[Desi Masala] Happy Holi... Rangapanchami

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
History of Holi
The Bhavishya puran a narrate a story in context of this festival as follows - A demoness invaded a village and started harassing little children. Hence the people obscenely abused and cursed her, they lit a fire everywhere to frighten her and drove her away.
Rituals of Holi
In this festival main emphasis is laid on the burning of Holika or lighting of Holi. The origin of the traditional lighting of Holi is attributed by some to the burning of demonesses like Holika, Holaka and Putana who troubled little children or to the burning of Madan according to others. According to some scholars this is probably a remnant of the tradition of fire worshippers. However one should not light Holi during the day. First the doer should purify himself and pronounce the resolve "I am performing the worship along with my family to overcome the trouble of the demoness . After the Holi is over it should be extinguished by sprinkling milk and ghee and then fruits like coconuts and pomello should be distributed to the people assembled there. The entire night should be spent in dance and song. The next day after a lot of obscene talk the ashes of Holi should be immersed. Why this obscene and foul language should be used is explained as follows -
the lunar asterism Purva phalguni is present on the full moon day (pournima) in the bright fortnight of Phalgun. The deity of that lunar asterism is Bhag. The common meaning of Bhag is reproductive organs, the female sex organs. Thus there should be an outcry in the name of Bhag. This is a type of worship by itself. One must realise that it indicates honour of the deity. In some places it is customary to smear the body with substances like ash, cowdung and mud and indulge in dancing and singing.
Tradition of Holi

Lathimar Holy
Seeing the form of the Holi festival as prevalent today one realises that this festival is basically celebrated at a social level. Though over the passage of time a number of religious and cultural rites and rituals have been included in it by more civilised people, yet the social form of this festival has still remained intact. Holikotsav, Dhulikotsav and Rangotsav are the three festivals which stand out easily. Holi, Dhulvag and Rangapanchami are their popular names.

 
Significance of Holi
Beginning from the full moon day (pournima) of the Hindu lunar month of Phalgun till the fifth day (panchami) this festival is celebrated for two to five days depending on the regional variations. It has various names such as Hori, Dolayatra in North India, Shimga, Holi and Hutashani mahotsav, Holikadahan (burning of Holika) in Goa, Konkan and Maharashòra and Kamadahan (burning of desires) in South India. One can also call it Vasantotsav or Vasantagamanotsav that is the festival celebrated to welcome the Vasant (spring) season.
A festival of radiance (Tej) in the universe. During this festival, different waves of radiance traverse the universe, thereby creating various colours that nourish and complement the function of respective elements in the atmosphere. - A Scholar (Through Ms Anjali Gadgil)
Do's and Dont's of the Holi
* Burn dry wood instead of wet wood.
* Do not steal wood for Holi fire.
* Celebrate Holi keeping in the mind it's purpose of uniting the Hindus.
Celebrate Holi in the traditional way!
Recently, citing reasons of deforestation, Anti-Dharmik Organisations like the Andha-shraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANIS) have been giving wrong advice to the society, to use garbage to light the Holi fire. One should not light Holi fire with garbage, since it pollutes the environment. Rather, if Holi is celebrated with the bhav of worshipping the Deity Holika, the atmosphere will become sattvik.
But did you ponder over this?
There is wide scale deforestation throughout the year on account of felling of trees for construction purposes, production of paper and other activities backed by man's selfish interests. However, so-called environmenta-lists ignore this and wake up from their slumber to create a hue and cry over the felling of trees on Holi, the religious occasion for Hindus that is celebrated once in a year. Their contention is that 'Trees are cut during Holi, which causes damage to the environment'. They also make fake appeals like - 'Burn (eradicate) evil thoughts in the fire of Holi' or 'Burn garbage in the fire of Holi'. Do not fall a prey to such lame excuses; but celebrate Holi and Rangapanchami as prescribed by Hindu Holy scriptures and use natural colours.

Dry wood should be used instead of felling good trees to light Holi fires. Also, the basic objective of celebrating Holi is to forget differences and come together. If people bear this in mind and celebrate the festival, they can save wood by having just one sacrificial fire of Holi for the entire village or locality instead of each group separately burning wood for Holi. When Holi is celebrated, as per traditional practices, it is essential that sanctity of the religious practice be maintained. Sanctity will be lost if dirt and garbage is used for the sacrificial fire of Holi.
Curbing Malpractices during Holi is our Religious Duty!
In the present times, there are a lot of malpractices taking place under the name of celebrating Holi. Similarly, on the day of Rangapanchami, people indulge in malpractices such as - throwing balloons filled with dirty water, applying dangerous dyes and colours to the body etc. These malpractices harm Dharma, and hence, putting an end to them is our religious duty. Spread this word in the society and even after doing so, if you come across such incidents, lodge complaints with the Police. Sanatan Sanstha conducts public awareness campaigns in this regard.

Dhoolivandan
This itself is Dhulvad in Marathi. This is the first day (pratipada) in the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Phalgun. On this day either the ashes of Holi or dust is worshipped. After ritualistic worship it is offered obeisance with the following mantra which means as ,"O dust (dhuli), Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh salute you, hence O deity of the elements, grant us opulence and protect us." Lord Vishnu performed Dhoolivandan at the beginning of Tretayuga. The implied meaning is, Lord Vishnu began His 'work' through the incarnation of various radiant colours. Rang panchami, played without Dhoolivandan signifies the 'Play' (Leela) of the Incarnation, which is manifest in the forms of various colours. The Dhoolivandan is a worship of the destroyer form of the Deities. - A Scholar (Through the medium of Ms Anjali Gadgil)
Rangapanchami
It is celebrated on the fifth day (panchami) in the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Phalgun by throwing a red, fragrant powder (gulal) and splashing coloured water, etc. on others.
The fire, which shines with its brilliance on Holi, decomposes the raja-tama particles in the atmosphere and this helps activate various deities in the form of colours. This bliss is celebrated by throwing colours in the air. Thus, Rang Panchami is a symbol of victory over raja-tama. Rang Panchami, played on Falgun Vadya Panchami involves invocation of Gods and is a part of worship of the manifest form of Gods. Its purpose is to activate the five elements of radiant manifest colours and to touch and feel the Deities who are attracted to the respective colours. These five elements are a source, which help activate the element of the Deities according to the spiritual emotion of the Jiva. Rang Panchami is the worship of the saviour form of the Deities. - A Scholar (Through the medium of Ms Anjali Gadgil)
Let us stop immoral practices during this Rangapanchami and Protect Dharma
1. Do not apply colours forcibly. Stop people from doing so and give them the reasons.
2. Stop those who extort money from people on the roads.
3. Stop beggars from wearing masks of deities.
4. Stop people from using excessive colours and hurling water balloons.
5. Do not use harmful chemical colours.
- A Scholar (Through the medium of Ms Anjali Gadgil, 26th February 2006, 11.09 a.m.)
 
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti's appeal to Hindus
Celebrate Holi and Rangapanchami in traditional way!
There is wide scale deforestation throughout the year on account of felling of trees for construction purposes, production of paper and other activities backed by man's selfish interests. However, so-called environmentalists ignore this and wake up from their slumber to create hue and cry over the felling of trees on Holi, the occasion of Hindus that is celebrated just once in a year. Their contention is that 'Trees are cut during Holi, which causes damage to the environment'. They also make fake appeals like 'One should burn (eradicate) one's evil thoughts in the fire of Holi' or 'Burn garbage in the fire of Holi'. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti appeals to all Hindus that they should not fall a prey to such fake excuses and celebrate Holi and Rangapanchami as prescribed by Hindu Holy Scriptures by using natural colours.
The appeal letter further states that dry wood be used instead of felling good trees for Holi. Also, the basic objective of celebrating Holi is for one and all to forget differences and come together. Thus, if people bear this in mind and celebrate the festival, they can save wood by having just one sacrificial fire of Holi for the entire village or locality instead of each group separately burning wood for Holi. If the directive of the so-called environmentalists to burn garbage as Holi is followed, then poisonous gases emitted by poisonous waste will in turn lead to more pollution. Thus, do not implement such dangerous directives. When Holi is celebrated, as per traditional practices, it is essential that sanctity of the religious practice be maintained. The sanctity will be lost if dirt and garbage is used for the sacrificial fire of Holi. The HJS also asserts that why does one need the pretext of Hindu festivals to burn (eradicate) one's evil
thoughts; they (evil thoughts) can be eradicated during any time of the year!
Celebrate Rangapanchami with natural colours!
Several malpractices such as the use of dangerous colours containing chemicals that harm the skin, throwing balloons filled with colours and dirty water at people, applying colours to people forcibly, consuming liquor and misbehaving with ladies, eveteasing, fighting, polluting lakes and wells with colours, etc. have crept into the festival of Rangapanchami, which in reality is a blissful event. The HJS appeals to all to prevent the occurrence of such malpractices and celebrate the festival of Rangapanchami in a traditional way using natural colours.
- Shri. Ramesh Shinde, Spokesperson for Maharashtra State, HJS
 
>>Related News
The news appeared in the Times Of India regarding HJS' campaign to protect Khadkwasla Dam from pollution on Rangpanchami.
Volunteers to protect Khadakwasla dam
Manjiri Damle
[23 Mar, 2005 TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
PUNE: Volunteers of the city based Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) will deploy a team of volunteers to protect the Khadakwasla dam water from pollution on Holi and Rangpanchami day.
A statement released by the HJS here on Wednesday said that hundreds of youths smeared in colours come to bathe at the Khadakwasla dam on Holi and Rangpanchami days. "The colours used for the festivals contain harmful chemicals. Since Pune draws its drinking water from Khadakwasla dam it was the duty of every Puneite to protect the dam water from this pollution", the statement said.
As many as 70 volunteers of the HJS will stand guard at the Khadakwasla dam right from morning till evening on March 26 (Holi) and March 30 (Rangpanchami). They will prevent revellers from entering the water and bathing in it. Another team of volunteers will also patrol the city areas to prevent incidents like eve-teasing and other untoward incidents during the celebrations.
The statement said that this time volunteers of the Khadakwasla grampanchayat, local police and employees of the irrigation department have also decided to assist HJS activists in their drive. It further said that during Holi and Rangpanchami a large number of youths come to the dam and park their vehicles haphazardly which results in traffic jams. This puts added pressure on the police, HJS said adding that the Samiti decided to pitch in and do the job of guarding the dam.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1060192,prtpage-1.cms
(Ref. : Sanatan's Publication : Holy Festivals, Religious Festivals and Vowed Religious Observance
Compilers : H.H. Dr. Jayant Athavale and Dr. (Mrs) Kunda Athavale)
Courtesy: Monthly Sanatan Prabhat
  
 
Satish Pawaskar
http://www.herbalhealthcare.in

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