HINDU FASTS & FESTIVALS : 6-6.

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6. Holi - 6.

All great Hindu festivals have religious, social and hygienic elements in them.

Holi is no exception.

Every season has a festival of its own.

Holi is the great spring festival of India.

Being an agricultural country, India’s two big festivals come during the harvest time when the barns and granaries of our farmers are full and they have reason to enjoy the fruits of their hard labour.

The harvest season is a festive season all over the world.


Man wants relaxation and change after hard work.

He needs to be cheered when he is depressed on account of work and anxieties.

Festivals like Holi supply him with the real food and tonic to restore his cheer and peace of mind.


The religious element in the Holi festival consists of worship of Krishna.

In some places it is also called the Dol Yatra.

The word dol literally means “a swing”.

An image of Sri Krishna as a babe is placed in a little swing-cradle and decorated with flowers and painted with coloured powders.

The pure, innocent frolics of little Krishna with the merry milkmaids (Gopis) of Brindavan are commemorated.

Devotees chant the Name of Krishna and sing Holi-songs relating to the frolics of little Krishna with the Gopis.

Swami Sivananda
 To be continued  ....




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