“Vasantotsava” (spring festival) was a popular festival of love in ancient India. It is not known how Vansantotsav has been transformed into Holi festival. Interestingly, the Gudnapur pillar inscription (300 BCE) found in Karnataka is a grant to “Kāmadevālaya” and refers to “Madanotsava” (festival of love) during the season of Vasanta. “Kāmadevāyatana” in Mṛccḥakaṭikam of Sūdraka and “Kāmadevagriha” in Kādambarī of Bāṇabhaṭṭa also indicate the existence of such social institutions. The archaeological site in Gudnapur is an ancient Kamadeva temple. There is also an archaeological site of Madana Kamdev temple in Baihata, Assam.
Christian missionaries have intelligently planted Valentine day (14th Feb) as celebration of love to influence young minds towards Christianity. In fact, St. Valentine was a Christian missionary in Rome who was fraudulently luring Roman people to convert them. Roman emperor Claudius II ordered him to be beheaded. Christians claim that Valentine was executed on 14th Feb but there were at least three different Valentines and all of them were executed on 14th Feb. This is just a fraud to corrupt a Pagan festival of Rome.
Actually, Lupercalia, an ancient Pagan festival was celebrated by the young men between the ages of 20 and 40 on 13th Feb or 14th Feb. The Christians conspired to corrupt this popular festival. They fabricated a story that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.” Similarly, the day of 25th December was celebrated by Romans as the birthday of Sun god but the Christians transformed 25th December as the birthday of Jesus though Jesus was born on 6th or 10th January. Truly speaking, Valentine day is just a feast day of Christians and it has nothing to do with love, nor with affairs.
Let us revive and promote our ancient Vasantotsav (spring festival) as festival of love. Phalguna Shukla Trayodasi, a day before Holika dahan may be a perfect day to celebrate “Vasantotsav”.
by vedveer arya
Christian missionaries have intelligently planted Valentine day (14th Feb) as celebration of love to influence young minds towards Christianity. In fact, St. Valentine was a Christian missionary in Rome who was fraudulently luring Roman people to convert them. Roman emperor Claudius II ordered him to be beheaded. Christians claim that Valentine was executed on 14th Feb but there were at least three different Valentines and all of them were executed on 14th Feb. This is just a fraud to corrupt a Pagan festival of Rome.
Actually, Lupercalia, an ancient Pagan festival was celebrated by the young men between the ages of 20 and 40 on 13th Feb or 14th Feb. The Christians conspired to corrupt this popular festival. They fabricated a story that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.” Similarly, the day of 25th December was celebrated by Romans as the birthday of Sun god but the Christians transformed 25th December as the birthday of Jesus though Jesus was born on 6th or 10th January. Truly speaking, Valentine day is just a feast day of Christians and it has nothing to do with love, nor with affairs.
Let us revive and promote our ancient Vasantotsav (spring festival) as festival of love. Phalguna Shukla Trayodasi, a day before Holika dahan may be a perfect day to celebrate “Vasantotsav”.
by vedveer arya
