Holi Satsang

Holi Satsang

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Br. Ramanand will not able to lead this satsang, as originally planned. Toronto Satsang will proceed with the Holi celebration satsang nonetheless.

Details: A Special Satsang celebrating the Indian spring festival of Holi. The satsang will include chanting of Amma's Ashtottaram (108 names of Amma) meditation, inspiring reading, bhajans, Arati, and closing prayers. Dinner to follow at 7 PM.

To celebrate Holi, there will be some playing with coloured powders after the satsang, for those who want to participate.

For more information, email ammatoronto@ammagroups.org.

About Holi

Holi is a time to start anew in the Spring: devotees set aside past differences and forgive, make new friends, and enjoy the changing seasons. Holi celebrations are widely observed in India, and in other communities of Indian origin in countries such as Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. There are two legends that explain the symbolic elements of Holi: The demon King Hiranyakashyapu considered himself to be powerful, and wanted all his subjects to worship him. His son, Prahlad, worshipped Lord Vishnu instead. The demon king disagreed with his son’s devotion to Lord Vishnu and wanted to punish him. Hiranyakashyapu asked his sister Holika to take Prahlad into a blazing fire, as she had a boon to withstand heat. Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad for his extreme devotion, and punished Holika by burning her despite her boon. The Holika bonfire during Holi signifies the symbolic victory of good over evil, of Prahlad over Hiranyakashyapu. This legend emphasizes that our devotion to God will always protect us in difficult situations. Prahlad's story also reminds devotees of the importance of being truthful and honest when resisting evil.

In some parts of India where Krishna is revered, Holi commemorates the divine love of Radha and Krishna. Krishna was of dark complexion. In his youth, Krishna despaired that Radha and the other Gopis would not favour him, as they were all fair-skinned.  Krishna's mother, Yashoda, then told Krishna to color Radha’s face any colour of his choice. Krishna did this, and Radha and Krishna became a couple. Since then, playing with coloured powders and waters has become part of Holi celebrations.