Yesterday, across India, the festival of Holi (the festival of colours) was celebrated.
So what is the significance of all the colour splashing and merrymaking? Where did it all begin, or rather, what is the reason behind this festival?
There seem to be different versions of how Holi originated, and why Holi is celebrated/ observed. Two out of the three popular versions are about stories around Vishnu avatars. And the other is a story about Shiva.
Vishnu appeared to save Prahlada (son of Hiranyakashipu). Hiranyakashipu (who was finally killed by Narasimha) did not approve of his son worshipping Vishnu. He was so miffed by this, that he asked Holika (Prahlada's sister, and in some cases mentioned as his aunt), to burn him to death in a fire. Holika had the boon which would save her from being burnt. But it so happened that Vishnu appeared and saved Prahalada. Holika burnt into ashes, and every year they agreed to remember her on one day, known as Holi. And for Holi, a fire is lit to symbolise the burning of Holika, and the victory of good over evil.
Krishna, apparently used to be upset that he was darker in complexion as compared to Radha. His mother advised him to smear some colour on Radha, in order to ensure that her complexion would also become darker. This is celebrated today as Holi, and the general mood and fun nature of the festival is also in sync with the nature of Krishna.
The third version, says that the Holi fire is in fact symbolising the fire that came out of Shiva's third eye, which burnt the god of desire, Kamadeva or Rati, when he tried to awaken Shiva from his deep meditation.
In general, Holi is meant to symbolise the beginning of spring and the end of winter, in other words, the beginning of some colourful moments after a bland and dreary winter.
So what is the significance of all the colour splashing and merrymaking? Where did it all begin, or rather, what is the reason behind this festival?
There seem to be different versions of how Holi originated, and why Holi is celebrated/ observed. Two out of the three popular versions are about stories around Vishnu avatars. And the other is a story about Shiva.
Vishnu appeared to save Prahlada (son of Hiranyakashipu). Hiranyakashipu (who was finally killed by Narasimha) did not approve of his son worshipping Vishnu. He was so miffed by this, that he asked Holika (Prahlada's sister, and in some cases mentioned as his aunt), to burn him to death in a fire. Holika had the boon which would save her from being burnt. But it so happened that Vishnu appeared and saved Prahalada. Holika burnt into ashes, and every year they agreed to remember her on one day, known as Holi. And for Holi, a fire is lit to symbolise the burning of Holika, and the victory of good over evil.
Krishna, apparently used to be upset that he was darker in complexion as compared to Radha. His mother advised him to smear some colour on Radha, in order to ensure that her complexion would also become darker. This is celebrated today as Holi, and the general mood and fun nature of the festival is also in sync with the nature of Krishna.
The third version, says that the Holi fire is in fact symbolising the fire that came out of Shiva's third eye, which burnt the god of desire, Kamadeva or Rati, when he tried to awaken Shiva from his deep meditation.
In general, Holi is meant to symbolise the beginning of spring and the end of winter, in other words, the beginning of some colourful moments after a bland and dreary winter.
