Holi Celebration in Fiji 2011

Holi celebration in Fiji 2011 will be celebrated much before Indians do on March 19th- March 20th. This is because Fiji is ahead of India by 6 and half hours. By the time the celebrations in India begin, the Hindus of Fiji will have started their enjoyment already. The Fiji Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. A trip to these islands during “Phagwa” will allow you to experience the zeal, enthusiasm, and excitement with which the festival is celebrated. Holi is also known as Festival of Colors.

How is Holi celebrated in Fiji

People belonging to different age groups gather, exchange good wishes, prefer to forget the differences and decide to have a cordial relationship.

Holi is played with colored powder and also color mixed in water. In case of the latter, it is referred to as “gulal”.

Men folk belonging to different households assemble and visit houses in the neighborhood.

They exchange colors and sweets. Sometimes gifts are also exchanged with the ones with whom you are very close.

This year too the celebrations are expected to take place with equal zeal and grandeur.

Men folk will sing “Chautals” or songs that are usually sung on Holi.

The most prominent color of gulal or color powder is purple. Powdered gulal is also known as “abeer.

History of Holi in Fiji

• In Fiji Islands, Holi was celebrated for the first time in the year 1880.
• During this period Indians who had settled in these islands introduced the celebrations as they observed the festival of colors for the first time.
• In fact the ones who migrated to Fiji were the workers who were brought in from India. Keeping with the traditions of the festival, people celebrate this event by observing all the customs.
• This festival also came to be known as Phagwa.




Significance of Holi



• Holi is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil.
• The significance of the festival revolves around a king who restrained his son from worshipping Lord Vishnu.
But no amount of persuasion could stop his son from offering prayers to God.
Finally he asks his sister (Holika) to sit with his son.
The king’s sister was blessed with a boon that she would not get burnt in fire.
As the king set his son and sister on fire, the son escaped unhurt but his sister was killed.
This is believed to be victory of good over evil.
To mark the celebrations, Holi celebration in Fiji 2011 is expected to be celebrated with grandeur.
This holds true for the other Hindu nations too.



Last Updated on 28/01/2011

Comment

Name

Email

Comment