- Title: Devotees dance, pray around holy fire to celebrate Holi eve in India
- Date: 9th March 2020
- Summary: AMRITSAR, PUNJAB, INDIA (MARCH 09, 2020) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** DEVOTEES GATHERED AROUND HEAP OF WOOD, THAT WILL BE LIT UP FOR A RITUAL CALLED 'HOLIKA DAHAN', MARKING THE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL DEVOTEES CIRCUMAMBULATING AROUND HEAP OF WOOD DEVOTEES GATHERED DEVOTEES SETTING HEAP OF WOOD ON FIRE AS RITUAL TO MARK 'HOLIKA DAHAN' HOLY FIRE (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEVOTEE, SUMAN, SAYING: "On Holi, may the Holi Goddess bless everybody with happiness and peace… This is what we pray on Holi." LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MARCH 09, 2020) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES BURNING FLOWER POT CRACKERS BESIDE HEAP OF WOOD DEVOTEES SPRINKLING COLOURS ON EACH OTHER DEVOTEES GREETING EACH OTHER (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEVOTEE, ASHOK KISHAN MANI, SAYING: "Here, all the Hindus, Muslims, and others celebrate all the festivals peacefully…be it Eid, Holi or any other festival." BHUBANESWAR, ODISHA, INDIA (MARCH 09, 2020) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES GATHERED AROUND HOLY FIRE DEVOTEES AROUND HOLY FIRE CHILDREN PUTTING COLOURS ON EACH OTHER WOMEN GREETING EACH OTHER BY PUTTING COLOURS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEVOTEE, VEENU AGARWAL, SAYING: "All our evil and negativity will be burned in this (holy fire), and we will be filled with positivity… and our goodness will be retained. And this is why we celebrate 'Holika Dahan'." NEW DELHI, INDIA, (MARCH 09, 2020) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) DEVOTEES GATHERED AROUND HEAP OF WOOD CHILDREN WEARING MASKS HOLDING PLACARDS DEVOTEES CHEERING UP DEVOTEE SETTING HEAP OF WOOD ON FIRE DEVOTEES DANCING DEVOTEES GATHERED AROUND HOLY FIRE
- Embargoed: 23rd March 2020 18:35
- Keywords: Amritsar Bhubaneswar Holi India Lucknow New Delhi Odisha Punjab Uttar Pradesh celebrations colours devotees festival firecrackers holy fire prayers ritual ‘Holika Dahan’
- Location: AMRITSAR, PUNJAB/ LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH/ BHUBANESWAR, ODISHA/ NEW DELHI, INDIA
- City: AMRITSAR, PUNJAB/ LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH/ BHUBANESWAR, ODISHA/ NEW DELHI, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001C4C0DHR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Devotees across India marked the Hindu festival of 'Holika Dahan' on Monday (March 09) during which holy fire is worshipped on Holi eve, a day before the main festival Holi hits the country in its full fervour.
During the festival, logs of woods are arranged and are burnt, which is a symbol of victory of good over evil.
'Holika Dahan' is performed on the eve of 'Holi', where after lighting a bonfire, people distribute sweets and sing folk songs to celebrate. It is done to symbolically re-enact a Hindu mythological story of 'Holika', the sister of demon king who wanted to immolate his son, 'Prahlad' using his sister's magical powers of resistance to fire. However, Prahlad was protected by the God and the fire instead ended up killing 'Holika'.
Days before the Hindu festival, residents start gathering wood and other combustible materials for the holy fire.
Devotees in India's north-western Amritsar city gathered to take part in the rituals and pray for peace and prosperity of their families.
"On Holi, may the Holi Goddess bless everybody with happiness and peace… This is what we pray on Holi," said a devotee Suman.
In northern Lucknow and eastern Bhubaneswar city, devotees were seen burning crackers and greeting each other by sprinkling colours.
In India's capital New Delhi, devotees played drums and danced around the holy fire to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.
Holi, also known as the festival of colours, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated across India in a celebration of the triumph of good over evil.
It is the most awaited festival among the Hindus, especially among the youth. People of all ages forget mutual differences and sprinkle-powdered colours on each other.
Holi will be celebrated on March 10. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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