There was a great devotee, Prahlad. He was the son
of Hiranyakashyapu who hated God. Despite the persecution by his
father, Prahlad did not stop chanting and remembering the name of
God. Hiranyakashyap tried various methods of killing his son but
Prahlad came away unharmed every time. Prahlad's aunt Holika had a
boon that fire cannot kill her, and thus she offered to sit in the
fire with her nephew seated in her lap. But, it was the wicked
Holika who was destroyed in the fire, and not Prahlad. To celebrate
the occasion, people build a huge bonfire on the eve of Holi.
On the following day, they celebrate Holi by
throwing and smearing colored powder and squirting colored water on
one another. The festival of Holi is celebrated on the day after the
full moon in March.
In Braj, Holi festivities begin from Barsana Holi
which is about 8 days earlier than the actual Holi. It is the second
largest festivity of Barsana when thousands and thousands of people
arrive from around Braj to watch the most spectacular and amazing
style of ‘Barsana Holi celebration.’ After that, Holi is celebrated
in different styles in various places of Braj at different dates.
The lanes of Vrindaban become red as all the people play Holi with
colored powder and water sprayed from pichkaris (special
squirts). Everyone is covered in color. Traditional songs called
rasiya are sung on Holi. Sweets are distributed and friends and
family come together to celebrate fostering social harmony.
On Holi Shree Maharajji showers his Grace and love
on all the souls who are blessed to participate in the joyous
celebration of the festival of colors. Shree Maharajji comes from
his residence to play Holi with the devotees. A large stage, which is
decorated with beautiful flowers, is specially erected for this
occasion. Tons of gulal (pink powder) is kept in buckets on
the stage and is thrown in abundance, covering all the devotees and
creating colorful clouds over the enthusiastic crowd of thousands of
devotees. On Holi, we chant Holi pads and rasiyas that
describe the Holi leelas of Radha Krishn.
This is also the day when Shree Chaitanya
Mahaprabhuji appeared on the earth planet, so it is one of the most
auspicious days for the devotees of Radha Krishn.
