India is the land of festivals. Everymonth it celebrates one or morre festivals. AS it has cultural pueurality, number of festivals is more.Every festival has some variation from one state to another.It falls in the month of Phagun(phalgun),the last month in indian calender,usually February.

Holi is one such festival, celebrated in almost all parts of India. it is the festival of colours and friendship.Philosophically, it is the festival of victory of self-control, over sensual pleasures.

The story

The story behind this festival is this.-Lord Shiva was meditaing in Kailas mountains.Parvathi had made up her mind to marry him only and she was also meditating strictly in Himalayas.A demon king named Taraksura was creating problems both for mankind and gods. The only person that could kill him was the son of Shiva. So, Shiva had to get married and get a son. That boy could kill the demon.

So, the gods made a plan to divert the attensoin of Shiva towords parvathi. They requested Manmatha,the god of Love,to move the mind of Shiva. He came armed with his flower arches and tried to move Shiva. Shiva got angry and opened his third eye. Manmatha was burnt to ashes.Later Shiva blesses him to live without a body.

This is symbolised in the Holi festival.Idol of Manmatha(comparable to Cupid in Greek Mythology) is made in the nud.It is kept and worshipped for 5-7 days. Finally, it is burnt in the night. Later, the next day, its ashes are mixed in the coloured water and people throw it on ane another either directly or by using jets.They thus enjoy friendship.

After, this sport with colours, they take bath with clean water.

The festival is intended to develop friendship among people in the neibhourhood.

The pictures here show the Holi scenes