Ancient stories of Holi: Do You Know Why We Celebrate Holi know from here
Holi is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in India and other parts of the world. It is also known as the “Festival of Colors” or the “Festival of Love” and is typically celebrated in March.
There are many ancient stories and legends associated with the origins of Holi, and these stories vary depending on the region of India. Here are some of the most popular stories of Holi:
The Legend of Holika and Prahlad: This is the most famous story of Holi. It is said that there was once a king named Hiranyakashyap who was a demon and wanted everyone to worship him instead of the gods. However, his son Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and refused to worship his father. Hiranyakashyap’s sister Holika had a boon that she could not be burned by fire. So, Hiranyakashyap asked Holika to sit on a pyre with Prahlad on her lap, hoping to burn Prahlad alive. But, by the grace of Lord Vishnu, Holika was burned to ashes while Prahlad was unharmed. This event is celebrated as Holika Dahan on the eve of Holi.
The Legend of Holika and Prahlad is one of the most popular stories associated with the Hindu festival of Holi. According to the legend, there was a king named Hiranyakashyap, who was a demon and wanted everyone to worship him instead of the gods. However, his son Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and refused to worship his father.
Hiranyakashyap became angry with Prahlad and decided to kill him. He tried various methods to kill his son, but each time Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad from harm. Finally, Hiranyakashyap’s sister Holika came up with a plan to kill Prahlad. Holika had a boon that she could not be burned by fire. So, she decided to sit on a pyre with Prahlad on her lap, hoping to burn him alive while she remained unscathed.
However, by the grace of Lord Vishnu, Holika’s plan failed. As the fire started burning, the wind blew Holika’s shawl from her and covered Prahlad instead. So, Prahlad remained unharmed, while Holika was burned to ashes. This event is celebrated as Holika Dahan on the eve of Holi, where people light a bonfire to symbolize the victory of good over evil and the triumph of Prahlad’s devotion to Lord Vishnu over the demon Hiranyakashyap and his sister Holika.
The story of Holika and Prahlad is a reminder to people to stay true to their beliefs and values even in the face of adversity. It teaches us that evil will always be defeated by the power of good and that devotion and faith can conquer even the most formidable foes.
The Legend of Radha and Krishna: This is another popular story of Holi. It is said that Lord Krishna, who was dark-skinned, was jealous of his beloved Radha’s fair skin. So, he playfully applied color on Radha’s face, which became a tradition and is now known as “Lathmar Holi”. In this tradition, women playfully beat men with sticks while men try to apply color on them.
The Legend of Radha and Krishna is another popular story associated with the Hindu festival of Holi. According to the legend, Lord Krishna, who was dark-skinned, was jealous of his beloved Radha’s fair skin. He playfully complained to his mother, Yashoda, about it. His mother playfully suggested that he could color Radha’s face with any color he liked.
Taking her advice, Lord Krishna smeared Radha’s face with different colors, and Radha also playfully applied colors on Krishna’s face. The two became known for playing with colors and the tradition continued on, spreading among the people.
Another version of the legend states that once Lord Krishna complained to his mother about his dark skin, and his mother playfully suggested that he could color Radha’s face with any color he liked. This suggestion was taken seriously, and the idea became the inspiration for the Holi festival, which celebrates the playful love between Radha and Krishna.
Today, the celebration of Holi involves people smearing each other with colored powder and water, celebrating the triumph of good over evil, and spreading love and happiness. The story of Radha and Krishna teaches us about the power of love and the importance of playful relationships in life.
The Legend of Kamadeva: According to this legend, Kamadeva, the god of love, used his arrow to shoot Lord Shiva, who was in deep meditation. Shiva was so angry that he opened his third eye, which burned Kamadeva to ashes. However, upon the request of Kamadeva’s wife, Rati, Shiva brought him back to life. This event is celebrated as Kamadeva’s sacrifice on the day of Holi.
The Legend of Kamadeva is another story associated with the Hindu festival of Holi. According to the legend, Kamadeva was the god of love and desire, and he had the power to make people fall in love. One day, Kamadeva shot his arrow at Lord Shiva, who was in deep meditation, hoping to awaken the god from his trance and make him fall in love with Parvati, his wife.
However, Lord Shiva was angered by Kamadeva’s actions and opened his third eye, which burned Kamadeva to ashes. Kamadeva’s wife, Rati, was heartbroken by her husband’s death and begged Lord Shiva to bring him back to life. Lord Shiva, moved by Rati’s devotion, brought Kamadeva back to life.
The story of Kamadeva’s sacrifice is celebrated on the day of Holi, where people throw colored powder and water at each other, symbolizing the power of love and the triumph of good over evil. The legend teaches us the importance of love and devotion and the sacrifices one must make for those they love. It also reminds us that true love can never be destroyed, and it will always find a way to survive.
These ancient stories of Holi are an integral part of the festival’s traditions and celebrations in India.
Happy Holi 2023: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare @keshavkevlog
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