Holi is not only a festival of colours; it has a deep
connection with Hindu mythology too. Holi generally brings to mind the images
of colours, water balloons, water guns and buckets filled with colourful water.
But, other than this side of fun, laughter and celebrations, the festival also
has a religious side filled with faith and devotion. One night before the
colour and fun-filled celebrations, the rituals of Holika Dahan are performed.
The legend behind this ritual is symbolic of the victory of good over evil.
What is the
legend behind the ritual of Holika Dahan?
Hiranyakashyap was an egoistic king and a ruthless ruler,
who did a Tapasya and prayed to Lord Brahma, who was pleased by the devotion
and gave the king a boon. Hiranyakashyap asked the Lord to be blessed in a way
that he could not be killed by any human or animal; by any sort of weapon; during
day or night; neither on the ground nor in the sky; and neither within nor
outside a residence. After being blessed by such a boon, the king thought he is
blessed by immortality which made him even more egoistic and ruthless. He
forced everyone to worship only him. But, his son Prahlad went against him and
worshipped Lord Vishnu. This angered his father so much that he decided to get
his son killed. Taking advantage of the fact that his sister Holika could not
be burnt by fire, he made Prahlad sit on Holika’s lap and made them sit on
fire. However, Lord Vishnu came to the rescue and saved Prahlad, while burning
Holika. What they did not know that Holika could be unhurt by fire only if she
sits in it alone! At the same time, a ferocious avatar of Lord Vishnu – Lord
Narasimha (half human, half lion) – arised from a pillar and killed
Hiranyakashyap. Thus, not going against Lord Brahma’s boon, Lord Narasimha
appeared in the form of half human-half lion, and killed Hiranyakashyap at
dusk, on the doorstep, and on his lap with his lion claws.
How is
Holika Dahan performed?
The Holika Dahan begins with cleaning the site where the
ritual is to be performed with Gangajal and cow dung. The idols of Holika and
Prahlad are created with cow dung and placed at the center. Using a wooden pole
and hay, a 7-8 feet tall heap is created. The Puja begins with praying to Lord
Vishnu and Lord Ganesha while chanting mantras and making offerings of flowers,
fruits, haldi and kumkum. Then, Devi Ambika and Lord
Narasimha are worshipped. People
circumambulate the heap a few times tying a raw yarn and empty the water around
the heap too. Then, the heap is lighted with fire, around which devotees do a Parikrama.
You may now have understood that Holika Dahan marks how steady
faith can surpass even the test of fire. So, from this year onwards, make it a
point to worship and pray to the holy Holika before indulging yourself in the
colourful and fun-filled celebrations of Dhuleti the next morning.
Website: https://www.makemypuja.com/
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