President Kovind, Narendra Modi wish nation on Holi
New Delhi: Indian PM Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday greeted the nation on Holi, the festival of colours.
This year Holi is being celebrated in the country amid rising COVID-19 cases.
Several states have imposed restrictions on Holi celebrations due to the spike in cases over the past few weeks.
आप सभी को होली की ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएं। आनंद, उमंग, हर्ष और उल्लास का यह त्योहार हर किसी के जीवन में नए जोश और नई ऊर्जा का संचार करे।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 29, 2021
President Kovind tweeted: "Greetings to all fellow citizens on Holi. The festival of colours, Holi, is a festival of social harmony which brings about joy, delight and hope in the lives of people. May this festival further strengthen the spirit of nationalism which is integral to our cultural diversity."
Greetings to all fellow citizens on Holi. The festival of colours, Holi, is a festival of social harmony which brings about joy, delight and hope in the lives of people. May this festival further strengthen the spirit of nationalism which is integral to our cultural diversity.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 29, 2021
As the legend goes, Prahlada, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, was tricked into sitting on a pyre by her aunt Holika.
While the fire burnt her, Prahlada was safe, enraging her father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who smashed a pillar from which Lord Vishnu's Narashimha avatar emerged and after an ensuing battle, killed the demon.
It is believed that people smeared others with the ashes from the pyre and thus the tradition of playing Holi started, which eventually used colours.
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