Holi is one of the important festivals celebrated by Indians with great devotion and joy. On this festive day, relatives and friends gather at a place, splash colors at each other, and dance in happiness. They lit the fire of Holi and, perform traditional dances along with kolattam (folk dance) around and worship the Lord. It is a tradition followed by many generations.
Generally, this festival is celebrated at the end of the winter season, i.e on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna, which usually falls in February or March. People worship Shri Krishna and Radha on Holi and enjoy singing their songs.
Without any differences between caste and religion, several people across the country participate in these Holi celebrations and celebrate the Rang Panchami festival grandly.
In this article, you will come to know about the below questions.
- Why do we celebrate the Holi festival?
- What is the reason behind lighting the Holi bonfire on that day?
- What is the connection between this colors festival and Radha Krishna?
- How do people across the country celebrate this festival following their traditions
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There are mainly three stories behind this Holi festival.
First story
According to Vaishnava Purana earlier, Hiranyakashyap was the demon king who performed penance for a long time receives a boon from Lord Brahma that makes it almost impossible for him to get killed by others.
He asked for a boon that, he should not get killed during day or night, inside the house or outside, on the earth or in the sky, either by humans or animals, weapons or powers. Brahma accepted that and granted the demon king Hiranyakashyap with the boon desired.
With that, he becomes very arrogant and starts attacking heaven and earth. In addition, he passed the order that the people should stop worshipping the gods and have to worship only him. While Hiranyakashyap was so arrogant his son Prahlad disagreed with his father and worshipped Lord Vishnu with great devotion. As Prahlad did not listen, even after Hiranyakashyap warned him not to worship Lord Vishnu, he decided to kill his son.
At first, when he poured poison into the mouth of Prahlad, it becomes an elixir. Then with another plan, he made the elephants stamp on him, but nothing happened to him. Likewise, whatever the plans they came up with, nothing happened to Prahlad.
At last, he ordered his son to sit in the lap of his sister Holika, who was a demoness and enter into the fire. With the belief in Lord Vishnu, whom he worships, he sits in the lap of Holika on the fire. At that time, the shawl of Holika that would protect her from the fire was blown by the wind, and saved Prahlad. Holika, who had a cruel thought was burnt to her death. Marking the burning of Holika, the Holi festival is celebrated and bonfire is lighted on Holi.
Later, Lord Vishnu incarnated Narasimha avatar (half-lion, half-man appearance) to kill Hiranyakashyap. During the twilight hour, neither day nor night dragged him to the threshold of the door (neither inside nor outside the house) and placed him on his lap (neither sky nor the earth), and then Hiranyakashyap was killed.
Second story
There is another story about Holi. When Radha mischievously teased Shri Krishna that his complexion was very dark, Krishna complained to his mother about that, and she decided to splash color on Radha. Thus Krishna played splashing colors at Gopikas along with Radha and celebrated this color festival. Thus became the Holi festival.
The story of Radha Krishna is said to be one of the reasons for celebrating this festival during the spring season that expresses love.
Third story
There is also another story behind the Holi festival. While making an effort for the marriage of Parvathi and Lord Shiva, Cupid threw a flowered arrow at lord shiva to disturb his penance, Lord Shiva, who became furious, destroyed the body of cupid. Then lord Shiva opened his third eye and turned the body of the cupid into ashes. As per the request of the cupid’s wife Rati, Lord Shiva brought the cupid back alive, but he would be alive only in a spiritual form which showcases love instead of the physical body structure. Because of this incident, the people set fire on the day of the Holi festival and celebrate it lavishly.
These are the main stories behind the Holi festival. This Holi festival is celebrated in the traditional methods of smearing colors on others, a bonfire on Holi, a musical program, folk dance, and praising Radha Krishna.
Along with Telugu states, Holi is celebrated in many other states such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Orissa, Gujarat, Maharashtra according to their traditions.
As the artificial colors used at the Holi festival are harmful to health, the governments are suggesting people to use natural colors.
This is the information about the actual history of Holi, the festival of colors.
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