Joyous Holi Celebrations With Shri Hari At Shri Hari Mandir In Sandipani Vidyaniketan
‘Utsav Priyaha Khalu Manavaha‘, this is a Sanskrit saying which means that human beings love festivals. Festivals enable people to forget their sorrows and ill feelings, gather together to celebrate joyously and consequently spread their enthusiasm to one another. Our Shruti says, ‘Utsaho balvanaartha‘, which means enthusiasm provides one with strength. However disheartened or disappointed a person may be, if this person is filled with enthusiasm, then he/she will certainly overcome the sorrows and bring new happiness in life.
Thus it was with such joy and enthusiasm that Holi was celebrated with Shri Hari in the presence of Pujya Bhaishri at Shri Hari Mandir. According to the Shrimad Bhagavat, on the day of fagan sud poonam from the Hindu calendar, Holika, the sister of the demon Hiranyakashipu, sat on a pyre in a conspiracy to kill the devotee of Lord Vishnu, called Prahlad. However, by the grace of Lord Vishnu, Prahladji was unharmed while Holika was burnt by the fire. In order to celebrate the happiness of the safety of Prahlad, devotees rejoiced the next day by playing with colours. This occasion is known as dhuleti.
On the day prior to Holi, all the deities in Shri Hari Mandir were dressed elegantly in white clothes, provided by the main sponsor of the whole event, Shri Niranjanbhai Thakkar. Dressed this way, it felt as though Shri Hari was getting inpatient to play Holi with his devotees.
On the day of Holi, the deities in Shri Hari Mandir were presented with special offerings of dhani (popcorn), dalia (split grams), khajur (dates) and patasa (sweet made of sugar). Dhvaja rohan (hoisting of auspicious flags) was also carried out on all the five temples by the sponsor Shri Niranjanbhai Thakkar. Prior to the evening aarati, the deities were brought out in the courtyard of the temple, where Pujya Bhaishri sprayed various colours on the deities amidst the playing of drums. Thereafter, two wooden torches were lit. Resin was poured over these torches causing a unique brightness. It is believed that this unique brightness brings a sparkle of joy in the eyes of Shri Baal Krishna. This was followed by a darshan of the evening aarati of Shri Hari.
At 7.45pm, the ritual of lighting the pyre of Holi was performed. Devotees performed pooja and pradakshina of the Holi and Pujya Bhaishri distributed the prasad of dhani, dalia, khajur and patasa.
On the following day of Dhuleti, Shri Lakshminarayan Bhagavan was seated on a special swing made of garlands of a variety of flowers. Once again Pujya Bhaishri sprinkled colours on the deities amidst the singing of Holi songs and beating of drums. Next, all the assembled devotees, teachers and students of Sandipani indulged in celebrating Holi and spraying colours with excitement in the inspiring presence of Pujya Bhaishri until 1pm. The joyous event was completed at 1.30pm with the offering of raajbhog (lunch) and a divine aarati.
Dhvaja rohan was performed again on the day of dhuleti by the family of Shri Deva Bhura Odedra of UK. Finally, Pujya Bhaishri honoured the manorathi family of Niranjanbhai Thakkar and presented them with upvastra and prasad.