Holi & Masi Magam

Festivals in general have a survival value because they in essence make people closer together and friends tend to cooperate more. Humans and most of our ancestors and relatives are social species and social species use cooperation to increase their chances of survival.

First let's know something deep about Holi

• Holi is celebrated for the death of Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu.
• Holi starts with burning a bonfire the night before Phalgun purnima. Bonfire is called Holika dahan memorating the burning of Holika.
• Next day on Holi, people celebrate the death of demonic Holika by applying colors on each other. Holika's death memorates the slaying of bad things and sustenance of good things.

The time during which Holi arrives witnesses a drastic change in climatic conditions. The weather changes from cold to heat, bringing in laziness and sleepiness among people.
To counteract this tardiness of the body, our ancestors had come up with this very beautiful and fun filled festival. This is for sure not the only biological significance of Holi, but there are much more great reasons associated as well.

                                        

• Holi is great for the body. It helps to rejuvenate the system of the human body. When the naturally made colors are sprayed in the body it penetrates the skin and enters into the pores. These natural products strengthen the ions in the body and add health and beauty to the skin.
• The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When the born fire of Holi known as Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenheit inducing a healthy heat in the atmosphere. When people take Parikrama around the fire, the germs die hence cleaning the body.
• The most interesting biological significance lies in the colors used during the Holi festival. According to research’s conducted, our body is a combination of different colors and due to the lifestyle we adopt certain deficiencies occur. Playing with colors will instill those lost pigments in our body resulting in the cure of many ailments.
• People also clean-up their houses on Holi which helps in clearing up the dust and mess in the house and get rid of mosquitoes and others pests. A clean house generally makes the residents feel good and generate positive energies.

Now let us know what is Holi in terms of Tamil Nadu and how it is celebrated.

• Holi is not celebrated in the same name in Tamil nadu. It is celebrated as Masi magam.
• It is celebrated on the same day as Holi on the pournami of Maasi.
• Masi magam is celebrated same like Holi by burning a bonfire. It is a ten day celebrations in all Shiva temples across Tamil nadu.
• Masi magam bonfire is called as KaMa dhaganam in Tamil nadu and Kamudu dahan in Andhra Pradesh.
• Celebrations starts on the chathurthi day of Masi. Children gather in front of Shiva temples and tries to make a replica of Kama, God of lust.
• Papaya tree is used as KaMa and every children go to every house asking Kaman irukkana? (Is KaMa there?) People give papaya trees if they have and all will be planted in front of Shiva temple.
• Kama's story is enacted in the form of theru koothu, a local folklore or in the form of recitals in the evenings on all ten days.

Story behind KaMa dhaganam - Once Shiva and Parvati went into deep meditation that the whole universe came into a standstill. All Devas, rishis, gandharvas tried to wake both Shiva and Shakthi but went invain. Finally on the advice of Vishnu, Devas sought the help of Kama or Manmathan as only lust can disturb the meditation of Shiva. Kama after request from Devas struck his flower arrow using his sugarcane bow on Shiva. Shiva getting disturbed by Kama got enraged and Burns down Kama into ashes. Later Murugan or Karthikeya was born out of Shiva's third eye and KaMa was reborn as Prathyuman, son of Krishna and Rukmini in Krishna avatar.

• On Holi day, people gather in front of the papaya tree which is portrayed as KaMa for ten days in evening. Pooja's are performed and Kama dhaganam is enacted by burning the papaya tree.
• Three days later from Masi magam, Kama was reborn and married back to Rathi devi.
• Temples which are in river banks and seashores make a procession of the respective Gods to rivers or sea and a holy dip is made. People spray water on Gods and over each other celebrating Masi magma.
• Masi magam signifies the abstinence of lust to attain the significant goal.

As the fact goes, unlike Holi which is celebrated for two days, Masi magam is celebrated for thirteen days in Tamil nadu! 

Holi or Masi magam is celebrated almost in the same way but with different stories. Only reason behind this festival is to celebrate their harvest and as the trees are blooming with colourful flowers from the fresh branches. Any festival in India is not specific to a region or culture, every festival is celebrated across India with slight modifications which suited their regions.

Like Holi or Masi magam, Pongal or Makara Sankranti or Uttaryana, Diwali is celebrated across India with different stories and styles. All these festivals are celebrated to bring every people in unison and not making a discrimination or restricted to just one section of people.

People of India should be proud to have such varieties and flavors of festivals which brings unity among people. Let the sole purpose of festivals survive as Indians though diversified are one flock under the same tree!