NEW DELHI, March 29: Holi — the festival of colours — was on Monday celebrated across the country, albeit with COVID-19 curbs in place.
In wake of fresh surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, the central and state governments have issued guidelines to celebrate Holi this year, appealing the citizenry to celebrate Holi at home.
The enthusiasm of Holi was seen not only in India but also across the world.
Elaborate arrangements were made by administration to enforce the guidelines and people have been urged to celebrate the festival within home in wake of the rising numbers of coronavirus cases.
According to the Hindu calendar, Holika Dahan is performed on the full-moon day of last month of Phalgun and Holi is celebrated the next day every year.
Holi, which is also known as the ‘Festival of Spring, celebrates the victory of Lord Vishnu’s Narasimha Avatar over Hiranyakashyap, which signifies the triumph of good over evil.
According to Indian mythology, the demon king Hiranyakashipu ordered his sister Holika to take his son Prahlad who was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, to take him in her lap and sit into the fire.
Holika had a boon that she would not be burnt in the fire.
Following the order of his brother, Holika sat in the fire with the Vishnu devotee Prahlad, but she got burnt in the fire and the devotee Prahlad survived.
From the same time, Holika Dahan takes place on the full moon of Falgun month and Holi is celebrated the next day. It also celebrates the divine and eternal love of Radha Krishna.
Holi is originated and is predominantly celebrated in India but has also spread to other regions of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent.
Holi greetings
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday extended their greetings to the people on the occasion of Holi.
“Wishing you all a very happy Holi. This festival of joy, happiness, laughter and delight should infuse new energy into everyone’s life,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted in Hindi.
Taking to Twitter, Kovind said, “Greetings to all fellow citizens on Holi. The festival of colours, Holi, is a festival of social harmony which brings about joy, delight and hope in the lives of people. May this festival further strengthen the spirit of nationalism which is integral to our cultural diversity.’’
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and and several other ministers also extended their wishes to everyone on the occasion of Holi. (UNI)
