Holi in India

India is a land of customs, traditions and rituals followed with festivals and social ceremonies. Holi, the 'Festival of Colors' is celebrated in India af the end of winter season i.e. in February or March. Holi in India is celebrated in almost every state and region. According to Hindu mythology, the origin of Holi lies in the story of Hiranya Kashipu, a cruel king who was father of Prahlad. He got boon from God Shiva that nobody could kill him. This boon made the king become more powerfull than God and even he ordered all the people to start worshipping him. But his son, Prahalad, was great devotee of Lord Vishnu so he denied worshipping his father and kept on chanting, "Ram, Ram, Ram.". This made Hiranyakashyap so much angry that he ordered his soldiers to kill Prahlad but everytime he came alive. Hiranya Kashipu decided to set fire for Prahlad to be seated in Holika's (Hiranya Kashipu's sister) lap. His sister had a magical ohri who protect her from fire. The father said his son, "Now I'll see how your Vishnu is going to protect you?". And in a moment, holika burnt in fire and again Prahlad came unhurt from the fire because God Vishnu was protecting his great devotee, Prahlad. Since then the tradition of holika dahan is being practised. Now about the holi of colors. Indians love to play holi with water, gulal, pichkari, balloons and other material to have enjoyable time together. This festival of colors denotes the love story of Krishna and Radha.

Holi in Braj

Braj ki holi is famous for its unique celebration because braj bhoomi covers various places of God Krishna's birth, childhood and places where radha-krishna used to meet each other. Vrindavan, Barasana, Mathura, Phalen, Gokul, Nandagao and various other places are covered in Braj bhuumi. Holi in Braj area usually start a week earlier where kids play each other with flowers thats why it is called fulo ki holi. The young and adults play 'lathmaar holi'. The word lathmaar itself describes the use of wooden sticks in playing holi with men-women. People can have idea about the sort of celebrations made on holi in Braj through these free pictures, images and photos.

Holi Songs

Songs have become an essential part of the Holi celebrations in India because film industry has given famous songs on holi festival for the entertainment of people. These holi songs has filled vibrant energy and enthusiasm in people to play holi with their families, friends, relatives and all dearones. Here, we have mentioned few famous holi songs of the bollywood movies whose music and lyrics has added fun to the holi celebration.

• Phagan Aayo re... - Phagun.
• Holi khele Raghubeera awadh mein Holi khele Raghubeera... - Baghban.
• Rang Barse bheege chunar vali rang barse.... - Silsilay.
• Holi Ke Din... - Sholay.
• Aaj na chodenge bas humjoli khelenge hum holi... - Kati Patang.

Holi 2009 Cards

Holi is the Indian festival of colors celebrated every year on Phalgun Purnima in the February end or early March. This festival of spring begins with lighting up of bonfire on the Holi eve with special puja archana at the time of holika dahan. Special rituals like taking round circle of the bonfire, taking away ash of the fire and lots other are practised. And in the next morning the play of colors and water begins as dhulendi. So, according to hindu calendar, holi 2009 is going to fall on Wednesday, the 11th of March and will continue for 2 days. So, we can say, 11th march night is the day of holika dahan and 12th march morning is the dhulendi day. So, don't forget to enjoy our holi 2009 cards and greetings available for free to all users.

Holi Recipes

Enjoy the festival of colors with these delicacies prepared with love for the festival of holi. There are both vegeterian and non-vegeterian recipes for holi festival which are famous for their delicious taste and look. Please find below few holi recipes for food dishes like gujia, sweet rice, aaloo chaat, puran poli, bhang-ke-vade and lots more. So, get ready to show your art of hands by serving these tasty and delicious holi recipes including sweet dish, snacks and other food.

Holi Food

Holi is an important and special day for all hindus in India who celebrate this day as a festival. Every year on holi special dishes are prepared by women of the house to delight the festive spirit of holi. Traditional and delicious food dishes of the holi are sweet rice, meat dishes like kofta curry, kanji vada, daal kachori, dahi vada and other holi food. These lovelable sweet dishes and snacks are prepared to celebrate holi in a very special way. Thandai with bhang is the specialty of holi celebration. So try out these holi food dishes with love to make a special place in your loved ones hearts.

Holi Wallpapers

Holi is a festival of colors and water. It brings people close together with the arrival of spring festival. So get ready with your water balloons, gulal and pichkari to drench everyone. Wish all with happy holi by applying gulal on each other faces. Give your desktops colorful look with different colors of holi festival by setting these holi wallpapers for free through our free gallery of wallpapers and screen savers.

Holi Celebration Cards

Holi is one of the famous festival celebrated in India as the spring festival of India. It is also known as the festival of colors which begins on Duwadashi. There are various legends behind holi celebration. Most popular is the story of Prahlad, his father and god Vishnu. Holi also displays the immortal love of Krishna and Radha. Every year holi is celebrated in the month of march or april depending upon the hindu calendar. The festival begins by lighting bonfires on the holi night to display holika dahan (victory of good over bad). And in the next morning, the play of colors (gulal) with water begins as dhulendi. Bhang (intoxicating drinks and sweets) are taken in the form of bhang ke ladduu or bhang ka dhudh as the gift of Vishnu ji. So enjoy these holi celebration cards to drench your dearones and nearones with whole lots of water and gulal. Holi will be celebrated on March 11th - 2009.

Holika Dahan

Holika Dahan is an important event celebrated as on the eve of Holi festival. Holika Dahan is basically lighting bonfire and chanting Rakshoghna Mantras of the Rig Veda to ward off evil spirits. There is a legend behind the tradition of holika dahan. This day is celebrated in the memory of Prahlad's victory and the defeat of his aunt 'Holika'. Hiranyakashyap, father of Prahlad wishes that everyone should worship him instead any other god. But Prahlad was followed Lord Vishnu and never worshipped his father. The angry father instructed his sister 'holika' to sit in fire with Prahalad in her lap. She was blessed with a boon but the opposite happened. Prahlad survived from fire but his aunt 'holika' burnt in the fire. This marks the victory of good over bad.

Thats why every year, on the eve of Holi, holika dahan is practised by throwing unwanted wood, dried leaves and other burning material in the fire.

The Festival of Colors

Holi, the festival of colors, is celebrated in mid Spring every year in India with great fervor and enthusiasm. During Holi, people attend public bonfires at night and in the morning, the real play of colors and water begins between friends and families. Even people visit their near and dear ones and exchange sweets. This festival of colors celebrates the victory of good over evil and lot of joy. So, enjoy this festival to have it rememorable one.