Holi the festival of colours is observed by people of all states of India and in Nepal. This special day is observed on Phalgun Purnima as per Bengali calendar. This is a spring religious festival.
In West Bengal Holi is known as Dolyatra, Dol Purnima or Basanta-Utsav. This festival is celebrated in West Bengal by throwing coloured water or coloured powder at each other.
There are many stories behind the origin of Holi. It is believed that the festival is being celebrated since ancient times. Lord Sri Krishna expressed his love to Radha on the day of Dolyatra.
Holi or Dol Purnima in West Bengal
Holi is the last festival of the year according to Bengali calendar. In West Bengal Holi is known by different names. Dol yatra, Dol Purnima, Basanta Utsav are few of them. Idols of Lord Krishna and Radha are decorated with flowers. Young generation enjoy this festival with full enthusiasm. Putting ‘abir’, coloured powder on the forehead of children and on feet of older people is a cultural tradition in West Bengal. Same age people enjoy Holi festival on Dol Purnima day by spraying colour on each other.
In some parts of West Bengal and Orissa, Dol Purnima is celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Necessity of Holi in human life
During spring season many virus become active and chances of viral diseases are more. Natural coloured powers produced from Palash flowers, Neems, Kumkum, Haldi which acts as medicine. Unfortunately in recent years chemical colours are used to celebrate Holi which is harmful to human skin and also may cause asthma.
Chemical Engineering department of Jadavpur University is engaged in producing herbal abir since long time as a part of research. The Chemical Engineering department prepares this herbal abir from the extracts of different flowers like, marigold, dopati, hibiscus, aparajita and bixa seeds. Demand for such herbal abir is increasing day by day. Now Jadavpur University has decided to impart training to self-help groups to manufacture the herbal abir in large scale so that demand can be met.
Holi and Bengal movie industry
Holi sequences have been used in our movies very successfully. In Bollywood movie industry there are many memorable Holi sequences and Holi songs. Bengali movies also use Holi festival. In ‘Dadar Kirti’ directed by Tarun Majumdar the Holi scene is so close to reality that people still remember that sequence in every Dol Purnima.
Holi is termed as Basanta Utsav at Shantiniketan
Poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore started Basanta Utsav at Shantiniketan. Holi is termed as Basanta Utsav at Shantiniketan. This Basanta Utsav is one of the main festivals of Shantiniketan. Tourists from different parts of the country gather at Shantinikatan during Basanta Ustav festiva. Here at Shantiniketan Holi is celebrated with dignified manner. Holi at Shantiniketan is totally different from other parts of our country. Boys and girls welcome Spring with colour, dance, cultural programs and songs. At Shantiniketan, no water colour, no chemical coloured power is used. Holi is celebrated here only with natural coloured powder.
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