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Holi is one
of Hinduism's most colourful festivals. Holi heralds the end of
winter and the beginning of the spring.
It is a joyous
celebration of the rejuvenation of nature and renewed hope of happiness
and peaceful coexistence. It occurs on the full moon day of the
month Phaalguna (the 10th month of the Indian calendar).
The night before
the full moon, crowds of people gather together and light huge bonfires
to burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of winter.
Huge cardboard
statues of demoness Holika are burnt during Holi recalling the story
of her death by fire. Holi
is also a celebration of the death of Pootna - a demon representing
winter and darkness - who nearly killed Lord Krishna.
The
fire is meant to signify the destruction of evil. The heat from
the fire is also a reminder that winter is over.
On holi day
everyone gets dressed up and joyfully sprinkles gulal, a coloured
powder, on everyone else. The exuberant display of colours symbolises
the advent of a colourful and prosperous spring season.
Krishna is a
key figure in Holi celebrations. He is is the ultimate lover with
his 'gopikas' - beautiful women who Krishna forever seems to be
chasing.
Holi is the
time when people from all castes and social strata come together
forgetting all past differences and grievances. Every year it succeeds
in bridging the social gap, between employers and employees, men
and women.
People visit
homes, distribute sweets and apply gulal yo each other. They greet
each other, embracing three times. Holi is also marked by vibrant
processions, which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general
sense of abandoned gaiety.
More than 15,000
Leicester people will be celebrating in Temple Cossington and Spinney
Hill Park and at
Loughborough's Shri Ram Krishna temple.
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