IS HOLI A HARVEST OR RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL

 IS HOLI A HARVEST OR RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL

Introduction :- Holi the festival of colors that is observed at the onset of spring season in India. Holi is one of the important festivals of Hindus and is celebrated in the Phalgun month according to the Hindu calendar. Holi is both a harvest and religious festival in India. Crops are harvested during this season and that's why Holi is also a harvest festival. This festival of colours and love is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy in different parts of India and the world.

Religious Message Behind Holi :- Holi represents the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. It is also said to be the enactment of a game the Hindu god Lord Krishna played with his consort Radha and the gopis, or milkmaids .The story represents the fun and flirtatiousness of the gods but also touches on deeper themes: of the passing of the seasons and the illusory nature of the material world. Significance of the Festival Holi :- It is the festival that is celebrated to welcome and enjoy spring the season of different colors and the end of winter. It is celebrated to mark the harvest season, good yield of crops, and fertility of the soil. It gives us the message of love, peace, and brotherhood by forgetting all the enmities and celebrating together. The bonfire states about the victory of good over evil and bad activities. The colors represent liveliness and new hope with a new spirit.

Is Holi a Harvest or Religious Festival?

The festivals celebrated in India have been originated somewhat in past and are carried on from generations. The provision of celebrating harvest festivals was prevalent in our nation as India is an agricultural country. People celebrate the joy of the good harvest of crops and pray to give thanks to nature. The celebration of the festival Holi traces its roots too to religious significance as there are many mythological reasons behind its celebration. Even after having the religious significance, it is the festival celebrated to welcome spring and end all the negativity along with embracing a new start. Earlier due to religious significance, it was celebrated by Hindus in India but now it is celebrated as the festival of happiness and love among all the religions and people in other parts of the world. Therefore it will be more convenient to state Holi as a harvest festival instead of a religious festival that is celebrated by people in different patterns. Conclusion :- Holi is one of the prestigious harvest festivals of India known for colors and water. Also famously known as Phagwah, Holi signifies bidding adieu to winter and welcoming the springs with great gusto with the hope of the new season bringing in positivity and good harvests for one and all.