WHENCE COLOUR FLOURISHED -- ON YOURS FLOWERS!
Huma Mubeen/Hardoi
The local stories and legends
added Hardoi to many incidents and persons in ancient history. a water source
named fame as BrahmaVert at bank of Dahar lake in Adampur near Sandi. It is said
that the master of universe, Brahma, rested here during his initial
pilgrimage. These traditions and
people's saying are in fame that the city, Hardoi, had been established by the
demon king, Hiranyakashyap who was against the God. Consequently the place was
well known as 'Haridrohi' which is now Hardoi.
The festival of colours is going
to celebrate by Hindu community on March 23rd.
The festival is the indicator of
truth victory on evil. The sister of Hiranyakashipu, Holika, had a sari was
blessed by lord Narad that the sari would never burn in fire.
Holika had an idea she would never burn if she
sat having worn the blessed sari in fire.
Hiranyakashipu was puzzled with
the activities of his son, Prahlad who used to sing the glory of god sri
Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu was in boast of his prowess and felt himself the winner
of universe. He wanted his son should not respect god Vishnu. Prahlad was in
his childhood. His aunt Holika (father’s sister) told her brother that if she
took him in her lap and sit on pyre, she would remain safe in fire and Prahlad
would burn to ashes.
Her advice was feasible to her
brother so he gave his tacit acceptance to perform the trick.
Holika wore the sari which was
blessed not to burn in fire. She took child Prahlad in her lap and sat in pyre.
Prahlad was continue to chant the name god Vishnu. The sari and Prahlad was
safe and Holika was burn to ashes.
The people seeing the supernatural power of God
to safe Prahlad’s dedication celebrated as Holi festival.
Even today,
people enact the scene of 'Holika's burning to ashes' every year to mark the
victory of good over evil. In
several states of India, specially in the north, effigies of Holika are burnt
in the huge bonfires that are lit. There is even a practice of hurling cow
dungs into the fire and shouting obscenities at it as if at Holika. Then
everywhere one hears shouts of 'Holi-hai! Holi-hai!'.
The tradition of burning 'Holika' is religiously followed in Gujarat and Orissa also. Here, people render their gratitude to Agni, the god of fire by offering gram and stalks from the harvest with all humility.
The tradition of burning 'Holika' is religiously followed in Gujarat and Orissa also. Here, people render their gratitude to Agni, the god of fire by offering gram and stalks from the harvest with all humility.
