Why is Holi celebrated with colours and gulaal? What is the link between Holika dehen and colourful gulaal holi.
Holika, commonly called Holi is a Indian festival that marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring season. People celebrate Holi by throwing coloured powder in the air and at each other. Entrances to houses are decorated with colorful Rangoli pattems. Celebrated on Saawan month purnima, Holi brings families together over Holika dehen and the colourful big Holi day.
Essentially, Holi celebrates the victory of good over evil. According to Indian mythology a demonic king by the name of Hiranya Kasyapu once ruled in ancient India. He was cruel and tyrannical. Everyone feared him except for his son Pralhad. Pralhad was an ardent devotee of Vishnu, who was the arch enemy of the demon race known as Rakshasas. As punishment Pralhad was ordered to embrace a red hot pole. But, he was unscathed. Pralhad was then made to jump off a steep cliff, but he came back safe. Hiranya Kasyapu then ordered that Pralhad be trampled by an elephant. But again, he was unscratched.
Finally, Hiranya Kasyapu called his sister Holika who had been granted a boon from Gods that she could not be harmed by fire ever (even if in a fire, she would never burn). Pralhad was made to sit in her lap in the middle of fire. However, this time, Holika was burnt to death and Pralhad was unhurt. His ashes scattered in the wind just like people scatter the powdered gulaal during Holi. Eventually, the ordeals faced by Pralhad climaxed in the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Narasimha who killed Hiranya Kasyapu. And thus the power of Bhakti won over evil. Pralhad did not disobey his father even once but still triumphed because he kept chanting Lord Vishnu's name.
Holi brings with it an atmosphere of social merriment & joy. Often, on this occasion, people bury the hatchet with a warm embrace and throw their worries to the wind just like the colours.
Holika, commonly called Holi is a Indian festival that marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring season. People celebrate Holi by throwing coloured powder in the air and at each other. Entrances to houses are decorated with colorful Rangoli pattems. Celebrated on Saawan month purnima, Holi brings families together over Holika dehen and the colourful big Holi day.
Finally, Hiranya Kasyapu called his sister Holika who had been granted a boon from Gods that she could not be harmed by fire ever (even if in a fire, she would never burn). Pralhad was made to sit in her lap in the middle of fire. However, this time, Holika was burnt to death and Pralhad was unhurt. His ashes scattered in the wind just like people scatter the powdered gulaal during Holi. Eventually, the ordeals faced by Pralhad climaxed in the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Narasimha who killed Hiranya Kasyapu. And thus the power of Bhakti won over evil. Pralhad did not disobey his father even once but still triumphed because he kept chanting Lord Vishnu's name.
Holi brings with it an atmosphere of social merriment & joy. Often, on this occasion, people bury the hatchet with a warm embrace and throw their worries to the wind just like the colours.
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