Holi – is a major Hindu festival and is also called “the festival of colors”. It is a celebration of music, art, dance, love, and harmony which lasts for days and even months in some places. Every aspect of Holi is fun, people come together to dance, sing songs and apply colors to each other.
Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and for many, it is a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season.
What is the story behind Holi and how did the festival get its name? The answer lies in the legend of Prahlad and Holika.
Legend has it that Prahlad was the son of Hiranyakashyap, a demon king who ruled over the earth. The king wanted to be worshipped by all his subjects. But his own son was a worshipper of Lord Vishnu.
This angered Hiranyakashyap and he tried to Prahlad get thrown off a cliff and trampled under an elephant’s foot. But his attempts to kill the child did not work as Lord Vishnu always protected him.
Eventually, Hiranyakashyap asked his sister Holika for help. Holika had the power to stay unharmed by fire so she asked Pralhad to come to sit with her on a pyre.
She ended up being burnt while Pralhad, who was chanting Lord Vishnu’s name the whole time, was unhurt.
Holi, named after Holika, celebrates this triumph of good over evil. The night before Holi, people light a bonfire and pray for any evil in their minds to be destroyed. This ritual is called Holika Dahan. On the day of Holi, people splash each other with colors and dance at gatherings with their families and friends.
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HAPPY HOLI EVERYONE!
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