Tag Archives: India Q&A for School Children

Where does tobacco come from? The name given to the plant and cured leaves of Nicotiana, and it can be used in various ways – for smoking, chewing and snuffing. It was first cultivated by the Indians of North and South America. Accounts of Christopher Columbus’s first voyage in 1492 speak of the natives of Cuba using ‘smoking reeds’ – …

Why Holi is known as festival of colors? In Vrindavan and Mathura (Where Lord Krishna grew up) the festival is celebrated for 16 days in remembrance of the divine love of Radha for Krishna. Krishna is believed to have complained to his mother (“Radha kyon gori, main kyon kala“) about his dark skin complexion and Radha’s fair. That’s when Krishna’s …

Lath mar Holi is a local celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi. It takes place well before the actual Holi in the town of Barsana near Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The name means “that Holi in which hit with sticks”. How is Holi Celebrated in Barsana? Legend has it that Lord Krishna visited his beloved Radha’s …

Holi falls in the lunar month of Phalguna according to the Hindu calendar. This date corresponds in the months of February or March as per the Gregorian calendar. It is marked on the last full moon day (Phalgun Purnima). The festival of Holi is a celebration of unity and brotherhood wherein festivities are observed with high spirits irrespective of caste, …

Festival of Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of which season? Spring: Holi, the festival of colors ushers in spring and is celebrated on the full moon of the month of Phagun. The dry winter leaves make way for the shiny green buds of spring, and the mustard fields are a riot of yellow. Most of all, …

What is the significance of Holi Festival? Holi is associated with many legends or folktales focussing on Prahlad and Hiranyakashyap. There are many stories surrounding Lord Krishna and Radha as well. Significance of Holi: Hindu mythology Prahlad and Hiranyakashyap: As per Hindu scriptures, there was a prince called Prahlad who was an ardent believer of Lord Vishnu. This didn’t go …

What is the dry colour used in Holi Festival known as? Earlier Gulal was made out of dried seeds of flowers like the palash or flame of the forest. Dried silt from the riverbed was added to give it lustre. However, synthetic dyes are more in use these days. They are mixed with the fine dust of mica, which may …

What is Social Significance of Holi? Holi helps to bring the society together and strengthen the secular fabric of our country India. For, the festival is celebrated by non-Hindus also as everybody like to be a part of such a colorful and joyous festival. Also, the tradition of the Holi is that even the enemies turn friends on Holi and …

What is Mythological Significance of Holi? Holi brings us close to our religion and the mythological significance of Holi is connected with various legends. The most important of them is the legend associated with Prahlad and Hiranyakshyap. It is from there that burning the Holika tradition generated. There is another legend of Holi connecting Radha and Krishna, which is when …

What is Legend of Holika and Prahlad? There was once a demon king by the name of Hiranyakashyap who won over the kingdom of earth. He was so egoistic that he commanded everybody in his kingdom to worship only him. But to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Narayana and refused to worship his …