What is Holi?
Holi is a special festival for Hindus. It is a very old festival from the 4th century AD. Holi celebrates the start of spring in the Indian subcontinent.
The festival begins with Holika Dahan, the night before Holi. People make bonfires to show that good wins over evil. They throw wood, leaves, and chickpeas into the fire to remove bad energy. The next day, people play with colours and water. They throw red, green, yellow, and other colours on each other. It is a happy celebration.
Holi is celebrated by Hindus in many countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. One of the biggest Holi celebrations outside India happens in Leicester, UK.
Mythological stories behind Holi
Holi traditions have come from old stories and legends.
The bonfire comes from a story about King Hiranyakashyapu and his son Prahlad. Prahlad loved Lord Vishnu. This made his father angry. The king and his sister Holika wanted to kill Prahlad. Holika took Prahlad into a fire. But Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad, and Holika died in the fire.
The colour play comes from the love story of Lord Krishna and Radha. Each colour has a meaning. Red means love, green means new life, and yellow means good luck.
Different Holi traditions in India
People celebrate Holi in different ways in India. Here are some examples:
- Lathmar Holi: In Uttar Pradesh (UP), women from Barsana hit men from Nandgaon with bamboo sticks (called laths).
- Phoolon Wali Holi: In Vrindavan, UP, people throw flower petals instead of colours.
- Masan Holi: In Banaras, UP, followers of Lord Shiva (called Aghoris) play Holi with ashes from cremation fires.
- Manjal Kuli: In Kerala, the Kudumbi community throws turmeric water on each other.
Be kind and ask for permission
Holi is a fun and happy festival, but it is important to be kind and respect others while playing it.
Always ask before putting colour or spraying water on someone. This makes Holi safe and happy for everyone.
