Holi Festival: Date, Significance & Celebration in India

According to the Hindu calendar, the holy festival of Holi is celebrated on the Pratipada Tithi of the Krishna Paksha of the month of Phalgun.

In India, the holy festival of Holi is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety. On this day, the entire country, including Mathura, Vrindavan and Kashi, is colored in the colors of Holi. This holy festival is celebrated as the devotion of devotee Prahlad and his protection by God. It is believed that Kamadeva was reborn on the day of Holi.

At the same time, Lord Shri Krishna killed the demoness Putana on this day. There are many stories about Holi in the mythological texts, but the story of Kamadeva, Putana and devotee Prahlad is the most prominent among them. In such a situation, through this article, let us take a look at the mythological story of Holi.

Story of Holi, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati

This story of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati regarding Holi is very prevalent in religious texts. According to mythological stories, in ancient times, Mother Sati took birth as a daughter in the house of King Himalaya as Mother Parvati. After birth, Devarshi Narad, while telling the fate of the daughter, said that the groom she will get will be like Lord Shiva. After listening to this, Mother Parvati considered Lord Shiva as her groom. And Mother Parvati left all the comforts and started doing hard penance to get Bholenath as her husband.

On the other hand, Bholenath was absorbed in Samadhi. It was very important to break the penance for Goddess Parvati to get married to Lord Shiva. In such a situation, the gods convinced Kamadeva to break the penance. Kamadeva shot the arrow of love and Bholenath's penance was broken. Due to which Lord Shiva became very angry and opened his third eye. Due to which Kamadeva was burnt to ashes and darkness spread in all the three worlds. Kamadeva's wife reached Bholenath weeping and she told Lord Shiva the reason for this.

After begging for forgiveness, Bholenath blessed Kamadeva to be born as the son of Shri Krishna in the Dwapar Yuga. It is said that Kamadeva was born as the son of Lord Krishna on the day of Holi.

Story of Holi, Shri Krishna and demoness Putana

The second story of Holi is related to Lord Krishna and the demoness Putana. According to mythological stories, after the birth of Lord Krishna, Kansa sent the demoness Putana to kill him. It is said that Pujatna had the strength of 10 elephants, she was extremely powerful and illusory. Kansa ordered her to kill all the newborn babies in Gokul. She reached Nandababa's house in the form of a beautiful woman after applying poison on her breasts. Lord Krishna recognized Putana as soon as he saw her.

Putana smilingly took Krishna Ji from the lap of mother Yashoda and disappeared and came out of the village and started breastfeeding the Lord. Lord Krishna killed Putana while in her lap, after killing Putana, baby Krishna lay down on the grass and started playing. It is said that Putana's body disappeared after death. That is why the cowherds burnt her effigy. From this day onwards, the holy festival of Holi is celebrated every year. The celebration of Holi can be seen 40 days before in Mathura and Vrindavan.

Story of Holi, devotee Prahlad

The third story is related to Shri Hari Lord Vishnu and devotee Prahlad. Demon King Hiranyakashipu had pleased Brahma ji and obtained a boon that no living being or deity in the world could kill him. After this he started considering himself as God, he wanted people to worship him like Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu did not like Prahlad's devotion towards God at all, while Prahlad always remained absorbed in the devotion of the Lord.

Hiranyakashipu did not like this nature of Prahlad at all. He kept Prahlad captive for many days and gave him severe tortures, but due to the grace of Lord Vishnu, it had no effect on Prahlad. Seeing this, Hiranyakashipu became very upset and he called Holika to kill Prahlad.

Let us tell you that Holika had received a boon of not burning in fire. Holika took devotee Prahlad and sat in the fire, but by the grace of Lord Vishnu, Prahlad did not even get a scratch and Holika was burnt to ashes in the fire. From this day onwards, the tradition of Holika Dahan started. It is considered a symbol of the victory of good over evil.