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The celebration of Holi is very ancient in its origin. It celebrates an ultimate
triumph of the 'good' over the 'evil'. While it is known as the festival of colors, the original reason of celebrating Holi,
lies in its history. The reference is found in ancient Indian mythology in the legend of Hiranyakashipu and Prahalad.
In
ancient times in India there lived a demon king named Hiranyakashipu. The king wanted to become the king of the heaven, earth
and the underworld. He performed severe penance and prayer for many years to gain enough power. Finally he was granted a boon
with which Hiranyakshipu thought he had become invincible. Arrogantly he ordered all in his kingdom to worship him, instead
of God. The demon king had a very young son, named Prahalad who was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. Despite his father's order,
Prahalad continued to pray to Vishnu. So the demon king wanted to kill his son. He asked his sister Holika to help him. She
had been granted a boon that made her immune to fire. They planned to burn Prahalad. A pyre was lit up and Holika sat on it,
clutching Prahalad. However, the brother and sister had forgot that Holika could only enter the fire alone or she would perish.
Thus, blessed by Lord Vishnu, the child Prahlad remained unharmed but Holika was burnt and died instantly. Holi is thus celebrated
to commemorate the death of the evil aunt, after whom the festival is named, and the new life granted to Prahlad for his devotion
and faith. The earnest devotion and complete submission to Lord Vishnu saved young Prahlad. Thus was the triumph of Prahlad,
the representative of good spirits and the defeat of Holika, the representative of evil. Later, even the demon king Hiranyakashipu
was killed by Lord Vishnu who took the form of Narasimha (half-man, half-lion) to destroy Hiranyakashyap. The legend has it,
that he used his nails to destroy Hiranyakashyap, at dusk (neither the day nor night), and at the front porch of the house
(neither indoors not outdoors). Thus, he satisfied the conditions of Brahma's boon and destroyed the evil. However, it is
from Holika, that Holi originated.
This legend is relived even today on the Holi-eve when the pyre is re-lit in the
form of bonfires. Even today, people celebrate this occasion. Huge bonfires are lit up every year on the eve of the full moon
night of the Holi to burn the spirit of the evils. Hence the story associated with the soul of the celebration.
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