Holi as a festival seems to have started several centuries before Christ as can be inferred from its mentions in the religious works of Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutra.
Holi in Temple Sculptures
Holi is one of the oldest among Hindu festivals, there is no doubt. Various
references are found in the sculptures on walls of old temples. A 16th century
panel sculpted in a temple at Hampi, capital of Vijayanagar, shows a joyous
scene depicting Holi where a prince and his princess are standing amidst maids
waiting with syringes to drench the royal couple in colored water.
Holi in Medieval Paintings
A 16th century Ahmednagar painting is on the theme of Vasanta Ragini - spring
song or music. It shows a royal couple sitting on a grand swing, while maidens
are playing music and spraying colors with pichkaris (hand-pumps). A Mewar painting
(circa 1755) shows the Maharana with his courtiers. While the ruler is bestowing
gifts on some people, a merry dance is on, and in the center is a tank filled
with colored water. A Bundi miniature shows a king seated on a tusker, and from
a balcony above some damsels are showering gulal (colored powders) on him.
Birthday of Shri Chaitanya MahaPrabhu
Holi Purnima is also celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
(A.D. 1486-1533), mostly in Bengal, and also in the coastal city of Puri, Orissa,
and the holy cities of Mathura and Vrindavan, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Making the Colors of Holi
The colors of Holi, called 'gulal', in the medieval times were made at home,
from the flowers of the 'tesu' or 'palash' tree, also called 'the flame of the
forest'. These flowers, bright red or deep orange in color, were collected from
the forest and spread out on mats, to dry in the sun, and then ground to fine
dust. The powder when mixed with water made a beautiful saffron-red dye. This
pigment and also 'aabir', made from natural colored talc, which were extensively
used as Holi colors, are good for the skin, unlike the chemical colors of our
days.
