Significance and Story of Holi

Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Phalguna, which falls between late February and early March. The festival has several mythological stories associated with it, but the most popular one is the story of Prahlad and Holika.

Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, but his father, Hiranyakashipu, was a demon king who wanted everyone to worship him. When Prahlad refused to worship his father, Hiranyakashipu tried to kill him. He asked his sister, Holika, who had a boon that made her immune to fire, to sit with Prahlad in a fire. However, the opposite happened, and Holika was burnt to ashes while Prahlad emerged unscathed. This event symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

Another story associated with Holi is the story of Lord Krishna and Radha. According to the legend, Lord Krishna, who had a dark complexion, was jealous of Radha's fair complexion. His mother, Yashoda, suggested that he apply color on Radha's face to make her complexion similar to his. This event is believed to have started the tradition of playing with colors during Holi.

How Holi is Celebrated

Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor in India and other parts of the world. The celebrations start with a Holika Dahan, where people light a bonfire to symbolize the burning of Holika. The next day, people play with colors, water, and flowers. They smear each other's faces with colored powder, throw water balloons, and spray colored water on each other. People also visit their friends and family to exchange sweets and greetings.

The festival is also associated with traditional delicacies like gujiya, mathri, and thandai. People also dance to the beats of dhol and sing Holi songs. The festival brings people together and spreads joy and happiness.