Holi
Holi
Aadhyatmik’s distinctive Holi observance intertwines the diverse tapestry of Indian culture by embracing the collective jubilation of Holi alongside other traditional spring festivals like Ugadhi, Sankranti, Bihu, and Puthandu. The Robbinsville Holi and Vasant Utsav events unite the community, fostering a celebration of heritage while also supporting charitable causes.
Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, Spring, and Love, stands as an ancient Hindu religious festival and holds a prominent position among Hindu festivities. It venerates the eternal love shared between Radha and Krishna and symbolizes the victory of righteousness as Lord Vishnu, incarnated as Narasimha Narayana, vanquished Hiranyakashipu.
Marking the advent of spring, the departure of winter, and the blooming of affection, Holi serves as a joyful occasion for many to come together, engage in playful revelry, set aside grievances, and mend fractured relationships.
The festival also serves as an invocation for a bountiful spring harvest season. It spans a night and a day, commencing on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon Day) in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, typically falling in mid-March. The initial evening, known as “Holika Dahan” or “Chhoti Holi,” precedes the following day, termed “Holi” or “Rangwali Holi.”
Holi festivities commence the night before with Holika Dahan, during which individuals congregate, engage in religious rituals around a bonfire, and beseech for the eradication of their inner malevolence, akin to the demise of Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, in the flames. The subsequent morning marks the celebration of Rangwali Holi, characterized by people smearing and dousing each other with colors. Groups often traverse from place to place, accompanied by drums and other musical instruments, singing and dancing. Throughout the day, people visit relatives, and adversaries and friends alike gather to converse, relish in food and drink, and partake in Holi delicacies.