‘Holi’ is celebrated on the day of Phalgun Purnima (last full moon day of the lunar month).Holi, as a festival assumes immense religious importance and marks the onset of Vasant Ritu.

Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu, a self-realized saint from India, endearingly called ’Bapuji’ has explicated the essence and significance of ‘Holi’ and has advised people to celebrate Holi in a manner attuned to the Vedas (ancient Hindu scriptures). Bapuji has reiterated during His satsangs (spiritual discourses) that Hindu festivals should be celebrated in the Vedic way. This will help in comprehending the rationale of the ‘Rishis’ (Sages) of yore behind establishing the tradition of such festivals. Also, obtain optimum benefits can be derived by celebrating it the right way.

Excerpts from the Satsang of Param Pujya Sant Shri Asaramji Bapuji. For more information about Pujya Bapuji, kindly visit – www.ashram.org

Bapuji has mentioned that the ‘Holika dehen’ (Bonfire made for burning the effigy of Holika) should be circumvented 7 times and one should sincerely pray to the Lord for removal of ailments from the body and elimination of evil tendencies from the mind. Bapuji mentions that this bonfire even possesses the power to destroy latent tumor cells of the body.

Bapuji has further emphasized that resorting to pious activities like ‘japa’ (incantation of the Lord’s name), ‘dhyan’ (meditation), ‘pranayam’ (breathing exercises), ‘maun’ (observing silence), ‘upwas’ (observing fast) and ‘bramcharya’ (observing celibacy) on this auspicious occasion of Holi will bestow spiritual enhancement and also confer good health and an idyllic mind.

Only natural colors should be used for celebration. Natural colors can be prepared by extracting colors from flowers like ‘Genda’ (Marigold), ‘Palash’ (Flame of the Forest) or ‘Kesar’ (Saffron). This can be done by soaking flowers overnight and boiling it the next morning and using such water extracted for playing holi. Playing holi with such natural colors has a therapeutic effect on the body and mind.

Bapuji has strictly advised people against using synthetic colors available in markets. These colors are nothing but a hazardous composition of chemicals which have an extremely perilous effect on human body - Red color contains ‘Mercuric Sulphide’ which increases the risk of skin cancer; Black color contains ‘Lead Oxide’ which leads to diseases relating to kidney; Green color contains ‘Copper Sulphate’ which causes burning sensation in the eyes and temporary blindness; Silver contains ‘Aluminum Bromide’ which can cause cancer; Blue color contains ‘Prussian Blue’ which leads to various skin diseases.

Bapuji has further advised to consume food bereft of salt or minimal salt for atleast 15 days post Holi. This is extremely advantageous in curbing the ‘kapha dosha’ tendency which aggravates during this season.
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