Holi has long
traditional links with several legends. According to one popular
legend, the word Holi is derived from the demoness, Holika. She
was the sister of Hiranyakashyap, a demon king, who having
defeated the Gods, proclaimed his own supremacy over everyone
else in the Universe. Enraged over his son, Pralhad's ardent
devotion to Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashyap decides to punish him.
He takes the help of his sister, Holika, who is immune to any
damage from fire. Holika carries Prahlad into the fire but a
divine intervention destroys her and saves Prahlad from getting
burned. Thus Holi is celebrated to mark the burning of the evil
Holika. Though, another story says that, Holika was kind enough
not to kill the baby Prahlad, and instead, she wrapped Prahlad
with the fire-immune magic cloth, which she possessed, and gave
up her own life in the fire. She went to the Heaven for this
good act. But, no matter what the story is, it is actually a
celebration of the triumph of good over evil.
On the full moon day of the month of Phalgun the feast of Holika
Dahan is celebrated. According to the Puranas and the Bhagavat,
uncle Kansa, in an attempt to kill the boy Krishna, sent Putna,
a female demon, with the hope that he would drink her poisonous
milk. But Krishna drank the milk, and also sucked Putna's blood.
Thus he digested the poison and Putna died. During the night of
Holi a big fire is lit in which Putna is burnt.
According to another story, Dhundha, the witch, or female demon, used to
harass small children. By lighting big fires it is believed that she
gets frightened and is driven out of the village. Today the custom goes
on of making big bonfires in every lane of cities and villages. This
feast is also known as "kamdahan" (the burning of lust), or "Madandahan"
(the burning of Madan). As the story goes, in order to destroy the demon
Tarkasur, the gods thought that only the son of Shankar would have the
needed power. But Shankar was lost in meditation, not at all interested
in marriage or sexual pleasure. As Shankar was deeply engrossed in his
penance, the gods sent Madan (another name for Kamadeva, the god of
love, lust & beauty) to tempt him. Madan tried to draw Shankar's
attention towards Parvati. Then Shankar became angry and opening his
third eye on his forehead, he cast a fiery look on Madan and reduced him
to ashes.
There are so many fire-festivals, varying from region to region, is
associated to Holi. On the day of Holi in some houses the head of the
family worships the fire. A mango tree, or a coconut tree, or a betel
nut tree, or a castor oil plant, or a plantain tree is buried in the
middle of the fire. Usually people burn the Holika tree on the eve of
Holi. Now, in many places a huge cardboard statue of Holika is burnt
during Holi. This whole symbolic-event of burning of the evil, and
establishing the good is called "Holika Dahan" (or, the burning of
Holika). Folklore and dances are performed around the fire to welcome
the new season. On the morning of Holi, people have fun with colored
water. Men, women and children all participate in this merry making.
