Holi (Festival of Colours)
VASANT PANCHAMI AND THE FORTY DAYS OF HOLI (Magh Shukla 5 - Chaitra Krishna 1)
The Holi festival celebrates the arrival of spring. It begins with Vasant Panchami, (generally occuring in Febuary) marking the birthday of Kamadeva, the Lord of love. For forty days afterwards, red and white powders and sandalwood paste are sprinkled over Shri Krishna. During Holi, Shri Krishna plays in unrestricted ways with all of his bhaktas. This is considered to be Shri Krishna’s favorite festival and the Blessed Lord Krishna wears mostly white during these days so that the colors His bhaktas throw at him will stay. Krishna loves this festival so much that after it is over, great efforts are taken to make Him forget it!
{KIRTANS}
Raga Basant
O friend, over Shri Giridhar’s beauty
I break the grass and offer everything!
Krishna is covered with choba,
Sandal paste and white and red powders.
The water guns spray their colors
And Lal’s eyes are filled with color.
The beauty of His body has swindled
All of Cupid’s charms.
Raga Vihaga
Krishna is a Enjoyer and loves the month of spring.
The Braja Bhaktas tie white and red powder into their cloths.
Then they run and grab hold of each other faces.
They sing insults and show their love.
The Holi colors become a descending rain.
Sings Krishna Jivan,
“They make Krishna dance
In so many ways.”
DOLOTSAVA (Chaitra Krishna 1)
This festival takes place on the day after Holi, (generally some time in March) when the demoness Holika is burnt. Shri Krishna and His Beloved sit in a Dola swing that is decorated with mango blossoms and other flowers. This is a kunja lila, part of Shri Krishna’s sport in the divine inner bower. On this day there are four separate swing darshans and the throwing of color reaches its zenith. Krishna is all dressed in white. Dol is the grand finale of Vasant.
{KIRTANS}
Raga Kalyana
The Gopis swing Krishna in the Dol swing
Lalita and other Gopis behold
Radha’s husband and put choba,
Sandal paste and red powder on Him.
They fill the air with red and white powders.
Krishna the lotus-eyed one eats betel pan
And wears a garland over His heart.
The mridang drum holds the beat,
The agoti sounds and then
The flute plays so sweetly.
Nandadas sees the Gopis sing
Shri Gopal is delighted.
Detailed description of 'Vasant Panchami, The forty days of Holi and Dolotsava' is provided by
Goswami Shri Vishal Bava S/o Tilkayat Shri Rakesh Bava.