The Festival of Holi

Holi is celebrated in several ways…the most common features include the day (the full moon of Phalgun) and lighting of a bonfire.

Contrary to most festivals, which are celebrated with great discipline, Holi is more freely undertaken as everyone takes part in some form of mischief.

Story of Holika and Prahlada

There are several variations in the stories about Holi, but perhaps the most common is involving a demon king called Hiranyakashipu, who had a son called Prahlada. Prahlada was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, instead of worshipping his father. The King failed in his pleas to his son to change from being a devotee of Lord Vishnu to following himself.

Realising that he could not do anything himself he decided to call on his sister, the demon goddess Holika, who because she has been granted boon by the fire god Agni, could survive the fiercest of flames.

Holika lures Prahlada onto an unlit funeral pyre and then uses her powers to make it burst into flames. Prahlada calls out to Lord Vishnu who comes to his rescue and as Holika perishes in the fire. As a result, good triumphs over evil.

Holi – Festival of Colours

Holi is often referred to as ‘the festival of colours.’ This is derived from the stories of Krishna and the Gopi’s squirting coloured water at each other as part of the ‘mischief’ or lila.

The anarchic element to the celebrations, which eventually dies down perhaps represent the coming and falling of the demons. This is just to remind us that the demoniac forces should be killed both within and without us. Kill the ugly and start anew with great abandon and celebrate the event by playing with colours. No matter what life has to offer, one can always have a delightful attitude.

Holi also points out to the season of Spring, where everything is fresh and new.

You can also read Why do we celebrate Holi?

Reference: Chinmayam – March 2001