates the arrival
of spring and death of demoness Holika; it is a celebration of joy and
hope. Holi provides a refreshing respite from the mundane norms as people
from all walks of life enjoy themselves. In a tight knit community, it
also provides a good excuse for letting off some steam and settling old
scores, without causing physical injury.
Holi continues to be celebrated
with great vigour through out India. Countless Hindi films have brought
the vibrant colours of the festival to the screen. Indians all over the
world eagerly await the Festival of Colours, as bonfires are lit to banish
the cold dark nights of winter and usher in warmer spring. Dhuleti, day
after Holi, is the actual festival of colours, when everything in sight
is covered in a riot of colours..
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According to the legend
Hirankashyap was a very powerful Devil. In his fight against the Gods he
had defeated the Gods and because of this he became very egoistic and had
issued an order that no one should pray to God or even take the name of
God. Due to fear people started praying him. His son Pralhad was a true
devotee of God. He didn't obey his father's order. Hirankashyap got angry
on him and order for the most rigorous punishments to him. But this did
no harm to Pralhad. Hirankashyap had a sister by the name of Holika. She
had been granted a boon that fire will do no harm to her. Hirankashyap
ordered Holika to take Pralhad on her lap and sit on a bed of fire. Holika
was burnt in the fire and Pralhad survived with no harm done to him. As
a remembrance to that event, people celebrate Holi by burning wood and
pray to Goddess Holi for their well-being. |
Holi is a festival of joy and
colours. However, one should always be on alert to prevent any accident
that may mar all the fun and change the scene to a sad one. Here are some
Dos and Don'ts that are necessary to really enjoy Holi to its fullest.
Remember to use these precautions to enjoy the festival of Holi safely
Dental caps are a good idea
to protect you teeth from staining.
Sunglasses go a long way in
keeping your eyes safe from the harmful chemicals of the colours.
Wear old and ragged clothes
that you can easily discard while playing Holi, as your clothes may never
look wearable again with all those colour stains.
Wear full-sleeved t-shirts or
shirts and leggings that cover your legs fully. Socks will be a good idea
too.
Brightly collared and dark collared
clothes are preferable for the mood of the day.
Granted that it is almost impossible
to save you face from attack of colours, so while being attacked, keep
eyes and lips tightly closed.
If you are playing Holi, apply
a thick layer of coconut or any oil on your body and hair till they glisten
and become slippery. This will not only help in escaping from the frenzied
mob attack but also will help you to wash off colours easily later on.
If you are travelling, keep
the car windows tightly shut. Better still; avoid travelling on Dhuledi,
the day of playing colours.
Use a hat, cap or anything like
that to protect your hair from being collared with hard-to-rinse dyes.
Put on your worst gears so that
you won't have to take on the hassles of an immediate washing.
Do not bump into the frenzied
group of mob if you take to streets. Better you cross the road to the sidewalk
across. Or, simply stay at a safe distance.
While washing off the colour,
use lukewarm water and keep your eyes and lips tightly closed.
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