HINDU TEMPLE  OF KENTUCKY

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It is also a celebration of triumph of the traditional good, over the evil as the legend says. Etymologically Holi nurtures a mythological reference as is common to the most other national ethno cultural festival. It is the legend of Hiranyakashipur, the Tyrant conceded an arrogant monarch, to whom the celebration of Holi is associated. Blind with high ambition, Hiranyakashipur vide for the absolutely and ultimate power so that he could be worshipped as a God. However, his won son, little Prahalad, an ardent devotee of lord Vishnu, refuses to obey his father. Prahalad's complete allegence to lord Vishnu, one of the supreme troika maneuvering the life and death in the universe, as believed in the Hindu mythology, enriched the king, and he decided to punish his son severely. So he asked Holika, his sister, for help. As Holika was immune to fire, the king asked Holika to sit at the center of a flaming pyre with Prahalad in her lap. The intention was that Prahalad will be devoured by the fire. Accordingly, the fire was lit and Holika entered into it, with Prahalad. Yet Prahalad emerged unscathed by the fire while Holika was burned to ashes.

The form of devotion and submission of Prahallad to Vishnu the God, and hence the symbol of good spirits and love saved him.

He conquered even the death, while Holika, the representative of evil, was perished. The good over the evil prevailed. From Holika to Holi that celebration that mark the triumph of the good over the evil. People celebrate this occasion even today. The evening before the Full moon night of the Holi, by lighting up huge bonfires.

However, Holi in its present mould and spirit of colorfulness is attributed to the legends of Krishna, and reincarnation of lord Vishnu himself, as the legend says. The colorful and frolicking tone of Holi was popularized by Srikrishna, who used to play with his boyhood mates, comprising the boys and girls of Gokul and Vrindaban, where he spent his childhood, with colors and long syringes called "Pitchkaris" o this full moon day of march. Infact Holi gave a new dimention to the legend of Krishna's courtship with Radha, and playing pranks with the girls, or the Gopis, as they were known locally. This way the playfully mischievous spirit of Krishna, and the youth of Vrindaban, came to be associated with the celebration of Holi. In fact this tradition has transpired through the ages, turning it into a community festival of the masses.

GENERAL INFO

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 provided 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.

Twin towns of Nandagow ( where Lord Krishna grew up ) and Barsana ( where Shri Radha grew up ), near Mathura, are the epicentre of the celebrations. Lord Krishna, while growing up in Vraj, popularised the festival with his ingenious pranks. Gopies of Vraj responded with equal enthusiasm and the festivities have continued ever since. Role reversal, feminism etc. are accepted customs for the duration of the festival! Men and women of Vraj clash in a colourful display of battle of the sexes.

Celebrations start a week earlier than rest of India. Men of Nandagow raid Barsana with hopes of raising their flag over Shri Radhikaji's temple. They receive a thunderous welcome as the women of Barsana greet them with long wooden sticks. The men are soundly beaten as they attempt to rush through town to reach the relative safety of Shri Radhikaji's temple. Men are well padded as they are not allowed to retaliate. In this mock battle the men try their best not to be captured. Unlucky captives can be forcefully lead away, thrashed and dressed in female attire before being made to dance!!

Rush through Barsana is far more lethal than running with the bulls in Spain, at least you don't have to marry them one day! Famous poets like Surdas, Nand-das, Kumbhan-das and others, have written beautifully as to how Lord Krishna was similarly received and forced to wear a sari, forced to wear make-up and made to dance before being released by the gopies of Vraj.

The next day, men of Barsana reciprocate by invading Nandagow. Clouds of pink and white powder mark the frenzy of activity taking place in it's narrow streets. A naturally occurring orange-red dye, Kesudo, is used to drench all participants. Today, the women of Nadagow beat the invaders from Barsana.

The next day, the temples in Vrindavan celebrate the festival with great guesto. The renowned temple of Bakai-Bihari, the beloved lord of the 15th century saint Haridas, is at the centre of the festivities. Clouds of pink and white descend upon the pilgrims, as the Lord of Vrindavan plays holi with all his beloved visitors.

The festival moves on to other parts of Vraj. Soon enough, it is Dhulati and entire India celebrates the joys of spring as the "festival of colour".

Gulal-Kund in Vraj is a beautiful little lake, set in a delightful groves near the mountain Goverdhan, in the Mathura district. Here the festival is commemorated on a more regular basis. Pilgrims who visit the holy land of Vraj, can see the re-enactments of Holi throughout the year at this lake. Local boys, acting in the Krishna-Lila drama troupes re-enact the scenes of holi for the pilgrims.

Royal courts all over North India refined the festival in to an art form of its own. Rajput warriors of the Rajasthani courts used to show off their equestrian skills during the festival. Rajput men would ride their steeds through the white and pink clouds of colour, throwing colour powders on each other. Even the members of the royal families were not immune from being drenched by colour. The entire court would be drenched in saffron water and an orange-red dye of the "kasuda" flowers.

Pushti-Marga temples, spread throughout North and Western States of India, celebrate the festival in a way reminiscent of rajput courts. The Deity, and the laity, are liberally sprinkled with perfumes, saffron water, kesudo, and covered in sandalwood aswell as the white and pink powder, abil and gulal. Joyous celebration is accompanied by classical music, poetry and folk songs appropriate for the occasion. Deity's white clothes' are soon transformed into a mass of colour as gold and silver syringes spray colourful water on all participants.

The celebrations officially usher in the pleasant season of love, spring. In the Pushti-Marga temples, the festivities last for almost a month. Beginning on the day of Vasant-Panchami, the festivals last till the day after Holi. This helps prolong the season of joy.