THE FESTIVAL OF COLOURS

In India and in some parts of the world people celebrate a FESTIVAL OF COLOURS known as HOLI. This year the festival will be celebrated on march seventeen (17.03.2014).

This Hindu festival of colours has a story behind it. For those who may not know, here is why Holi is celebrated by the Hindus :

The word Holi originated
from"HOLIKA", sister of
Hiranyakashipu a hindu mythological demon king. The festival of Holi is celebrated because of the following story in Hindu mythology. . .

"Hiranyakashipu ­
was the great king of demons, and he had been granted a boon by Brahma ,the creater of the universe,
which made it almost impossible for him to be killed. Consequently, he
grew arrogant and tormented the Heavens and the Earth. He demanded that people stop worshipping Gods and worship him instead.

Hiranyakashipu' s own son Prahlada was, however, a great devotee of God . In spite of several threats from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada continued offering prayers to God. He was then poisoned by Hiranyakashipu, but the poison turned to nectar in his mouth. He was ordered to be trampled by elephants yet remained unharmed. He was put in a room with poisonous snakes and survived. All of Hiranyakashipu' s attempts to kill his son failed. Finally, he ordered young Prahlada to sit on a pyre in the lap of HOLIKA, Hiranyakashipu's own sister, who had a boon fully protecting her from being burned by fire. Prahlada readily accepted his father's orders, and prayed to the Lord to keep him protected. When the fire was set alight,everyone watched in amazement as Holika burnt to death, while Prahlada survived totally unharmed".

The salvation of Prahlada and burning of HOLIKA is celebrated as HOLI. It is symbolic of victory of Good over evil - a leitmotif in most religions of the world . . . !!
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