Holi is one of the most revered Hindu
festival commiserated in India on the full moon day in the month of
Phalguna according to Hindu calendar that falls in the month (Feb-March)
as per the Gregorian calendar. In 2015, Holi celebrations start on 5th
March and end on 6th March.
Holi marks the coming of spring and the time of harvesting Rabi crops such as wheat, barley, mustard, sesame and peas.
Mythological Tales Behind Holi:
There was the King Hiranyakashipu who married to the princess Kayadu. After some time the royal couple was blessed with the sun. They named their son ‘Prahlada’. King Hiranyakashipu got the boon that he would neither killed by human being nor animal. King Hiranyakashipu became so powerful that he ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him as the God. King Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahalada was the staunch devotee of Vishnu and denied to worship his father as God.
King Hiranyakashipu tried to kill his son many times, but Vishu always saved him. Once Hiranyakashipu attempted to burn his son alive by asking his sister Holika to take Prahalada in her lap. Holika got the boon that she would not be burnt by the fire. On the decided day, Holika sat in the fire with Prahalada in her lap, she burnt herself and Prahalada was saved. Vishnu again saved him. This mythological tale forms the basis of Holika Dehan. In remembrance of the victory of Prahaladha, bonfire is burnt in the evening prior to Holi.
The other mythological tales related to Holi are as follows:
Once there was the demon Tarkasur who had done severe penance and got the boon from Brahma that he would be slain by the son of Shiva. After getting the boon, Tarkasur became very powerful that he conquered all the three worlds. There was the great problem for Gods to get their kingdom back. Brahma told them that demon Tarkasur would be killed by Shiva’s son.
Shiva was in deep meditation after the death of his consort Sati. He decided that he would not marry again. Sati incarnated as the Parvati. Parvati had performed severe penance, but Shiva didn't accept her as his wife.
Vishnu understood the situation and thus asked Kamdeva, the God of love, to shoot arrows to invoke desire in the heart of Shiva.
Kamdeva’s arrows had not worked rather Shiva became very angry. In a fit of rage he shot fire out of his third eye and reduced him into ashes. This is sometimes given as the basis of Holi's bonfire.
There is yet another tale associated with the festival of Holi. According to the tale, the young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda that why Radha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply color on Radha's face and see how her complexion would change. As this festival is associated with Krishna, Holi is played with great fervor in Vrindavan and Mathura, the two main cities which were associated with Krishna is closely affiliated... Read More
Holi marks the coming of spring and the time of harvesting Rabi crops such as wheat, barley, mustard, sesame and peas.
Mythological Tales Behind Holi:
There was the King Hiranyakashipu who married to the princess Kayadu. After some time the royal couple was blessed with the sun. They named their son ‘Prahlada’. King Hiranyakashipu got the boon that he would neither killed by human being nor animal. King Hiranyakashipu became so powerful that he ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him as the God. King Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahalada was the staunch devotee of Vishnu and denied to worship his father as God.
King Hiranyakashipu tried to kill his son many times, but Vishu always saved him. Once Hiranyakashipu attempted to burn his son alive by asking his sister Holika to take Prahalada in her lap. Holika got the boon that she would not be burnt by the fire. On the decided day, Holika sat in the fire with Prahalada in her lap, she burnt herself and Prahalada was saved. Vishnu again saved him. This mythological tale forms the basis of Holika Dehan. In remembrance of the victory of Prahaladha, bonfire is burnt in the evening prior to Holi.
The other mythological tales related to Holi are as follows:
Once there was the demon Tarkasur who had done severe penance and got the boon from Brahma that he would be slain by the son of Shiva. After getting the boon, Tarkasur became very powerful that he conquered all the three worlds. There was the great problem for Gods to get their kingdom back. Brahma told them that demon Tarkasur would be killed by Shiva’s son.
Shiva was in deep meditation after the death of his consort Sati. He decided that he would not marry again. Sati incarnated as the Parvati. Parvati had performed severe penance, but Shiva didn't accept her as his wife.
Vishnu understood the situation and thus asked Kamdeva, the God of love, to shoot arrows to invoke desire in the heart of Shiva.
Kamdeva’s arrows had not worked rather Shiva became very angry. In a fit of rage he shot fire out of his third eye and reduced him into ashes. This is sometimes given as the basis of Holi's bonfire.
There is yet another tale associated with the festival of Holi. According to the tale, the young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda that why Radha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply color on Radha's face and see how her complexion would change. As this festival is associated with Krishna, Holi is played with great fervor in Vrindavan and Mathura, the two main cities which were associated with Krishna is closely affiliated... Read More
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