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Admission is free, there is a
$6.00 suggested donation for
vegetarian meal with drink.
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The Krishna Temple in Hillsborough NC
invites all members of the public to
celebrate the festival of Holi on
Saturday, April 12th, from 5 pm.
In India Holi announces the arrival
of spring and the passing of winter. It
is a festival that breathes an
atmosphere of social merriment. People
bury their hatchets with a warm embrace
and throw their worries to the wind.
Every nook and corner presents a
typically colorful sight. Young and old
alike are covered with colors (red,
green, yellow, blue, black and silver).
People in small groups are seen singing,
dancing and throwing colors on each
other.
There will be musical interludes,
the lighting of a bonfire, burning of an
effigy, and the throwing of dry colors
on friends and foe alike. The dry
powders supplied by the temple are non
stain, but still guests are cautioned
not to wear their “Saturday Best.”
Holi has long traditional links with
several legends. According to one
popular legend, the word Holi is derived
from the demoness, Holika. She was the
sister of Hiranya Kashipu (the name
meaning love of gold and a soft bed), a
demon king, who having defeated the
Gods, proclaimed his supremacy over
everyone else in the Universe. Enraged
over his son’s ardent devotion to Lord
Vishnu, Hiranya Kashipu decides to
punish him. He takes the help of his
sister, Holika, who is immune to any
damage from fire. Holika carries the
small boy Prahlad into the fire but a
divine intervention destroys her and
saves Prahlad from getting burned. Thus
Holi is celebrated to mark the burning
of the evil Holika. Her effigy is
consumed in the fire!
Holi is celebrated with special
importance in the North of India. It
solemnizes the love of Radha and
Krishna. The spraying of colored powders
recalls the love sport of Lord Krishna
and His devotees.
The color, noise and entertainment that
accompanies the celebration of Holi
bears witness to a feeling of oneness
and sense of brotherhood. The festival
brings home the lesson of spiritual and
social harmony!!
A UNC student who attended said, “I love
the gaiety, the hilarity of it all! An
unforgettable way to usher in the spring
season. Even first time comers swing
into the spirit of the event, as white
and dark skin colors quickly disappear
under layers of green, red, purple, and
blue powders. “
Those who would rather observe than
participate in the throwing of the
colors may stay indoors and watch from
the windows, or the upper floor
verandah. The temple will supply bags of
safe, non stain dry colors for $ 1 each.
For safety and health reasons, no one
should bring colors from outside.
