Holi - Festival of Colours
Legend of Demon king Hiranyakashyap
Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana. Hiaranyakashyap commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika was indestructible by fire. However, she was not aware that the boon worked only when she enters the fire alone. Prahlad was saved by the grace of the god for his extreme devotion. The festival, therefore, celebrates the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion. Legend of Lord Krishna is also associated with play with colors as the Lord started the tradition of play with colours by applying colour on his beloved Radha and other gopis.
Preparation:Huge piles of wood are collected to demonstrate the burning of Holika. These piles of wood are actually burnt.Next day, people apply dry colours to friends , family members and relatives. First the elders in the house are applied colours and their blessings are seeked.
A special drink called "BHANG" , is prepared which gives a high, that lasts for hours.
Ingredients of Bhang: (Caution is advised, as the preparation contains banned substances)2 cups water 1 ounce marijuana (fresh leaves and flowers of a female plant preferred) 4 cups warm milk 2 tablespoons blanched and chopped almonds 1/8 teaspoon garam masala (a mixture of cloves, cinnamon, and cardamon) 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger 1/2 to 1 teaspoon rosewater 1 cup sugar
Method Bring the water to a rapid boil and pour into a clean teapot. Remove any seeds or twigs from the marijuana, add it to the teapot and cover. Let this brew for about 7 minutes. Now strain the water and marijuana through a piece of muslin cloth, collect the water and save.
Take the leaves and flowers and squeeze between your hands to extract any liquid that remains. Add this to the water. Place the leaves and flowers in a mortar and add 2 teaspoons warm milk. Slowly but firmly grind the milk and leaves together. Gather up the marijuana and squeeze out as much milk as you can. Repeat this process until you have used about 1/2 cup of milk (about 4 to 5 times). Collect all the milk that has been extracted and place in a bowl. By this time the marijuana will have turned into a pulpy mass.
Add the chopped almonds and some more warm milk. Grind this in the mortar until a fine paste is formed. Squeeze this paste and collect the extract as before. Repeat a few more times until all that is left are some fibers and nut meal. Discard the residue.
Combine all the liquids that have been collected, including the water the marijuana was brewed in. Add to this the garam masala, dried ginger and rosewater. Add the sugar and remaining milk.
Method Bring the water to a rapid boil and pour into a clean teapot. Remove any seeds or twigs from the marijuana, add it to the teapot and cover. Let this brew for about 7 minutes. Now strain the water and marijuana through a piece of muslin cloth, collect the water and save.
Take the leaves and flowers and squeeze between your hands to extract any liquid that remains. Add this to the water. Place the leaves and flowers in a mortar and add 2 teaspoons warm milk. Slowly but firmly grind the milk and leaves together. Gather up the marijuana and squeeze out as much milk as you can. Repeat this process until you have used about 1/2 cup of milk (about 4 to 5 times). Collect all the milk that has been extracted and place in a bowl. By this time the marijuana will have turned into a pulpy mass.
Add the chopped almonds and some more warm milk. Grind this in the mortar until a fine paste is formed. Squeeze this paste and collect the extract as before. Repeat a few more times until all that is left are some fibers and nut meal. Discard the residue.
Combine all the liquids that have been collected, including the water the marijuana was brewed in. Add to this the garam masala, dried ginger and rosewater. Add the sugar and remaining milk.
Holi Related Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSGcTDCKJx8&feature=related
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm17BPGvZSc&feature=related
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm17BPGvZSc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiIL-w_jD8o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUutVlCAT9U&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3RvV8qe9Ak
1 comments:
Hey... Great posting on Holi. I am Varun from Kolkata and we celebrate 2 day . One on 11th March for Bengali and another on 12th March for non-bengali. Check my blog for Holi Phagwa Doljatra 2009.
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