Holi 2024: Various mythological and folk stories are prevalent regarding Holi. From two stories related to Holi in the Puranas, it is known that it is a festival of protest against tyranny. There is a story related to Prahlad character in Shrimad Bhagwat Purana. Prahlad was a worshiper of Vishnu. This led to enmity with his father and his father Hiranyakashyapu made several conspiracies to kill him but failed. Ultimately, Hiranyakashyapu and Hiranyaksha’s sister Holika assured him and said, I have such a power that I will not be able to burn in fire and Prahlad, a devotee of Vishnu, will be reduced to ashes. For this experiment, a big bonfire was made of wood, grass, etc. and Holika sat on that bonfire with her nephew Prahlad. May Prahlad be protected by the glory of God’s name, Goswami Tulsidas ji has said on Prahlad’s devotion to God’s name – Namu Japat Prabhu Keenh Prasadu. Bhagat Siromani Bhe Prahaladu. Later, Hari devotees celebrated the festival with the ashes of the same Holika Dahan and Holi is celebrated in his memory.
story of holi
The second story is described in Bhavishyottara Purana – Dharmaraj Yudhishthir asked Shri Krishna the secret of the festival of Phalgun-Purnima, why do children become playful in every village house? Why do we burn Holaka? Which god is worshiped and who promoted this festival? In the context of Lord Krishna, a legend says that people came to King Raghu with the complaint that a demon named Dhondha torments the children a lot, there is an atmosphere of fear about it. King Raghu asked the royal priest the reason for the destruction of the demon. The priest told about the boon of Shiva that he has been blessed by Shiva, gods, humans etc. cannot kill him but he can be afraid of playful children. Phalgun Purnima marks the end of spring and arrival of summer, then people laugh and celebrate, children go out happily with pieces of wood, collect wood and grass, set fire to it while chanting Rakshoghana mantras, clap, make fire sounds. Do three circumambulation, laugh and sing obscene songs in folk language; Due to this noise and laughter and burning of fire, the demon will die. When the king got all this done, the demon died.
One similarity in both the above stories is that the victim is a child and the oppressor is a demon. The second thing is the resistance of the people against tyranny. Holi is a celebration of the victory of mass protest. Therefore it is free from bondage and all-inclusive.
Acharya Raghavendra Das (Mithila Peeth, Baghnagar Muzaffarpur)
Also Read: Send many wishes for Holika Dahan to your loved ones, share messages, quotes and poetry from here.