Holika Dahan History
The Hindu holiday of Holika Dahan, or Holika Dahanam in Sanskrit, commemorates the mythical tale of Holika, an asura, being burned on a pyre and her nephew Prahlada’s eventual redemption. Before Holi, the festival of colors that commemorates the triumph of good over evil, it is a celebration of the triumph of good.
This event is known as Kama Dahanam in South India, and it is connected to the myth that Shiva turned Kamadeva into ashes by using his third eye. On this day, Kamadeva pantomimes and his effigies are burned in rural Tamil Nadu. For the bonfire, people begin gathering wood and combustible materials in parks, community centers, close to temples, and other public areas days before the Holi celebration.
Inside their homes, people stock up on food, drinks for parties, and celebratory seasonal meals like gujiya, mathri, malpuas, and other local specialties. Kathmandu, Nepal, woman getting ready for Holika Dahan. In accordance with this custom, pyres are burned in North India, Nepal, and parts of South India on the eve of Holi.
The day is referred to as Holika Dahan in certain regions of North India. In contrast, Sammat Jaarna is used to refer to it in other places, such as Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar) and the Terai regions of Nepal. On the eve of Holi, bonfires are burned to represent the burning of Holika.
Holika Dahan, also known as “Falgun,” is one of the important Indian Hindu festivals, and it is celebrated in the month of March, according to the Hindu calendar. Due to the fact that Holika Dahan is observed the night before the primary holiday of Holi, the two events are intimately related.
The purpose of this event is to represent the triumph of goodness, righteousness, and devotion to God over all forms of evil and negativity. It is a Hindu practice to hold a ceremony to honor this holiday. Participants gather in a circle to light the Holika fire and pray to god for harmony, good fortune, and health.
Whatever the sorrow in our lives may be, it will all burn like the devil Holika, according to the burning of effigies, pyres, and bonfires which indicate the existence of Holika in it. With the burning of the devil’s symbol Holika, the traditional event known as “Holika Dahan” commemorates the triumph of good over evil.
The celebration of Holi is named after “Holika Dahan,” which commemorates the day “Lord Vishnu” murdered Holika in order to save Prahalad. The demon king Hiranya Kashyap’s sister, Holika, was after Prahalad, his son, and wanted to kill him. Hiranya Kashyap instructed Holika to sit with Prahalad within the blazing bonfire because Holika had received a blessing from God stating that she would not be burned by fire.
The Legend
Hiranyakashyap, a demon king who once conquered the earthly kingdom, was formerly in power. He was so self-centered that he ordered his subjects to exclusively worship him. His son Prahlad, however, turned into a fervent follower of Lord Narayana and refused to worship his father, much to his great disappointment.
Prahlad’s father Hiranyakashyap attempted to kill him in a number of ways, but Lord Vishnu always intervened to save him. Then he instructed Holika, his sister, to carry Prahlad into a raging fire as she held him. Because Holika was able to enter the flames unharmed because of a blessing, Hiranyakashyap was aware of this. In a depraved act, Holika persuaded Prahlad, a little boy, to sit on her lap while she took a seat in the midst of a roaring fire.
Holika, according to mythology, had to pay with her life for her evil desire. Unaware that the boon could only be used when Holika entered the fire by herself, she cast the spell. Prahlad, who had been reciting the name of Lord Narayana the entire time, miraculously emerged unscathed, and the lord praised him for his utter dedication.
Holika is where Holi gets its name from. A holiday honoring the triumph of good over evil is also observed. The victory of a devotee is celebrated during Holi. A real devotee cannot be harmed by anyone, no matter how powerful they are, according to mythology. And anyone who dares to torture a genuine follower of god will be burned to ashes.
Every year to commemorate the triumph of virtue over evil, people still recreate the scene of “Holika’s burning to ashes.” In some Indian states, especially in the north, enormous bonfires are set, and inside are burned Holika effigies. Even now, it’s common to shout obscenities at the fire while flinging cow dung into it in the manner of addressing Holika.
Dolajatra
Additionally, Gujarat and Orissa adhere religiously to the custom of burning “Holika.” Here, people humble themselves and sacrifice gram and harvest stalks to the god of fire Agni as a sign of their appreciation. In addition, many bring a small amount of fire from the bonfire to their homes on the final day of Holi.
By adhering to this tradition, it is thought that their homes will become pure and their bodies will be free of disease. There are some locations where it is also customary to clean houses, take out all the trash, and burn it. By doing this, disease-causing microorganisms are eliminated, and the neighborhood’s hygienic situation is enhanced.
The lesson of the tale is that goodness always prevails over evil. Huge bonfires are lit on Holi Dahan as a representation of the cremation of Holika as a way to commemorate this occasion. Since Holi is celebrated over a period of 16 days in both Mathura and Vrindavan, the two locations with which Lord Krishna had a close relationship, the event is also linked to the enduring love of Krishna and Radha.
Doljatra is celebrated in place of Holi in Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Since it is the last festival of the Bengali year, it has more significance than Holi Dahan but is otherwise the same festival.
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