Holi, the Festival of Colours

Holi, also known as Holika or Holikotsava, is an extremely popular festival of India. Marked by play and gaiety, it is common to all sections of society. This festival is very ancient. Known originally as 'Holika,' it has been mentioned in very early religious works such as Jaimini's Purva mimamsa-sutras and Kathaka grhya sutras. It must have therefore existed several centuries before Christ.

Story of Prahlad

Hiranyakashipu was king of the asuras. Hiranyakashipu's brother had been slain by Lord Vishnu for terrorising gods and goddesses. As a result, Hiranyakashipu wanted to destroy Lord Vishnu and keep the other gods subdued. He told his soldiers to crush all those who worshipped Vishnu, but Vishnu protected his devotees. Hiranyakashipu thought to himself, "I will have to match my powers with Vishnu's to rule over the three worlds."

So, he began performing tapas (severe austerities). When he was thus occupied, the gods ransacked his city and destroyed his palace. Hiranyakashipu's wife, who was expecting a child, was sent to Sage Narada's hermitage. There, she learned about religion and the glory of Lord Vishnu under him. Narada taught the Queen that Lord Vishnu was the soul of all created things and that he was present everywhere. The child within her, Prahlad, absorbed all this knowledge too.

Meanwhile, Hiranyakashipu's austerities pleased Lord Brahma who said, "Arise Hiranyakashipu. Any boon that you ask of Me shall be yours." Hiranyakashipu said, "I wish that my death be not caused by man or beast, with a weapon or without a weapon, during day or night, indoors or outdoors, on earth or in the sky. Grant me the undisputed lordship over the material world." Lord Brahma granted him the boon.

Hiranyakashipu then brought his wife back to his city where Prahlad was born. Hiranyakashipu, with his new powers, renewed his hostilities against Vishnu and His followers. He declared, "There is none stronger than I. I am the lord of the three worlds. I shall be worshipped as such."

In the meantime, Prahlad was growing up and was the apple of Hiranyakashipu's eye. He asked Prahlad, "Son, tell me: what do you think is the best thing in life?" To which Prahlad replied, "To renounce the world and seek refuge in Vishnu." Hearing this, Hiranyakashipu laughed. He called aside his son's teacher and said to him, "Guard him closely. I think that the followers of Vishnu are secretly influencing him. Do not let him out of your sight!"

After many months, his teacher said, "Prahlad, I think you are now ready to meet your father." When brought before his father, Hiranyakashipu asked him, "You have been with your Guru a long time! What have you learnt?" Prahlad calmly replied, "I have learnt that the most worthwhile occupation for anyone is the worship of Lord Vishnu."

When Hiranyakashipu heard this reply, he became very angry: "O accursed child! Who taught you such perverse things?" Unperturbed, Prahlad replied, "Lord Vishnu. He reveals Himself to all who are devoted to Him."

Hearing this, Hiranyakashipu shouted angrily, "This boy must not live! Take him away and kill him! Kill this vilest enemy disguised as my son. Poison him or attack him when he sleeps but kill him!"

The soldiers attacked Prahlad when Prahlad was meditating on Lord Vishnu, but their weapons could not touch Prahlad. Deadly snakes were let loose on Prahlad, but their fangs turned impotent. Mighty elephants could not trample him. He was pushed off a cliff but Prahlad was unharmed.

In desperation, Hiranyakashipu had him fed with poison but it transformed into nectar in Prahlad's mouth. As a last resort, Hiranyakashipu sent Prahlad to his teacher again. This time, the teacher tried to get Prahlad interested in acquiring wealth and enjoying physical pleasures. But Prahlad thought to himself, "How can the pursuit of physical pleasures and wealth bring happiness? It will only lead to envy and anger." The teacher eventually gave up, when Prahlad told his father that Lord Vishnu is the soul of all created beings and is present everywhere.

Hiranyakashipu roared, "Where is this Vishnu? If He is everywhere, why is He not in this pillar? If He is not there, I shall cut off your head with my sword. Let Vishnu, your Lord protect you." When Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar with his sword, Lord Vishnu, in the form of Narasimha ("nara" meaning "man", "simha" meaning "lion"), emerged from the pillar. Neither beast nor man, Narasimha grabbed Hiranyakashipu and carried him to the threshold of the courtroom, which was neither indoors nor outdoors. There, in the twilight hour, Narasimha killed him as He held Hiranyakashipu on his lap. Prahlad was installed on the throne and he ruled wisely for many years.

It was on this day that Holika, Hiranyakashipu's sister who had a boon to brave fire without being hurt, tried to kill Prahlad by taking him on her lap and sitting on a burning pyre of wood. Holika was burnt to ashes while Prahlad remained unscathed!

Thus, the Holi festival signifies the burning of self-conceit, selfishness, greed, lust, hatred and all other negative tendencies and actions, and the victory of righteous forces over demonic forces.

The Rituals

There are practically no religious observances such as fasting or worship on Holi. Generally, a log of wood will be kept in a prominent public place on the Vasantapanchami day (Magha Sukla Panchami), almost 40 days before the Holi festival. An image of Holika with child Prahlad on her lap is also kept on the log. Holika's image is made of combustible materials whereas Prahlad's image is made of non-combustible ones. People go on throwing twigs and other combustible material onto the log as it burns. On the night of Phalguna Purnima, it is set alight in a simple ceremony during which the Raksoghna mantras of the Rigveda (4.4.1-15; 10.87.1-25 and so on) are sometimes chanted to ward off all evil spirits. Coconuts and coins are also thrown into this bonfire. The next morning the ashes from the bonfire are collected as prasad (consecrated material) and smeared on the limbs of the body. Singed coconuts, if any, are also collected and eaten.

In some houses, the image of Kamadeva (the god of Desire) is kept in the yard and a simple worship is offered. A mixture of mango blossoms and sandalwood paste is partaken as prasad. The day, Phalgun Krishna pratipada, is observed as a day of revelry during which people throw gulal or coloured water or perfumed coloured powder on each other.

Other folklore associated with Holi

Holi was, at first, a ritual performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families. They worshipped the full moon (Raka) deity. There are two ways of reckoning a lunar month: purnimanta and amanta. In the former, the first day starts after the full moon, while in the latter, the first day starts after the new moon. Though the latter reckoning is more common now, the former was very much in vogue in earlier days. According to purnimanta, Phalguna Purnima was the last day of the year and the new year heralded the Vasanta-rtu (with spring starting from the next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season.

This perhaps explains the other names of this festival: Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava. According to the stories in the Puranas and various local legends, this day is important for three reasons. It was on this day that Lord Siva opened his third eye and reduced Kamadeva to ashes. It was also on this day that an ogress called Dhundhi, who was troubling the children in the kingdom of Prthu (or Raghu), was made to run for her life, by the shouts and pranks of the mischievous boys. Though she had secured several boons that made her almost invincible, the noise, shouts, abuses and pranks of boys became a chink in her armour due to a curse from Lord Siva. The day itself came to be called "Adada" or "Holika" since then.

Holi In Bengal

The people of Bengal observe this festival in a quiet and dignified manner as Dolapurnima or Dolayatra (the festival of the swing). The festival, said to have been initiated by King Indradyumna in Vrindavana, is spread over 3 or 5 days, starting from the sukla Chaturdasi of Phalguna. The main features of this festival are a celebration in honour of Agni and the worship of Govinda (Krishna), an image of whom is placed on a swing. The swing is to be rocked 21 times at the end of the festival. Also, the fire kindled on the first day is to be preserved till the last day.

The day is also celebrated as the birthday of Sri Krishna Chaitanya (A.D. 1486-1533).

Lord Krishna and Holi The stories of Sri Krishna's boyhood pranks which so delighted the gopis (cowherd maids) of Vrindavan also form the essence of Holi. Though older than Krishna, the gopis were so charmed by Sri Krishna's play that they themselves became like children again. Sri Krishna and the gopis are depicted as celebrating Holi in the hamlets of Gokula, Barsana and Vrindavan, bringing them alive with their mischief and youthful pranks.

Holi was Krishna and the gopis' celebration of Love. This teasing, affectionate panorama of feeling and colour has been captured and immortalised in the songs on Holi.