Holi has been celebrated on the Indian subcontinent for hundreds of years, with poems dating back to the 4th century CE recording rituals. This holiday symbolizes the coming of spring after a long winter and is symbolic of the victory of good over evil. It is observed in March, which corresponds to the month of Phalguna on the Hindu lunar calendar. Holi will be celebrated on March 10th, 2020.
Holi’s origins are mentioned in various works of ancient Indian literature, each with a slightly different version of the story. The myth goes that a terrible king rose to such great power that he forced his subjects to accept him as their god. However, much to the king’s displeasure, his son Prahlada continued to be a devout follower of the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu throughout his life. The enraged king concocted a conspiracy with his sister, Holika, to assassinate his son. Prahlada was lured into sitting in a pyre with Holika, who was resistant to fire because she was impervious to it. Even though he was immune to fire, the boy’s devotion to Lord Vishnu allowed him to escape unharmed when the pyre was set, whereas Holika, from whom the festival takes its name, was burned to death despite her immunity.
The brilliance of colors is something that brings a lot of positivity into our lives, and Holi, the festival of colors, is a day that is truly worth celebrating. This important Hindu festival is celebrated throughout India with much delight and enthusiasm, and it is known as the “Festival of Colors.” The ritual begins with the lighting of a bonfire one day before the day of Holi, and this process represents the triumph of good over evil in the face of adversity. On the day of Holi, people gather with their friends and relatives to play with colors and other handicraft goods, and in the evening, they express their affection and respect for their loved ones by gifting them with the greatest in desi handicraft products.Â