Holi is one of the prominent festival that will be celebrated in our country. This festival generally comes in a full moon day in the last month of the Hindu lunar calendar (popularly known as Phalguna Masa).This festival is also known as Vasanthotsavam as it indicates the entrance of Vasanta Ritu (the spring season). This festival will be celebrated by welcoming the New Year and the season of spring.
There are several prominent stories related to this festival. In those, the legend of Bhakta Prahlada is very important. As his father Hiranya Kashipa can’t distract his son Prahlada from the devotion of lord Srihari, he decided to kill him. He became very angry because of his son’s behavior and orders him to sit on the lap of Holika (Hiranya Kashipa’s sister). She has a boon from the fire lord (popularly known as Agni) that fire can’t harm her. So when they both sit the fire will surround them. Impressed by Prahlada’s pure devotion, lord Vishnu saves him but as Holika misuses his boon Agni will get angry and he will burn her. From that day onwards… there’s a saying that this festival is celebrated as a victory of Good on the evil and there’s a custom to burn the statue of Holika (it is prominent for the original devotion of devotee towards the God).On that day, on the name of “Holika Dahan”, people used to throw useless papers and things in the fire and welcome the new thoughts and good changes in their lives.
There’s one more story there regarding this festival. According to the legend there was a demon called DUNDI used to bother all the children, and the children drove that demon away on this festival day itself. From that day onwards as an icon of the children’s victory, this festival came into the prominence and as per sayings on this day of Holika Dahan the elders won’t put any objections or stop the children from their naughtiness.
Even this festival is important and sacred in Hindu. People from all the religions actively participate in this festival despite of their religions.
Article Source :
http://www.veethi.com/articles/importance-and-traditions-behind-our-festival-holi-article-3303.htm
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