Happy HOLI - 2010

I wish I could share my personal photos of the holi but that might be a danger to my anonymity.
So, from the net, here are few of the photographs that I liked and well captures the spirit of HOLI.

why is holi celebrated?

I am busy preparing snacks for Holi tomorrow.
So just copying the story from Wiki.

As per Hindu Mythology, Hiranyakashipu is the king of demons, and he had been granted a boon by Brahma, which made it almost impossible for him to be killed. The boon was due to his long penance, after which he had demanded that he not be killed "during day or night; inside the home or outside, not on earth or on sky; neither by a man nor an animal; neither by astra nor by shastra". Consequently, he grew arrogant, and attacked the Heavens and the Earth. He demanded that people stop worshipping gods and start praying to him.

Despite this, Hiranyakashipu's own son, (Prahlada), was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. In spite of several threats from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada continued offering prayers to Lord Vishnu. He was poisoned but the poison turned to nectar in his mouth. He was ordered to be trampled by elephants yet remained unharmed. He was put in a room with hungry, poisonous snakes and survived. All of Hiranyakashipu's attempts to kill his son failed. Finally, he ordered young Prahlada to sit on a pyre on the lap of his sister, Holika, who could not die by fire by virtue of a shawl which would prevent fire affecting the person wearing it. Prahlada readily accepted his father's orders, and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as the shawl flew from Holika, who then was burnt to death, while Prahlada survived unharmed, after the shawl moved to cover him. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi.


Radha and the Gopis celebrating Holi, with accompaniment of music instrumentsLater Lord Vishnu came in the form of a Narasimha (who is half-man and half-lion) and killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk (which was neither day nor night), on the steps of the porch of his house (which was neither inside the house nor outside) by restraining him on his lap (which is neither in the sky nor on the earth) and mauling him with his claws (which are neither astra nor shastra).

how indians celebrate holi?

Holi is festival of colors, so colors of course play an important role in how Holi is played.

In most of the places in India, on pen-ultimate eve of Holi, a bonfire is carried out. Holi bonfire is also known as Holika Dahan. It symbolizes the fire which burnt Holika and left Prahlad unaffected.

On next day, Holi is celebrated, also known as dulhendi, using colors and water. People color each other's face with gulal of different colors. Next comes squirting of colored water using pichkaris and balloons filled with water.

In Barsana, UP, people play Lath Mar Holi in premises of Radha Rani temple. Females beat up men with sticks and men try to protect with shields. It's one of the most famous Holi's of India. Lots of people visit barsana to take part in Lath Mar Holi.

Traditional food for Holi eve is Gujjia and Thandai with Bhang.

Mahashivratri - 2010

It is one of the Indian festivals and specially celebrated by all Lord Shiva's follower. If you want to read more about same, read in Wiki.

Wishes from my side: "Om Namah Shivay"

My favorite part, off from office and long weekend. :)

Let's have some of the photographs of Lord Shiva.

Happy Republic Day

India became independent on 15 August 1947 and became republic on 26 January 1950. We get a holiday on this day. As a kid my ritual of the day used to be getting up at 8 and switch on TV, and this continues till date.

I love watching India Gate and all the proceedings there. Then that 3 hour long parade where forces, culture all conglomerate to display diversified India. I love it. I can do it 365 days but 26th January is special day to do this.

I am going to take an off from writing today, and just pasting some of my favorite photographs of the day.

Happy Republic Day to everyone :)

Our lohri celebrations of last year

Lohri is one of my favorite festival. I don't wanna post anything today, so find here some of the photos of my last year's lohri celebrations.

front view of our bonfire

view from terrace

when we ended our celebration

Lohri

Happy Lohri to me and all of you

Its an Indian harvest festival, North Indian to be specific, which is celebrated on 13th January every year. It's celebrated in night, when family and friends all get together in outdoors and have a bonfire. Everybody revolves around bonfire 7 times and offers peanuts, popcorns and sweets to bonfire. This is followed by loud punjabi songs and dances.

One of the most famous lohri folk song goes like this:

Sunder mundriye ho!

Tera kaun vicaharaa ho!

Dullah bhatti walla ho!

Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho!

Ser shakkar payee ho!

Kudi da laal pathaka ho!

Kudi da saalu paatta ho!

Salu kaun samete!

Chache choori kutti!

zamidara lutti!

Zamindaar sudhaye!

bade bhole aaye!

Ek bhola reh gaya!

Sipahee far ke lai gaya!

Sipahee ne mari eet!

Sanoo de de lohri te teri jeeve jodi!

Bhaanvey ro te bhaanvey pit!

Happy Birthday babaji

Yesterday was Guru Gobind Singh Ji jayanti. I am a firm believer in Sikhism and hence it's one of the best festivals for me.


Find some of his phots from google images.

Happy Birthday babaji. :)