Every spring, people across India and around the world celebrate the Hindu festival Holi, throwing colored water and powders on one another in joyous celebration. On this one day—the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Phalguna—societal rankings such as caste, gender, age, and status are eschewed in the spirit of making merry together, and everyone is fair game to be doused with color.
Holi’s traditions vary throughout the country and have their roots in Indian mythology. In many places the festival is associated with the legend of Hiranyakashipu, a demon king in ancient India. Hiranyakashipu enlisted the help of his sister, Holika, to kill his son, Prahlada, a devoted worshipper of Vishnu. In an attempt to burn Prahlada, Holika sat with him on a pyre while wearing a cloak that protected her from the fire. But the cloak protected Prahlada instead, and Holika burned. Later that night Vishnu succeeded in killing Hiranyakashipu, and the episode was heralded as a triumph of good over evil. In many places in India, a large pyre is lit on the night before Holi to celebrate this occasion.
In other places, the story of Krishna and Radha is central. The story goes that Krishna, a Hindu deity who is considered a manifestation of Vishnu, fell in love with the milkmaid Radha, but he was embarrassed that his skin was dark blue and hers fair. In order to rectify this, he playfully colored her face during a game with her and the other milkmaids. This is thought to be an origin of the colored water and powder throwing. The general merrymaking is also seen as characteristic of Krishna, who is known for his pranks and play.
The history of Holi is deeply rooted in Hindu Mythology and tradition, with various legends and stories. Among all, the most popular legends associated with Holi are the stories of Holika and Prahlad. The Holi bonfire or Holika Dahan is a celebration based on the story of Holika and Prahlad from Hindu Mythology. This festival started from Erich of Jhansi in Bundelkhand. This once used to be the capital of Hiranyakashyap.
As per this story, there was a demon king named Hiranyakashipu. The king of the Daityas earned a boon from Lord Brahma. He says the boon of immortality is that he would neither die during the day nor at night. Neither man nor animal will be able to kill him. After receiving this boon, Hiranyakashyap became very arrogant and demanded everyone worship him as a god. But his Prahlad was born in the house of this demon king. He was devoted to Lord Vinshu rather than his father. King Hiranyakashipu didn’t like his devotion to Lord Krishna.
Hiranyakashyap made several attempts to get him killed. Still, Prahlad survived. Ultimately Hiranyakashyap threw Prahlad down from Dikoli mountain. Dikoli Mountain and the place where Prahlad fell still exist. It is mentioned in the 9th Canto of Shrimad Bhagwat Purana and Jhansi Gazetteer page 339A, 357. According to mythology, to punish her son, Hiranyakashipu asked his sister Holika, for help who was immune to fire. She has a chunari, wearing which she could sit amidst the fire.
By covering which there was no effect of fire. Hiranyakashipu and Holika planned to burn Prahlad alive. Holika tricked Prahlad into sitting on fire with her. But through divine intervention, Prahald was saved by Lord Vishnu and Holika was burned in that fire. Holika sat in the fire with Prahlad covered in the same chunri in her lap, but the effect of God’s illusion was that the wind blew and the chunri flew over Holika and landed on Prahlad.
In this way, Prahlad was again saved and Holika got burnt. Immediately after this, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Narasimha and killed Hiranyakashyap with his nails at the threshold of the temple situated at Dikauli on Gaudhuli Bela i.e. neither day nor night. Not only in Bundelkhand but in the entire country, the tradition of burning Holika is going on a day before Holi. This whole story symbolises the victory of good over evil. This is the reason, a Holika Dahan is celebrated the day before the Holi. People burn their negativity on the Holika Vahan.
Another popular story linked with the Holi is about Lord Krishna and Radha. Holi is a playful love story about Krishna and Radha. According to mythology, Lord Krishna who was well-known for his naughty nature, griped to his mother about his dark skin tone in contrast to Radha’s beautiful complexion. In response, his mother suggested that he colour Radha’s face to match his colour. This playful act of colouring Radha’s face with colour eventually became the tradition of playing with colour and water. People play Holi and apply colour to their loved ones which symbolises love, friendship and the arrival of spring.
Holi has roots in ancient Indian rituals and agricultural practices. It is also believed to celebrate the fertility festival, the arrival of spring and the blossoming of new life. On Holi, farmers devote their prey to the god for a healthy harvest and perform rituals to ensure the fertility of their land. The celebration of Holi with colour and water also represents the colourful blooms of spring and the renewal of life in nature.
Over time, holidays became the universal celebration of joy, unity and togetherness. It is a world-famous festival now. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm in India as well as in many parts of the world. Holi festival is full of colour, music, delicious sweets, playful environment
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