In South India Holi is called Kamavilas, Kaman Pandugai and Kaman-dahanam. The legend prevalent in South India is that of Kamdev(the Hindu equivalent of Cupid), who moves through the woods in the season of Spring, aiming his passion tipped arrows that pierce the heart at all who cross his path, from his bow made of sweet sugarcane strung with humming bees. The story goes that once, in his foolishness, he aimed his love tipped arrow at the mighty Shiva deep in meditation. The angered Lord Shiva opens his third eye (the eye of destruction on his forehead) and reduces Kamdev to ashes. The grief stricken Rati, Kamdev's wife, beseeches Lord Shiva for mercy. Shiva relents and partly restores Kamdev to Rati. Though she can see him, he remains without physical form. The songs sung here are the stories of Rati's lamentations.

Another version of this legend has to do with Goddess Sati, who married Lord Shiva against the wishes of her father. Once Sati's father Daksha Prajapati arranged a grand celebration and did not invite Lord Shiva and Sati. When Sati learnt about the celebration she wanted to go. Lord Shiva told her that they were not invited but she thought that the invitation must have gotten lost and insisted on going. Once she reached there, she realized that they had not been invited intentionally. She was infuriated by the insult to her husband and entered the fire and burnt herself to death. When Lord Shiva came to know of her sudden demise, he was furious. To control his anger, he started a severe meditation and renounced all work. The world's balance soon crumbled in his absence and Sati took rebirth as Goddess Parwati to try and win Lord Shiva's heart and wake him up from his trance. She tried all ways to get Lord Shiva's attention. When she was unsuccesful, she invoked the help of Kamadava, the Indian Love God, who agreed to help her in the cause of the world despite the risks involved. He shot his love-arrow at Shiva's heart. Disturbed in his trance, Lord Shiva opened his third eye that fired anger and instantly incinerated Kamadeva. It is said that it was on the day of Holi that Kamadeva sacrificed himself for the good of all beings. Kamdev's wife Rati and Parwati asked Lord Shiva to forgive Kamadeva. Later, Lord Shiva granted Kamadeva immortality in invisible form. To this day, people offer sandalwood paste to Kamadeva to soothe his stinging burns and mango blossoms that he loved on Holi.

Holi is not celebrated with as much intensity in the south as that in North India. But people do indulge in merry making. As already mentioned the legend of Kamdev is quite prevalent in this part of the nation. The folk songs narrate the tragic story of Kamdev and Rati.

Holi is popularly known as Kamadahana in Tamil Nadu. The folk songs sung during Holi are melancholic songs, which narrate the pathetic tale of Rati, the wife of Kamdev. As mentioned above the festival marks the victory of spiritual bliss over material desires. Yet this festival is also celebrated as the festival of Love.