Holi being celebrated across country amid Covid restriction

New Delhi: The festival of colours Holi is being celebrated across the country amid Covid induced restrictions on Monday.

In wake of fresh surge in Covid 19 cases in the country, the Central and state governments have issued guidelines to celebrate Holi this year, appealing them to celebrate Holi at home.

The enthusiasm of Holi is being seen not only in India but also across the world. Indians living abroad also celebrate this festival with great festive spirit and happiness.

Elaborate arrangements have been made by administration to enforce the guidelines and people have been urged to celebrate this festival within home in wake of the rising numbers of coronavirus cases.

According to the Hindu calendar, Holika Dahan is performed on the full moon day of last month of Phalgun and the next day, this Holi is celebrated every year the next day.

Holi is one of the important festivals of India also known as the "Festival of colours", and the "Festival of spring". It celebrates the victory of Lord Vishnu’s Narasimha Avatar over Hiranyakashyap which signifies the triumph of good over evil.

According to Indian mythology, the demon king Hiranyakashipu ordered his sister Holika to take his son Prahlad who was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, to take him in her lap and sit into the fire. Holika had a boon that she would not be burnt in the fire.

Following the order of his brother, Holika sat in the fire with the Vishnu devotee Prahlad, but she got burnt in the fire and the devotee Prahlad survived. From the same time Holika Dahan takes place on the full moon of Falgun month and Holi, the festival of colors, is celebrated the next day.

It also celebrates the divine and eternal love of Radha Krishna. Holi is originated and is predominantly celebrated in India but has also spread to other regions of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent. (UNI)