Holi Is Near!!!

Greetings to all readers!

 So, as some of you readers must be knowing, The colorful Festival of Holi is near!!!

I am writing this for from tomorrow, all preparations for the festival are going to begin, so it can be hectic, though I am writing about the Festival today.

Now, by now you must be thinking, “By the way, WHAT IS HOLI?”

If I tell you as an overall description, as said by Google, this is what it is:

Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival, also known as the “festival of love”, the “festival of colors”, and the “festival of spring”. The festival celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha and Krishna. It also signifies the triumph of good over evil.

Observances: Festival of Colors

Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2021 – Mon, 29 Mar 2021

Observed by: Predominantly Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Newar Buddhists, and other non-Hindus

Featured in religions: Hinduism

Type of holiday: Public holiday, Public holidays in Nepal, Religious holiday, Hindu Holiday, Feast Day

So this what Google tells us as an overall description. But, now this question must have popped up in your head that “OK. But, what does this mean by “triumph of good over evil.”? Is there a story or something behind it?” 

Of Course, there is!

The Legend of Holi

Now, once lived a king called Hiranyakashyapu {Pronunciation; HI-R-NAI-KA-SHA-P}.
So, now this Hiranyakashyapu was considered to be un-destructible; he worshiped Lord Brahma and got a boon from him. He couldn't be killed by a man/deity, or beast, not in the air or on land, which made him nearly invincible, and though he wanted everyone in his kingdom to worship him instead of the all-mighty Lord Vishnu. The poor people had to follow all this, or they were punished badly.

Only one but all worshipped him, his son Prahalad. He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. So, then the evil king made a plan to get his son to death.
He sent demons and tried his best, but because of his great affection to Lord Narayana, he was always saved by Vishnu.

Finally, he asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahalad in her lap. For, Hiranyakashyapu knew that Holika had a boon, whereby, she could enter the fire unscathed.
 
Treacherously, Holika coaxed young Prahalad to sit in her lap and she took her seat in a blazing fire. The legend has it that Holika had to pay the price of her sinister desire by her life. Holika was not aware that the boon worked only when she entered the fire alone.

Prahalad, who kept chanting the name of Lord Narayana all this while, came out unharmed, as the Lord blessed him for his extreme devotion.

Thus, Holi derives its name from Holika. And, is celebrated as a festival of victory of good over evil.

Holi is also celebrated as the triumph of a devotee. As the legend depicts that anybody, howsoever strong, cannot harm a true devotee. And, those who dare torture a true devotee of god shall be reduced to ashes.

Now, what happened to the evil? Well, he was killed by Lord Vishnu in his Narasimha Avatar that is, half-human, half-beast/lion.
He was able to kill that evil king because he was not a man or a beast, he was half of each. He didn't even kill him on land or in the air, but his lap.




                               

                                                                            

Lord Vishnu Killing Hiranyakashyapu.

So, I hope you all liked to read and ’till then, Keep Reading, Keep Smiling!

Advertisement