India is a land of many colours, cultures, customs, and religions tied together in one robust and unified knot. And in this sub-continent, festivals play a significant role in the lives of the common people for whom such occasions are the perfect opportunity to get together and celebrate their faith in certain gods and deities.

The Hindu festival of Holi is one such occasion where almost every household all across the nation participates in smearing their loved ones, friends, and family members with a coloured powder called “gulaal”.

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Why is Holi Celebrated?

While many are aware of this Hindu festival, most still need to learn the real story behind why Holi is celebrated. Holi is not just a festival of colours, fun, and frolic. It is closely linked with a practice called “Holika Dahan”, where an effigy of Holika made of highly combustible materials is burned at the pyre. This symbolic activity is essentially a ritual whereby burning “Holika”, the people let go of all negative feelings and take a step towards becoming better human beings. The story of Holika Dahannam is fascinating and again shows why good triumphs over evil, which is what Holi signifies too.

Holi Dahan - What Hindu Mythology Has to Say?

According to Hindu mythology and the Vishnu Puranas, Prahlad was the son of king Hiranayakashayp and an ardent worshiper of the almighty Vishnu. Hiranayakashyap was a daitya king who did not want his son to praise and worship Lord Vishnu since he was oppressed by him and wanted to make Prahlad turn his back on his God. Prahlada, on the other hand, was a divine saintly character who only had the best interest of people in his heart and wanted to devote his life and actions to Vishnu's veneration. To ensure that Prahlada takes the path that Hiranayakashyap willed for his son, the King tried to harm Prahlada on several occasions. First, he tried to throw Prahlada off from a high cliff into a raging river. But Prahalda stayed calm and kept chanting his Lord's name when Bhudevi, a consort of Vishnu, came to his rescue. Seeing that his plan had failed, Hiranaykarshyap found no alternative and assigned the task to his sister Holika.

Hiranayakashayp and his sister Holika were blessed with two undefiable boons. Hiranakashayp could not be killed by “anything born out of a womb, a man or an animal, neither during the day nor during the night, neither indoors, nor outdoors, neither in the land, nor in the air nor the water, and of no artificial weapons while Holika was immune to fire. The king wanted his sister to use her power and burn Prahlada to the ashes while not even a scratch came to his sister. Per her brothers’ instructions, Holika sat in a cave on a pyre with Prahlada on her lap as the blazing fire enveloped them in its flames. As the engulfing blaze increased in intensity, Prahlada kept calm and chanted the name of Lord Vishnu, always trusting that his Lord and saviour would save him at the right time. Surprisingly, while Holika, the one resistant to fire, met with her death by getting burned by the fire, Prahlad emerged from the pyre without any injuries or harm.

Though Vishnu could save his devotee this time, Hiranaykashayp did not give up on his endeavours to turn Prahlad into a “true daitya” who despised the gods. Asuras Shmabara and Vauy were first asked to slay Prahlada, but Vishnu saved him, following which he was sent to Guru Shukracharya to learn the ways of the demons. However, none of these could impact Prhalad, who remained as dedicated and devoted to Vishnu as he had been since the first day. Unable to tolerate the actions of Hiranyakashyap toward his ardent follower, Vishnu took the form of Narasimha, Half lion, and Half Demon. Since Hiranaykashayp had the boon of virtual immortality, Narasimha nullified all the clauses of the boon and killed Hiranaykashyap at dusk, on the threshold of his palace, resting the body of the king on one of his knees. Prahlada was crowned the king of the Daityas and became the king that his people deserved. He always never strayed from his path of being good and following the teachings of Lord Vishnu.

What is the Significance of Holika Dahan?

Holika Dahan, or the burning of Holika, is a ritual where the fire marks the burning of all things evil and saving all that is good. The effigy of Holika is also worshipped in many regions of India before the fire is lit. Though the rites and practices may vary from state to state and even from area to region, the story dates back to ancient times and narrates the journey of Prahlada and his undying love, devotion, and respect for his Lord Vishnu. Another variation of Holika Dahan that is typically more common in Southern India is Kama Dahana. The story involves Kama Deva and Devadidev Mahadev. The basic idea behind the practice remains the same to banish evil with the flames and celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Holika Dahan is celebrated on the evening of Phalguna Purnima and is a sight to behold. The entire community builds a massive pyre with or without an effigy. Once this pyre catches fire, the attendees enjoy sharing food and music and welcoming the good on this auspicious day. The festival of Holi itself sees the whole nation celebrating with mithais, gujiyas, and more, apart from the riot of colours that is the soul of the Holi festival. Coloured water is also an essential element of Holi, where kids and adults fill their ‘Pichkaris” with water of different shades and colour to throw at each other, along with gulal or coloured powder. Holi is not only observed on the Indian mainland but across the globe as well and is one of the most beautiful events of the calendar on a national and international scale.