Holi in North India, Dol jatra in West Bengal, Phagwah in Assam are celebrated all over India under various names, but the purpose and spirit of celebration remain the same. The Indians celebrate this festival to commemorate the end of the cold season and the beginning of the spring season that brings with it the good harvest. Popularly known as the festival of colors, it represents the victory of good over evil and this is caused by the destruction of the demon called Holika. Holi also got its name from Lord Krishna, who played pranks on the village girls by applying color to them and dousing them in water.
The preparation of the festival: Holi celebration is an important festival in India and especially in the northern part. On the eve of Holi, bonfires are lit to burn off evil spirits and this also signifies the Holika Dahan. The whole country is in a festive mood, the markets are full of buyers making preparations for the festival. Lots of red, yellow, green and purple gulal are sold on the roadsides and children have a craze to buy water balloons and pichkaris every year, to douse their friends with colorful water.
Holi celebration in different parts of India: Family members and friends make elaborate plans and try to be the first to spread the color to each other. An elaborate function is organized by the royal family of Udaipur in the City Palace and in U.P, it is especially celebrated in Mathura, Nandgaon, Barsana and Vrindavan. The whole atmosphere is full of colors and people are wearing new clothes and are in a cheerful mood. They play dholaks and sing Holi songs in groups while throwing gulal into the air. The temples are also beautifully decorated and idols of Radha and Krishna are placed on swings and devotional songs are sung by devotees. In the evening, people visit family and friends and exchange sweets and good wishes.
Vibrant Gujarat also celebrates the festival in high spirits as boys and girls move in “tolis” processions. They follow the tradition of breaking clay pots to steal the butter and buttermilk which are tied high with string. Hundreds of people watch the event of forming the human pyramid that is built to reach the pots. Again in West Bengal, Dol Purnima is celebrated with song, dance and sprinkling of colors. In Shantiniketan, everyone sings hymns early in the morning and students wear saffron-colored clothes and garlands of fragrant flowers.
Holi celebration strengthens the brotherhood of the country: As well as being the festival of colours, Holi is also a celebration that unites the secular fabric of India. It is a tradition when even enemies and rivals forget all their feelings and become friends. There is no discrimination between rich and poor and everyone is there to celebrate love and brotherhood.