Holi often called the festival of colors!

By M S Nazki

Holi Ke Din Dil Khil Jaate Hain, Rango Mein Rang Mil Jaate Hain, Gile Shikawe Bhul Ke Doston, Dushman Bhi Gale Mil Jaate Hain!

-Holi, often called the “festival of colors,” is a vibrant and joyful Hindu celebration that marks spring’s arrival, the triumph of good over evil, and the legendary love between Radha and Krishna.

-This festival, mainly observed in South Asia but also recognized globally, typically spans two days and is rooted in ancient traditions, mythology and community gatherings. Its date changes, as it is based on the full moon in the month of Phalguna, part of the Hindu lunar calendar, usually falling in late February or March. Holi, dating back to the 4th century, stands alongside Diwali, the festival of lights, as one of the most prominent Hindu celebrations and is famous for the playful tossing of colored powders and water.

-The Roots of Holi: Mythology and Legend:

-Holi’s origins are deeply embedded in Hindu mythology, enriched with various stories and legends. One famous tale revolves around the legend of an arrogant and powerful demon king, Hiranyakashipu, and his son Prahlad, who defied his father’s wishes by worshipping the deity Vishnu. In a bid to kill Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu conspired with his sister, Holika, to burn him alive. But through divine intervention, Prahlad was unharmed, while Holika perished in the flames. The legend symbolizes the victory of good over evil, a theme central to Holi celebrations.

-Also connected to Holi festivities is the love story of Radha and Krishna. According to Hindu mythology, the deity Krishna, whose skin was turned blue by a demon, was enamored by Radha, the epitome of love and devotion.

“Worried that Radha would be turned off by his unnatural appearance, Krishna vented to his mother, who playfully suggested that he smear colored powder on Radha’s face,” CNN reports. “Upon doing so, Radha fell in love with Krishna.”

-Holi Rituals and Traditions

-In India, where Holi is a national holiday, festivities traditionally begin with Holika Dahan the night before the main event. People light bonfires to honor the triumph of righteousness and sing and dance around them. They might also throw wood, leaves, grains or chickpeas into the flames as a symbolic gesture of letting go of negativity and welcoming the new season with positivity.

-The following day, known as Rangwali Holi, streets burst with color as scores of revelers playfully toss gulal (colored powders) and water at each other, an homage to Radha and Krishna’s love.

-Colors play a significant role in Holi, representing various emotions and elements of nature. Red symbolizes love and fertility, yellow signifies prosperity and new beginnings, blue is associated with the divine Krishna and green embodies the rejuvenation of life and the onset of spring. The throwing of these colors isn’t just fun—it’s a way to celebrate the changing seasons and create a communal sense of unity.

-Transitioning from Winter to Spring

Holi also marks the shift from winter to spring, and celebrations with family and friends include sweet treats and drinks. Gujiya, a sweet dumpling-like pastry filled with dried fruits, nuts and other ingredients, symbolizes abundance. The traditional Indian milk drink thandai, infused with sugar, spices, nuts and saffron, and lassi, a yogurt drink flavored with fruits, spices or herbs, are also popular. According to the Hindustan Times, thandai brings “feelings of relief from the scorching heat of summers.”

The Hindu American Foundation notes that Holi is sometimes compared to Thanksgiving in the U.S., as spring is the time of harvest in the region. Decorations fill Hindu temples, and there’s a focus on harmony and fresh starts. “Holi encourages people to forgive and forget–to pay off old debts, renew broken relationships and make new friends.”

• All About Holika Dahan 2025

Holi Dahan is the ritual of great importance in the celebration of Holi festival. It is the tradition of the Holi festival that depicts the death of Holika and magical the evacuation of Prahlad from fire. In accordance to the Hindu scriptures the ritual of Holika Dahan that is also recalled as Holika Deepak as well as Chhoti Holi is to be performed during Pradosh Kaal that starts after the sunset and while the Purnimasi Tithi is prevailing. This year the date for Holika Dahan is 14 March 2025, whereas the timing of Holika Dahan 2025 is 11:26 PM to 12:30 AM

-Holika Dahan is a religious ceremony in which people roast “Jau” in the fire of Holika. Then they bring it to their home as it is good to bring it for the family members. Also they burn 5 “Upali” in the Holika Dahan fire as it depicts the belief of burning their all problems. There is also a belief of burning the waste of massage by the “Sarson Ubtan in the Holika fire to burn every kind of body problems and get blessed by the Holika Mata with good health.

-Story of Behind the Celebration of Holika Dahan

There are numerous mythological explanations that are described in the historical books regarding the death of Holika and its reference for the celebration of Holi. In accordance to those historical explanations Holika was booned by Brahma for not getting any harm from fire or never getting burnt in fire. Following the order of his Brother Hiranyakashyap (who was also the father of Prahlad) Holika sat on fire with Prahladf in order to burn him in fire and let to death. It was Prahlad’s prayers to Lord Vishnu that saved him from burning in fire. It was the protective shawl of Holika that flew to cover Prahlad’s body from Holika who was having it. This is the story behind the celebration of Holika Dahan that is still followed by the people of India.

-The Legend of Radha-Krishna

Young Krishna is known to be very playful and mischievous. The story goes that as a child, Krishna was extremely jealous of Radha’s fair complexion since he himself was very dark.

-The-Legend-of-Dhundhi

One day, Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about the injustice of nature which made Radha so fair and he so dark. To pacify the crying young Krishna, the doting mother asked him to go and colour Radha’s face in whichever colour he wanted. In a mischievous mood, naughty Krishna heeded the advice of mother Yashoda and applied colour on her beloved Radha’s face; Making her one like himself.

Well, there is also a legend to explain Krishna’s dark complexion. It so happened that once a demon attempted to kill infant Krishna by giving him poisoned milk. Because of which Krishna turned blue. But Krishna did not die and the demon shriveled up into ashes. The beautiful scene of Krishna’s prank in which he played colour with Radha and other gopis has been made alive in myriad forms in a number of paintings and murals.

-The Celebrations

Somehow, the lovable prank of Krishna where he applied colour on Radha and other gopis using water jets called pichkaris gained acceptance and popularity. So much so that it evolved as a tradition and later, a full-fledged festival. Till date, use of colours and pichkaris is rampant in Holi. Lovers long to apply colour on their beloveds face and express their affection for each other. This legend is wonderfully brought alive each year all over India, particularly in Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon-the places associated with Krishna and Radha. In fact, the entire country gets drenched in the colour waters when it is time for Holi and celebrate the immortal love of Krishna and Radha.

-Legend of Kaamadeva

The legend has it that when Lord Shiva’s consort Sati committed herself to fire due to disgrace shown by her father Daksha to Shiva, Lord Shiva became extremely sad. He renounced his worldly duties and went into deep meditation. Meanwhile, the daughter of the mountains, Parvati started meditating to acquire Shiva as her husband. Moreover, since Shiva was least interested in the affairs of the world complications began to generate in matters of the world which made all the gods concerned and afraid. The gods then seeked the help of Lord Kaamadeva, the god of love and passion to bring Shiva back to his original self. Kaamadeva knew that he might have to suffer the consequences of doing this, but he accepted to shoot his arrow on Shiva for the sake of the world. As planned Kaama shot his love arrow on Shiva while he was in meditation. This made Shiva extremely angry and he opened his third eye – reducing Kaamadeva to ashes. However, Kaamadeva arrow had the desired effect and Lord Shiva married Parvati.

A short while after this, Kaamadeva’s wife, Rati pleaded Lord Shiva and said this was all the plan of the gods and asked him to to kindly revive Kaamadeva. An embodiment of love himself, Lord Shiva gladly accepted to do so. Thus the incident had a happy ending for all.

-The Celebrations

It is believed that Lord Shiva burned Kaamadeva on the day of Holi. Down south people worship Kaamadeva-the Love-god for his extreme sacrifice on the day of Holi. Kaamadeva is depicted with his bow of sugarcane having the string of a line of humming bees and his arrow-shafts are topped with passion that pierce the heart. The deity is offered mango blossoms that he loved and sandalwood paste to cool off the pain of his fatal burns. Songs are also song in which Rati’s sorrow is depicted. In Tamil Nadu, Holi is known by three different names – Kamavilas, Kaman Pandigai and Kama-Dahanam.

-Another Ogress – Pootana

Yet another legend says that there was an Ogress known as Pootana. Lord Krishna’s devil uncle Kansa seeked the help of Pootana to kill infant Krishna by feeding him poisonous milk. Pootana disguised herself as a simple and pious woman and treacherously fed baby Krishna with her poisoned breast. Lord Krishna, however, sucked her blood which revealed the monster behind that pious woman and laid her to death. On the night before Holi, there is a practice to burn an effigy of Pootana – the Ogress who nearly killed Lord Krishna. The tradition is symbolic of victory of divinity over demonic forces. It also shows the end of winter and darkness – as typified by Pootana. Pootana, also known as Putana or Puyan, is a significant figure in Hindu mythology, particularly in the tales of Lord Krishna’s childhood. She is often depicted as a demoness or ogress sent by the evil king Kamsa to kill the infant Krishna. Pootana disguised herself as a beautiful woman and approached Yashoda’s house, where Krishna was living. She offered to breastfeed Krishna, but her intention was to poison him with her milk. However, Krishna, being all-knowing, understood her true nature and divine mission. He suckled her milk, and in the process, Pootana’s true form was revealed, with her monstrous size and evil intent exposed.

The story of Pootana serves as a reminder of the constant presence of evil in the world and the need for vigilance and righteousness to overcome it. It also highlights the protective nature of the divine, especially towards those who are pure of heart.

So finally we conclude: ‘Holi is a festival of Colors so enjoy it but remember the stories related above!