Holi is a festival that is celebrated in India to mark the arrival of spring and to celebrate the victory of good over evil. It is primarily a Hindu festival but is also celebrated by people of other religions across the country. The festival is usually celebrated in the month of March, on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Phalguna.
The story behind the festival of Holi varies from region to region in India, but one of the most popular associated with the festival is the story of Prahlad and Holika. According to Hindu mythology, Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, but his father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu, was against his son’s devotion to Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahlad many times, but Lord Vishnu always protected him. One day, Hiranyakashipu’s sister Holika, who was immune to fire, tricked Prahlad into sitting on her lap while she sat in a fire. Due to Lord Vishnu’s protection, Prahlad emerged unharmed from the fire while Holika was burned to death. This event is celebrated as the victory of good over evil, and people celebrate Holi by burning bonfires on the night before the festival to celebrate the occasion.
The festival of Holi is also celebrated by people throwing colored powder and water at each other, singing and dancing, and enjoying festive foods and drinks. It is a time for people to come together, forget their differences, and celebrate the joys of spring and the win of good over evil.