Another gift by India to world! Hindu festival of Holi or Rang Panchami is now hugely popular in west (see clip), which is actually celebrated after community Holika (fire set-up) ritual followed by lord Vishnu worship and prayers, is a symbol of victory over two gunas (roughly means Qualities) – Rajas guna (egoistic/self-centered/selfishness) and Tamas guna (negative/dull/inertia/ignorant) in order to improve remaining third Saatvik Guna (Purity/Goodness/ Harmony/Peaceful/Balance).
Colors here are to activate Panchabhuta (5 elements) of cosmos – Prithvi (earth), Jal (Water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air) and Akasha (ether).
Fire prayers decomposes Rajas and Tamas gunas in atmosphere and this bliss/joy of gaining more Saatva guna is celebrated by throwing colours in the air as expression of happiness and thanking Hindu gods.
As per Hindu study expert Mrs Anjali Gadgil; Ranga-Panchami involves invocation of Hindu Gods and is a part of worship of the manifest form of Gods.
In Sanskrit, Ranga means Colour and Panchami is 5th Hindu lunar day. Holi came from feminine word Holika, reference originated from Hindu religious story where Lord Vishnu saves his devotee Pralhad from fire.
Holika (fire, using specific dry waste wood only) ceremony by Hindus in temples and outdoor in masses is performed on dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Phalgun (end of winter and start of spring in India). After Fire (Holika) worship, on 5th day of Phalgun month, Ranga-Panchami is celebrated by throwing a red/pink fragrant powder (gulal) along with other different herbal colours, dry flower petals power and splashing coloured water of those herbal colours on each others.
Read details- Significance, History, Rituals of Holi and Ranga-panchami (at Hindu Jagruti)
In order to keep Saatvik guna quotient high over lifetime and lowering Tamas-Rajas gunas, technically, Hindus shouldn’t drink or eat meat (at least during any festivals).But you know guys these days….Holi Festival must be pure devotional and spiritual gathering involving family/friends/social celebration.
Hindu Holi festival is now celebrated by non-Indians and non-Hindus across the world in USA,UK, Russia, Australia, East Asia, Europe, etc
Hope West will keep Holi festival in original form upholding original Hindu spiritual essence, keeping it well connected to Hindu/India roots, without their obsession for Appropriation, Digestion or Distortion attempts and making it another useless Commercial/ Materialistic Street Party like Yoga and Meditation studios (~ $10 billion industry in US alone, but still couldn’t practice real authentic Yog) at every corner of western cities!
Watch colorful fun, song, dance during Holi festival celebration at Radha-Krishna temple, Utah, Spanish Fork, USA
Holi Celebration at Radha-Krishna Temple USA
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GLOBAL INDIAN BLOG 
Quite an informative post.
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Thanks 🙂 keep psoted, cya
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Reblogged this on HINDUISM AND SANATAN DHARMA and commented:
West attracted to east to learn spiritual science while Eastern Indian Hindus are learning left over Naked culture.
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Thank you for this post, it is really interesting, I learnt many things!
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Glad you like the post & learn new good things.Thank you for comment, keep posted..cya
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Aside from the addition of “color runs” into annual charity running events in the US (I live in Illinois, USA), I wasn’t even aware that there were really any Holi celebrations here. Then again, I don’t live in a big enough city to have a big Hindu temple like in the video – but, most non-Indians I know aren’t even aware of very much about Hinduism at all, let alone what Holi is.
I’m glad that you gave an explanation of the reasons for the colors and the meaning behind the festival – I learned something new. You are also right in that the US and the West in general has a bad habit of appropriation. (We’re not the only ones – I see a lot of appropriation happening in Japan as well) It’s all well and good to be intrigued and take a genuine interest in another’s culture and customs (I, myself, am very fascinated by Indian history and culture – I’d love to visit someday) but it’s also very important to know where these different things come from and to have that reverence.
You talk about the yoga schools here, and you’re absolutely right. They’re everywhere. But, trying to find one that has any affiliations with India or has much knowledge of the history/ lineage is very hard – the same can be said for the various martial art schools throughout the US.
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Thank you for your long reply and nice insights…Yeah there is very little authentic infomation about India and Hinduism to western audiences…This blog will give you some glimpse on Indian culture/ history / fashion / food 🙂
To get basic idea and get rid of common misconceptions about India in west…here a US lady explaining in previous post “Hinduism Basics : Difficult Questions, Simplified Answers:”
Keep posted, cya
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