Holi, the festival of colors, is just around the corner and we can’t wait to celebrate this vibrant festival with family and friends. One of the biggest festivals in India after Diwali, it is celebrated with great pomp by Hindus around the world. Two days are dedicated to the festivities, with Dhulandi or Rangwali Holi followed by Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It takes place in the Hindu month of Phalguna, which falls between February and March. People celebrate the day with balloons, flowers, water and colors. Elders and children apply gulal to each other and seek blessings from their elders. From history to significance, scroll down to know more. (Also read: Widow Holi 2024 in Vrindavan: Date, history, significance and everything you need to know ,
Holi 2024 Date: When is Holi and its auspicious time?
This year, Holi is on Monday, March 25 and Holika Dahan is on March 24. According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious times are as follows:
Purnima Tithi Start – 24 March 2024 from 09:54 am
Purnima tithi ends – 25 March 2024 at 12:29 pm
History and significance of Holi 2024
Holi is a festival celebrating the victory of good over evil and the heavenly love shared by Lord Krishna and Radha. It is also celebrated as a harvest festival to honor the arrival of spring and the end of winter. According to Hindu mythology, Radha was very fair and Lord Krishna had dark complexion. Due to their different skin color, Krishna was often worried whether Radha would accept him or not and complained to his mother Yashoda. Yashoda once jokingly suggested that Krishna paint Radha’s face a different color to hide any differences. Krishna followed his mother’s advice and applied gulal on Radha’s face. And thus the celebration of Holi began.
Another legend associated with Holi tells the story of King Hiranyakashipu, his son Prahlad, who was a follower of Lord Vishnu, and his aunt Holika, a demon. According to Indian mythology, Hiranyakashipu was granted a boon due to which both humans and animals could not kill him. That’s why he made them worship him. But Hiranyakashipu told his sister Holika to kill her son by sitting on the pyre and cover herself with a cloth to protect herself from the flames, because the boy had become a follower of Lord Vishnu and started worshiping him. Had refused. But for his protection, Prahlad prayed to Lord Vishnu, who in response sent a gust of wind which blew the cloth away from Holika towards him. Therefore, a day before Holi, Holika Dahan is celebrated to commemorate the victory of good over evil.
Holi 2024 Celebrations:
The Braj region, which includes Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan, Gokul, Nandgaon and Barsana, is associated with Lord Krishna and is the site of grand celebration of the festival of Holi. World famous Holi celebrations include Vrindavan’s Phulwali Holi and Barsana’s traditional Holi Lathmar Holi. The festival is celebrated for two days, Rangwali Holi, also known as Dhulandi, and Chhoti Holi, also known as Holika Dahan. On Holika Dahan, people light bonfires to symbolize the victory of good over evil. They wake up early the next day and play with colors or gulal. Children play with their friends by pouring water into balloons and toy guns. Sweets and thandai specially prepared for the festival are also enjoyed by the public.
