The Regal offerings for Holi'07 are : |
Holi, one of the most popular of Indian festivals is, celebrated at a time when the seasons change, when winter gives way to spring. For the farmer, this is a period of welcome respite between the hard days of crop raising and crop harvesting.
In this interim, Holi, a two-day festival, heralds merriment and rejoicing.
The first day celebrates the theme of the triumph of good over evil, while the second day is an expression of the universal brotherhood of man. Gulal, or coloured powder signifying the hues of spring is sprinkled liberally on friends family, strangers…dissolving all differences of social status, age, gender and class.
Holika Dahan, which is being celebrated in the City Palace is the first day of the festival. It derives its significance from the ancient Indian myth, which goes like this:
There once lived a powerful and malevolent king, Hiranya Kashyap who had a son called Prahlad. From his early childhood Prahlad was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. The father disapproved of his son's dedication, but he failed to prevail upon his son to discontinue his devotion to Lord Vishnu. In his wrath, Hiranya Kashyap tried several methods to have Prahlad assassinated. The king had a sister called Holika. Holika had been granted a boon by the gods that if she were to undergo a 'fire-bath', alone, her many sins would be redeemed. Holika conspired with her brother Hiranya Kashyap and undertook a 'fire-bath' with young Prahlad on her lap. During this ritual by fire, Holika was reduced to ashes and Prahlad emerged unscathed.
Thus, symbolically, Holi is the triumph of divine power over demonic strength. |
