Have a wonderful year filled with peace, prosperity, happiness. Happy Holi!

HOLI

                     Holi is one of the most festive, joyous holidays of the Hindu year.  Holi is celebrated from the full moon day (Pournimā) of the Hindu lunar month of Phālgun until the fifth day ( Rang Panchamī). Depending on regional variations, it is celebrated from two to five days. It has various names such as Hori, Dolayatra in North India, Shimga, Holi and Hutashani mahotsav, Holikadahan (burning of Holika) in Goa, Konkan and Maharashtra, and Kamadahan (burning of desires) in South India. One can also call it Vasantotsav or Vasantagamanotsav that is the festival celebrated to welcome the Vasant (spring) season.

                      Shri Vishnu performed Dhoolivandan at the beginning of Tretayuga. The implied meaning is, Lord Vishnu began His 'work' through the incarnation of various radiant colors. Rang panchami, played without Dhoolivandan signifies the 'Play' (Leela) of the Incarnation, which is manifest in the forms of various colors. The Dhoolivandan is the worship of the destroyer form of the Deities. The fire, which shines with its brilliance on Holi, decomposes the raja-tama particles in the atmosphere and this helps activate various Deities in the form of colors. This bliss is celebrated by throwing colors in the air.

The story of HOLI :  In some parts of India the story is told on Holi of Kamadeva (God of Love;Cupid), whom Lord Shiva burned to ashes as he tried to seduce Him out of His meditation. The message is: Holi is a celebration of divinity and discipline over passion. celebrate love, but don’t be carried away.

           The Puranas describe Holi as a celebration of virtue over vice. Prahlaad was a young,  pure, divine devotee of God. However, Prahlaad’s father was a powerful king who believed that everyone should worship him. At Prahlaad’s refusal to do so, due to his single-minded love of God, his father decided to have him killed. Prahlaad’s aunt (his father’s sister), Holika, had been given a special shawl as a boon from God for various austerities she had performed. When she wore this shawl, she could not be burned by fire. Therefore, Prahlaad’s father and his sister devised a plan in which she would wear her shawl and hold Prahlaad tightly in her arms as they sat in fire. In this way, Prahlaad would be killed. However, as divine plan works, a strong gust of wind came and blew the shawl off of her, as well as carried pure Prahlaad to safety. Holika was burned in the fire of her own evil and immorality.

Significance of Holi :  One of the great obstacles in life to our spiritual progress is the difference between what we do or say on the outside and how we really are on the inside. Holika on the outside, she was “pious.” But, on the inside, she was not pure. Prahlaad, was a simple, pure, loving devotee of God. This is what saved him. This inner purity and inner piety are what truly save us, what truly make our lives divine. So many of us go to the temple, do the rituals, offer money to the priests, and chant a certain number of Malas and Mantras. Then, we go out and act in selfish, unpious, dishonest ways. It may simply be the way we speak to our loving children, spouse, family members, or friends. It may simply be the way we try to cheat those with whom we do business. It may be the way we sit and gossip about others.  Any rituals and puja in the world cannot make up for a lack of piety, honesty, and compassion. The goal of going to temple is not just to perform rituals; the goal is to become spiritual. God is happier with pure, innocent, devoted Prahlaad than with all the austerities and rituals performed by his father and aunt.
               One meaning of the word Holi is sacrifice. On Holi, we light so many bonfires to revel in joy and to burn the effigies of Holika. The meanings of these bonfires are to burn that which is devilish and impure, leaving only the purity and divinity after Holi. We must remember to sacrifice that within us, which is devilish and impure. There is some demon-nature in all of us. We must burn that demon-nature on Holi and emerge as pure and pious as divine Prahlaad. Thus, on this divine occasion, we should pray to be filled with the purity and devotion of Prahlaad. We should commit ourselves to performing our puja, meditation, and japa with focus, dedication, and deep love for God. We must have an ever-burning bonfire of impurity, so that we are continuously renewed, continuously purified, and continuously rejuvenated. On Holi, we sing loudly in the Hindi language: “Holi I, Holi I, Holi I….” However, let us not just chant this rhyme; rather, let us truly pray to God that on this day “I” may become holy. Our “eye” may become holy, that we may be granted the divine vision by which we behold Him in all whom we see. Let us pray that through our holy eye, we never are led toward anger, greed, desire, or jealousy. In that way, our lives, our hearts, and our souls will be forever protected, at His holy feet.

LET THIS HOLI BE A TIME WHEN WE CHANGE ,NOT ONLY THE COLOR OF OUR FACES,
                                                BUT THE COLOR OF OUR HEARTS.
                                                              LET US NOT ONLY “PLAY” HOLI,  BUT LET US BECOME HOLY.

HAPPY HOLI……HAPPY HOLI…. WITH LOVE & HARMONY

May the shines of this Holi brighten your path towards progress and continued success.   May this splendid festival spread colorful joy, wealth, celebration and remove  ignorance in your life.  
 Have a wonderful year filled with peace, prosperity,  happiness. Happy Holi! From Dilip,Rita, Mom to Kishan forever