Holika Dahan (Holi) 2010

On the full moon of Phagun, many communities light a bonfire in the evening. This observance is called Holika Dahan and recalls the story of Prahlad and his aunt Holika.

Hiranyakashipu was a powerful king. He took such pride in his power that he wanted people to worship him. But his own son, Prahlad, had been devoted to Vishnu since childhood. The king ordered him to stop taking Vishnu’s name. Prahlad would not give up his devotion.

At school, Prahlad spoke to the other children about Vishnu. When Hiranyakashipu heard about it, his anger grew. He had people try to kill his son. One attempt after another failed. Prahlad survived and continued to remember Vishnu.

At last Hiranyakashipu turned to his sister, Holika. In one widely told version of the story, Holika had a cloth that protected her from fire as long as she wore it. The king told her to wrap herself in it, take Prahlad on her lap and sit in the fire. He was sure the cloth would protect Holika while the flames burned Prahlad.

Holika draped the cloth over her shoulders, took her nephew on her lap and sat in the fire. She trusted the cloth to keep her safe. Prahlad had no cloth of his own to protect him. As he sat among the flames, he kept his thoughts on Vishnu.

The flames rose. The cloth slipped from Holika’s shoulders and fell over Prahlad. The same cloth that was meant to protect Holika now covered the boy. The fire reached Holika and she burned, while Prahlad remained unharmed.

Hiranyakashipu had thought his son would never survive the fire. When the flames died down, Prahlad was still alive. The plan the king had counted on had failed, and Prahlad had held on to his devotion through it all.

Holika Dahan remembers Prahlada's devotion and the defeat of cruelty; the wider Holi season celebrates spring, friendship and Krishna traditions. In Gujarat Holi and Dhuleti are commonly distinguished as the bonfire and colour celebrations.

The Holika Dahan bonfire recalls Prahlad’s survival. Depending on local custom, people gather to pray, make offerings or walk around the fire. In Gujarat, many people celebrate Dhulendi the following day by playing with colours and gulal.

In Gujarat the bonfire observance is called Holi and the colour celebration Dhuleti. Elsewhere Holi may refer to the entire festival. Braj has extended Krishna-centred spring celebrations; dates and local customs vary.