Spring ushers in Holi, the festival of colours

Dimapur, March 12: The much-anticipated festival of the Hindu community, the “Festival of Colours” Holi is here. Nagaland is also home to a good number of Hindu members and come March 13 they will be celebrating the spring festival with coloured water, coloured powders and of course, love. Bengalis call the festival ‘Dol.’ It signifies the onset of spring when nature is at its very best, said Abhishek Purkayastha, a Guwahati-based mechanical engineer and blogger who has a strong root in Nagaland. The celebrations generally entail the use of natural colours, flower petals or extract from plants that are believed to have medicinal values as well; one can see a lot of people playing Holi believing that any sort of skin aliment will go away if they celebrate the festival, Purkayastha explained. During the festival, colours are offered to the gods as a ritual. The actual celebration is held on the next day when people apply colours on one another. It is believed that Lord Krishna, said to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, would play Holi so that the aspect of celebration remains as well. Generally, Holi is referred to as ‘Phagua,’ with celebrations beginning a night prior with ‘Holika Dahan’–lighting fire resembling the pyre of Holika. During the event, offerings are made that night after which, on the next day, the celebration begins. ‘Holika Dahan,’ which is celebrated a day before the festivity, has been observed on March 12. Also, Dimapur-based businessman Sandip Agarwal said Holi is an ancient Hindu religious festival, said to signify the victory of good over evil, and the arrival of spring. It's celebrated all over India and now around the world, and is all about partying and enjoyment. The Festival of Colours is also a time for Hindus to relax social codes. Barriers between the rich and the poor, men and women, young and old are broken by Holi. A familiar saying is ‘bura na mano, Holi hai (don't be offended, it's Holi),’ Agarwal added. [caption id="attachment_102755" align="alignnone" width="560"] People smear colours during Holi in Dimapur. (File photo)[/caption] CM wishes people peace on Holi The chief minister of Nagaland Shrühozelie Liezietsu greets the Hindu community in Nagaland and across the country as they celebrate Holi, the festival of colours. ‘Holi is one of the major festivals in Hindu culture but the warmth, fun and togetherness makes this festival transcend the boundaries of culture and religion,’ a message from the Chief Minister’s Office stated on Sunday. The chief minister has hoped that the festival being celebrated across the country with traditional fervour will bring peace, happiness and prosperity to all. Most business establishments will close for a day including fuel stations in Dimapur town. People needing fuel can stop by the listed petrol stations which shall remain open for the day: