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Holi / Dhuleti
History
In this festival, emphasis is laid on lighting of Holi - a small pyre of wood. Its origin is attributed by some to the burning of negative energies such as Holika, Holaka, Dhundha and Putana, who trouble little children, or to the burning of desires (Kam or Madan) according to others.
Celebration
One should not light Holi during the day. The person lighting it should purify himself and pronounce the resolve, "I am performing this worship along with my family to overcome the trouble from negative energies like Dhundha," before lighting the Holi pyre.
After the Holi fire is burnt out it should be extinguished by sprinkling milk and ghee. Then sattvik fruits like coconuts and chakothra (pomelo) should be distributed to the people assembled there. The night should be spent in dance and song.
On this day, the deity Bhag is worshipped. The common meaning of Bhag is reproductive organs or the female sex organs. Thus, the celebration on this day includes the usage of language referring to the female reproductive organs, that is, 'foul' language, in the name of the deity Bhag. This by itself is a type of worship of the deity. One must realize the significance of the foul language as a part of worship on this particular day, rather than taking it out of context, that is, using foul language in one's day-to-day speech.
In some places it is customary to smear the body with substances like ash, cow dung and mud and indulge in dancing and singing.
Current form of the festival
The Holi festival as prevalent today is more at a social rather than a religious level. Though over a passage of time a number of religious and cultural rites and rituals have been included in it, it is prevalently a social festival, hence, most of the ritualistic benefits derived from it are not gained. Holikotsav, Dhulikotsav and Rangotsav are the three most common social festivals celebrated today; Holi, Dhulvad and Rangapanchami, respectively, are their popular names.
Dhulvad or Dhulivandan (worshipping the dust): This is the first day (pratipada) of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalgun. On this day either the ash of the Holi pyre from the previous night or dust is worshipped. After the ritualistic worship, obeisance is offered reciting the following mantra: "O dust (dhuli), Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh salute you. Hence, O deity of the elements, grant us opulence and protect us."
Rangapanchami: It is celebrated on the fifth day (panchami) of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalgun by throwing a red, fragrant powder (gulal) and splashing gulal-colored water on others.
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