Hurray Hurray its Hol(y)i Hol(y)i Day...!!!

HOLI - Celebrated in India in commemoration for different reasons. There are different stories attached behind this fest.

Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month of Phalguna (February/March), (Phalgun Poornima).

Its said that Holi is celebrated to pay tribute to the pure and unconditional Love of Lord Radha and Krishna.

Lord Krishna playing colors with Gopikas ( His girl friends)

Its believed that Lord Shiva smoldered Kama ( Lord of Love) by opening his third eye, When Kama tried to disturb Lord Shiva's Penance. Holi is also called as Kama Dahan.. so fire is set on the dummi statue filled with grass old clothes and all such stuff on the previous day. like people make bonfire and next day they play with colors.

Lord Shiva with Nandi ( Bull - His mode of transportation)

Bonfire symbolizes Kama Dahan and also Holika Dahan, Which is observed on the previous day of the fest!

Bonfire

The main emphasis of the festival is on the burning of the holy fire or Holika. The origin of the traditional lighting of Holi is attributed by some to the burning of demonesses like Holika, Holaka and Putana who represent evil, or to the burning of Madan according to others.

Its believed that even Lord Shiva drinks bhang. Bhang is some intoxicating drink prepared especially on Holi day! Its amazing to know that people who drinks bhang keeps on doing the same thing when they start doing something the whole day... :) like if they start laughing they laugh continuously, if they cry they keep crying.. until they are out of that intoxication and that may take a day to come out of it.. :)

Bhang (Intoxicating drink)

Its also celebrated to remember the miraculous escape of child Prahlad, the great devotee of Lord Vishnu. When Prahlad was set on fire for only chanting the name of Lord Vishu and not of his father Hiranyakashupu. By Lord's grace he happened to escape from that fire set on him due to his unfailing faith in Lord Vishnu!

Demon Hiranyakashupu, Prahalda and Lord Vishnu.

Later Lord Vishnu came in the form of a Narasimha (who is half-man and half-lion) and killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk (which was neither day nor night), on the steps of the porch of his house (which was neither inside the house nor outside) by restraining him on his lap (which is neither in the sky nor on the earth) and mauling him with his claws (which are neither astra nor shastra).

People dancing after drinking bhang..!

Holi is played with all the colourful colours sprinkling and spraying and get drenched with colorful pichkaaris on others. Its basically a fun filled festival irrespective of class, creed or colour.

Everyone is overjoyed with patching colors on their friends... :)

Colours are also the significance of different stages of life as well.. So what I feel is its also the celebration of different stages of human life as well.. how lovely! isn't it?

So Happy Holi People... Holi Hai!!!

Source: Mixture of my thoughts and some from internet