Mohali
March17,2014
My dear Aadi,
Hope my letter will find you all in good health.I am so happy to write a letter as I am writing a letter and that also to someone so close to my heart ,after a long long time.
It is Holi today being celebrated all over India when you are in sound sleep and when you get up ,you might hear of Holi celebrations in Canada as well.In India today is a national holiday.He who is afraid of getting wet with colours dares not step out of the house.People enjoy playing with colours at home, in lanes, in parks--i.e.anywhere and everywhere.By the time they stop playing,they are often beyond recognition.I am reminded of a joke. Once a woman had to give bath to 4 children to find which one was hers.
Holi is celebrated in many other countries also where there is a significant population of Hindus.You might be wondering what is Holi and why is it celebrated?
Holi is a festival of colours.It is a festival celebrating the victory of good over evil.It also marks the end of winter and the advent of spring.
There is a legend. There was a king named Hiranyakashipu.He was like a demon.He wanted to take revenge for the death of his younger brother who was killed by Vishnu, a Hindu God.He prayed to almighty for many years and got a boon .He began to believe that he himself was God and asked all to worship him.His son Prahlad was a devotee of lord Vishnu and he refused to worship his father. Hiranyakshipu was infuriated and tried to frighten him by severe punishments but Prahalad did not bow to his tyranny.
Hiranyakashipu had a sister named Holika She had a cloak(shawl) which made her immune to injury by fire.She covered herself with that cloak, took Prahlad in her lap and sat on a bonfire.Prahlad prayed to Lord Vishnu for help.A strong wind began to blow. The cloak of Holika flew and wrapped
Prahlad.Thus Holika was burnt to ashes and Prahlad was saved. At that time Lord Vishnu appeared and killed Hiranyakashipu.It was a victory of good over evil . People were very happy and they celebrated the day by colouring each other. Since then holy is celebrated by colouring others with dry and wet colours.People use water canons and water guns and even buckets to drench others with colours.They dance on the beat of drum.Loud music fills the atmosphere.
People start preparing for the festival many days in advance by preparing various sweets. People burn a bonfire to celebrate Holika Dehan on the Holi eve and enjoy dancing round the bonfire.Next day they celebrate the victory of good over evil by playing with colours .In the evening ,they visit their friends and relatives and congratulate for the festival.
There is another legend as well.Lord Krishna ,the incarnation of Vishnu,used to play with colours with his friends and played planks with the villagers. This became a community function with the passage of time.
Next day to Holi is a famous festival of Sikhs.It is called Hola Mahalla or Hola.It was established by Guru Gobind Singh.He made Hola Mahalla an occasion for sikhs to demonstrate their martial arts.Hola Mahalla means mock fights.Guru Gobind Singh held such a mock fight.He wanted defence preparedness to be given a top priority.This festival continues at Anandpur Sahib for three days. All the roads leading to Anandpur Sahib are crowded and langer stalls can be found all along the way.There is a huge gathering of devotees.The occasion is also used by political parties for propagating their policies and view-points.
I hope you have found the information interesting.Now, let me know something about your friends and class fellows.Have you learnt something new ?How is your loving brother?Does he irritate you?Write to me about your neighbours and neighbourhood.
The rest in the next letter.
With lots of love
Yours NANIMA
Jitender
!
March17,2014
My dear Aadi,
Hope my letter will find you all in good health.I am so happy to write a letter as I am writing a letter and that also to someone so close to my heart ,after a long long time.
It is Holi today being celebrated all over India when you are in sound sleep and when you get up ,you might hear of Holi celebrations in Canada as well.In India today is a national holiday.He who is afraid of getting wet with colours dares not step out of the house.People enjoy playing with colours at home, in lanes, in parks--i.e.anywhere and everywhere.By the time they stop playing,they are often beyond recognition.I am reminded of a joke. Once a woman had to give bath to 4 children to find which one was hers.
Holi is celebrated in many other countries also where there is a significant population of Hindus.You might be wondering what is Holi and why is it celebrated?
Holi is a festival of colours.It is a festival celebrating the victory of good over evil.It also marks the end of winter and the advent of spring.
There is a legend. There was a king named Hiranyakashipu.He was like a demon.He wanted to take revenge for the death of his younger brother who was killed by Vishnu, a Hindu God.He prayed to almighty for many years and got a boon .He began to believe that he himself was God and asked all to worship him.His son Prahlad was a devotee of lord Vishnu and he refused to worship his father. Hiranyakshipu was infuriated and tried to frighten him by severe punishments but Prahalad did not bow to his tyranny.
Hiranyakashipu had a sister named Holika She had a cloak(shawl) which made her immune to injury by fire.She covered herself with that cloak, took Prahlad in her lap and sat on a bonfire.Prahlad prayed to Lord Vishnu for help.A strong wind began to blow. The cloak of Holika flew and wrapped
Prahlad.Thus Holika was burnt to ashes and Prahlad was saved. At that time Lord Vishnu appeared and killed Hiranyakashipu.It was a victory of good over evil . People were very happy and they celebrated the day by colouring each other. Since then holy is celebrated by colouring others with dry and wet colours.People use water canons and water guns and even buckets to drench others with colours.They dance on the beat of drum.Loud music fills the atmosphere.
People start preparing for the festival many days in advance by preparing various sweets. People burn a bonfire to celebrate Holika Dehan on the Holi eve and enjoy dancing round the bonfire.Next day they celebrate the victory of good over evil by playing with colours .In the evening ,they visit their friends and relatives and congratulate for the festival.
There is another legend as well.Lord Krishna ,the incarnation of Vishnu,used to play with colours with his friends and played planks with the villagers. This became a community function with the passage of time.
Next day to Holi is a famous festival of Sikhs.It is called Hola Mahalla or Hola.It was established by Guru Gobind Singh.He made Hola Mahalla an occasion for sikhs to demonstrate their martial arts.Hola Mahalla means mock fights.Guru Gobind Singh held such a mock fight.He wanted defence preparedness to be given a top priority.This festival continues at Anandpur Sahib for three days. All the roads leading to Anandpur Sahib are crowded and langer stalls can be found all along the way.There is a huge gathering of devotees.The occasion is also used by political parties for propagating their policies and view-points.
I hope you have found the information interesting.Now, let me know something about your friends and class fellows.Have you learnt something new ?How is your loving brother?Does he irritate you?Write to me about your neighbours and neighbourhood.
The rest in the next letter.
With lots of love
Yours NANIMA
Jitender
!
