Vasanti Navasasyesti (Holakotsav) In Indian Culture

India is the country of festival which is celebrated in entire country every day. Holi, Deepawali, Rakshabandhan, etc are celebrated in entire country to boost mutual love and affection and harmony. Holi is of great importance in comparison to other festivals. It is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima.

Original form of Holi

Our ancestors, rishi and saints were the reservoir of knowledge. They were expert of diet, thought and behaviour. They have created festivals to boost personal health and social health, prosperity and mutual coordination among the people. The festival removes ignorance, darkness, slavery and provides education and knowledge. After arrival of spring season known as king of seasons, vasant panchmi is celebrated. Vasant shri is in the young stage at that time. Forest, orchard, trees and plants are laden with flowers and fruits. The people don’t use new fruits, cereals, etc without providing them to the deities. This rishi tradition has been in practice since time immemorial. As the human being is considered as the great, similarly the fire is revered of all the physical deities. Therefore, we consume cereals by offering it to the deity fire. ‘Agni vai devanam mukham’ whatever we offer to the deity fire, is received by all the deities. Fire is the messenger of deity. According to ved, it has been called devadut. Therefore, new produce is offered to fire first of all. According to Shruit—‘kevalagho bhavati kevaladi’. It means that eating alone is nothing but committing sin. Supporting Shruti, Manu Maharaj says—

Atham sa kevalam bhudakte yah pachatyatmakaranat I
Yagyashishtashinam hvotat satamannam vidhiyate II (Manu. 3.118)

It means that those people who cook food only for fulfilling their own need, do nothing but commit sin. This intention boosts self interest and longing among the family and society because the gentlemen should consume rest food after performing yagya. In contrary, the unmannered people consume food without performing yagya. In Sanskrit, semi cooked food in fire is called as ‘holak’.

trinagnibhrishtarddhapak
vashamidhanyam holakah’ I
(Shabdakalpadrumakoshah)
‘Arddhapakvashamidhanyai
strinabhrishtaishcha holakah I
Holkoalpanilo, madah kaphadoshashramapahah II
Bhavedatho holko yasya sa 
tatadguno bhavet’ I
(Bhavaprakash)

It means that semi cooked food cereal in the fire is called holak. Hola is swalpvat and it controls fat, cough and tiredness. The popular Hindi word hola originates from it.
Because semi cooked gram, wheat, etc in the fire are called cereal ‘holah asyah asti yasyah sa holi’. Due to performing hom of newly produce cereals in vasanti navaposhti or navasasyeshti, it called ‘holakotsav’. Vasanti navasasyeshti means new crops being produced in the spring season. Ishti means consumption of new cereals yielded in spring season in which holak and hole are consumed. Navashasyeshti, holkeshti or holakostsav are celebrated on the occasion of consuming new cereals after production of new crops. Apart from navashasyeshti (yagya) being performed at each household, it is done collectively in every village.

Spiritual message of holika dahan

According to tradition, it’s said that  Hirankashyap’s son Bhakt Prahlad was set ablaze by his mother-in-law Holika who blessed with boon that fire will make no harm to her. According to myth, as soon as fire gets alighted, the cloth covered Prahalad to save his life and Holika died. That’s why Holi is celebrated as a symbol of victory of goodness over bad. It should be understood in practical approach that ego, ignorance and disbelief of the human being is like that of Hiranyakashpak. The bad habits, wishes, longing of the people are like that of Holika. But those people who are bhakt of the God get infinite strength due to blessings. They get total mental purity and prosperity. Those bhakt who continue to worship the God lose nothing. Their concentrated mind kills bad mentality of Holika. The seekers don’t deviate from the path. They remove hurdles happily. The Lord has rightly said in the Bhagwadgita—

Prasade sarvadukhanam hanirasyopajayate I
Prasannachetaso hvashu buddhih paryavatishthate II 
(Gita 2.65)

It means that internal happiness removes all the sorrow of the seekers. The intellect of the happy people attains samadhi. The purity of mind is reason behind happiness which brings samadhi.    
Holika dahan is the symbol of eradication of all the evils. Prahald has the duty not to deviate from the path. The human unity, brotherhood, love and affection, prosperity, happiness and harmony must be used for bringing welfare in the nation. It brings new happiness, hope and bliss and boosts religious and national ideals.

Historical and literary importance of Holi

Spring season and vasant festival have been the popular subjects for the poets in the Sanskrit literature. I the Sanskrit literature of ancient time, Holi has been described in detailed. Great poet Kalidas, Bharavi, Magh and other Sanskrit poets have widely discussed the vasant festival. In the Hindi literature of bhakti and riti period, Holi and Phalgun month are of great importance. From ancient poet Vidyapati to Suradas, Rahim, Raskhan, Padmakar, Jayasi, Meerabai, Kabir and Bihari, Keshav, Dhananad, etc have focussed on this subject. Holi is the ancient festival of India. It’s known as Holi, Holika and Holaka. Many ancient historical and religious books like Mimansa-Sutra and Grihva-Sutra describe this festival. Narada Purana, Bhavishya Purana and manuscripts and scriptures of ancient period mention it. Apart from it, ancient pictures, diagrams and walls of temples also depict it. Medieval Indian temples and diagrams portray the live pictures of Holi. Many historical episodes discuss about this festival. This festival brings a feeling of happiness and bliss.

Importance of colours in vasantotsav

In the ancient time, the Indians used to apply scented materials like kusumsar (scent prepared by flowers) to each other on the occasion of vasantotsav. They used to pour gulab water through pichkari. They used to pour gulab, colour through natural resources. Various types of flowers bring happiness and beautifulness in the forest. All the trees and the plants are chanting the God by making a divine atmosphere. Similarly, we should celebrate this festival with an intention of unity, love and affection. We must not misbehave with others. Hug others and guide them not to deviate from path. Worship the God to get rid of longing.

Oh great solider! 
Move ahead on path of motherland
Wipe out the name of those who deceive it Speak truth on the occasion of Holi Country is glorious, India is mother of great warriors Wipe out all the sorrow, today is the Holi Oum Shantih Shantih Shantih.