HOLI - Festival of colours

The festival of Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March (Phalguna) every year.

Holi celebration begins with lighting up of bonfire symbolizing the victory of good over evil.

A public bonfire is held, commemorating the burning of Holika. Traditionally, Hindu boys spend the weeks prior to holi combing the neighborhood for any waste wood they can find for the bonfire.

On the second day, known as Dhulhendi (Dhulwad), people spend the day throwing coloured powder and water at each other. The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. Thus, the playful throwing of the coloured powders has a medicinal significance: the colours are traditionally made of Neem, kukmkum, Haldi, Bilva and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors. A special drink called thandai is prepared, sometimes containing Bhaang. People invite each other to their houses for feasts and celebrations.

Legends & stories associated with Holi.

Holi is now a symbolic commemoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centres around an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king's sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges without injury, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.

This festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura. Apart from the usual fun with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality.

Holi in different parts of India:

In Maharashtra, Holi is called Shimga or Rangpanchami.

Holi differs from North India in Maharashtra, People of Maharashtra celebrate Holi like the North Indians. Play with colours is Rangpanchami, which comes five days after Phalgun Poornima. Puran-poli is dish of festival.

In Bengal, Holi features the Dolayatra (Swing Festival), in which images of the gods are placed on specially decorated platforms and devotees take turns swinging them.

In Punjab, they call it 'Hola Mohalla', Holla Mohalla is celebrated a day after Holi in Punjab especially by the Nihang Sikhs.

In Rajasasthan, The Braj Festival is held in honour of Lord Krishna a few days before Holi, in the month of March. There are different holi traditions in rajasthan like Mali holi, Gair at Godaji, Dolachi holi at Bikaner.

In the towns of Rajasthan — especially Jaisalmer — the music's great, and clouds of pink, green, and turquoise powder fill the air. The grounds of Jaisalmer's Mandir Palace are turned into chaos, with dances, folk songs, and colored-powder confusion.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi

http://www.indiaexpress.com/rangoli/holi.html

http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/holidays/holi.htm

http://www.holifestival.org/

Makar Sankranti - Festival of friendship

In India, in Hinduism, Every festival, every social custom has science behind it.
Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the Sun's journey to the Northern Hemisphere called Uttarayana.
Makar stands for the constellation Capricorn and the Sankranti of a month is the day when the Sun passes into a new rashi (zodiac).
The day and night on Makar Sankrant are of exactly of equal hours.

Makara Sankranti is also celebrated throughout India as a
harvesting festival.It is a way of giving thanks to the elements of
nature. In the coastal regions, it is a harvest festival
dedicated to Indra.

Celebration all over INdia:
In Maharashtra, when two persons greet each other on this festive day, they exchange a few grains of multi-coloured sugar (TilGul) and say "til-gul ghya, god god bola" means "accept these tilguls and speak sweet words".(hereafter,let there be friendship between us).
In Gujarat, perfect weather conditions at this time of the year mean this day is celebrated as Patang Divas (Kite Flying Day).
In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, festival called as Pongal,the whole festival lasts for four days, the first day Bhogi, the second day Sankranti, the third day Kanuma and the fourth day, Mukkanuma.
In Assam, the festival is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu.
In Punjab it is called Lohri.
In Uttar Pradesh, Sankrant is called "KICHERI".
In Bundelkhand and Madhya Pradesh this festival of Sankrant is known by the name "SUKARAT" or "SAKARAT".

On this day people eat "bajari" bread mixed with "til" (Sesamum). On the feast of Sankrant "til" is
given great importance, for in this season it is considered to have special nutritive and medicinal qualities. "Til" is a very oil-giving seed. Mixed with jaugari or sugar it becomes a very sticky
sweet which people exchange with one another as a sign of friendship. "Tilgul ghya, god bola." ("Take tilgul and speak sweetly") is the phrase on everybody's lips.
Til-Gul is heat giving taht significant in winter days.

Throughout the year the sun passes through twelve constellations: Mesh (Ram, Aries), Vrishabh
(Bull, Taurus), Mithun (Couple, Gemini), Kark (Crab, Cancer), Sinh (Lion, Leo), Kanya (Girl, Virgo), Tula (Balance, Libra), Vrishchik (Scorpion), Dhanu (Bow, Saggitarius), Makar (Crocodile, Capricorn),
Kumbh (Wateijar, Aquarius), Min (Fish, Pisces).
When the sun does not cross any constellation then there is an extra month called "Adhik Mas". The crossing of the Makar constellation takes place in the month of Paush.

sources:

http://www.indiamike.com/india/chai-and-chat-f73/makar-sankaranti-pongal-greetings-t9234/
http://www.cuhcs.org.uk/sanskaar.article.php?article=makar&year=2004