Holika burns and Holi arrives amidst colour

LUCKNOW: In the land of festivals that is India, celebrations are the raison d''etre. And though everyday is a day for celebrations dedicated to one god or occasion, some festivals stand out for the sheer joy they instil in every heart.
Holi is one such festival that brings to mind euphoric crowds, multicoloured faces and clothes, a variety of delicious goodies and the untiring urge to celebrate.And like all festival, this too outlines the triumph of good over evil and preaches love and brotherhood. The origins of the festival, according to the Vedas, is as colourful as the festival itself.
"At a particular time, when sin increased and the demons became so powerful that they imprisoned Prithvi (Goddess Earth) in the underworld. At that time, Lord Vishnu came to her rescue and killed the demon who had imprisoned her," explains Pandit Shobhnath Diwedi, the keeper of Shiv Temple on Gokle Marg.
"When Hiranyakashyap, a powerful demon ruler, came to know that his brother had been killed by Lord Vishnu he decided to take revenge upon him," says Pandit Diwedi. As the mythology goes, Hirnayakashyap''s son Prahlad was an ardent follower of Lord Vishnu, and hence Hiranyakashyap tried various methods to kill his own son. Saved by divine intervention on various occasions, even as his father tried in vain to kill him, Prahlad was finally tricked by Hiranyakashyap''s sister — who had been blessed with the ability to withstand any fire — into sitting in a bonfire in her lap. "But as destiny would have it, Prahlad was saved and the evil Holika was killed," says Diwedi.
Thereafter began the custom of Holika dahan, or burning of Holika, which marks the beginning of the festival of colours. Incidentally, not many are aware that playing colours marks the disdain of revellers for Holika, who tried to killed the one who loved Lord Vishnu. "People play with muck and use abusive language. This is basically directed at the demon princess Holika," Pandit Diwedi points out. The second half of the day on Holi is spent in celebrating, eating sweets and visiting friends, rejoicing the survival of Prahlad, and the victory of good over evil.
According to the Hindu calendar, Holika is burnt on the full-moon night during the Falgun-Magh month. The festival also celebrates the harvesting of wheat, and is full of joy for farmers.