Holi is the festival of colors. Everyone celebrates together with great enthusiasm. But there are three popular stories behind the celebration of this festival. Do you know that?
Holi is the festival celebrated after Diwali. Holi is celebrated not only in India but also in other countries. Holi festival is celebrated on the full moon day of Falguna month. This year the festival of Holi came on Monday, March 25. Holika Dahan is celebrated on Sunday 24th March. Holi is the festival of colors. Everyone celebrates together with great enthusiasm. But there are three popular stories behind the celebration of this festival. Do you know that?
First story
Once upon a time there was a demon named Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakasipu orders everyone not to worship any gods other than him. But Prahlad was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. No matter how much he tried, Prahlad could not forget the name of Narayana. Hiranyakashipu decides to burn Prahlad to death.
He calls his sister Holika and tells her to sit in the fire with Prahlad on her lap. He gives her a magical garment so that she will not be harmed by the fire. But due to Prahlad's remembrance of Harinama, the magic cloth came on Prahlad from Holika and he got burnt in the fire. This is called Holika Dahanam. Puranas say that people celebrated Holi with joy as the Holi plague that was tormenting the people was over.
Second story
After the death of Sati Devi, Lord Parameshwara forgot about creation and immersed himself in meditation. He does not recognize Parvati, the reborn form of Sati for him. All the deities together worship Cupid to marry Parvati and Lord Shiva for Jagat Karya. Shiva's meditation is interrupted when Cupid fires his flower arrow while Shiva is meditating.
Enraged, Shiva opens his third eye and burns Cupid. Rati Devi pleads to save her husband. Performs penance for Lord Shiva's grace. Dissolved by her penance, Parameshwara boons Manmatha to be born as Krishna's son in the Dwapara Yuga. Thus, the day when Cupid, who was angered by Lord Shiva, died, is celebrated as Kama Dahana. That day was full moon. Kamuni Dahana is celebrated as a symbol of burning away the unnecessary lust within us. It is also known as Holi.
The third story
Holi is celebrated as a symbol of Radhakrishna's love in Barsana in Braj region of Gujarat. Here Krishna is said to have played colorful Holi with Radha. Holi is innovative here. Girls think of Radha and boys as Krishna. The girls try to hit the boys with sticks for fun when they come to paint them. This is called Lathmar Holi. Krishnayya taunts himself comparing his black appearance to Radha's fair complexion. Yashodamma then advises Radha to paint. Radhakrishna's Holi is celebrated here.āØ
