Holi: The Festival of Colors

Holi’s origins can be traced back to ancient Hindu mythology, with various legends associated with its celebration. The most famous of these legends involves Prahlad and Holika, which symbolizes the victory of good over evil. According to the myth, Prahlad, a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, was saved from the fire set by his evil aunt Holika. Holika, who had a boon that made her immune to fire, tried to kill Prahlad by sitting with him in a blazing fire. However, the fire consumed Holika while Prahlad emerged unscathed, symbolizing that righteousness always triumphs over evil.

Another well-known story tied to Holi is that of Radha and Krishna. In this tale, Lord Krishna, who had a dark complexion, was playful with Radha, a fair-skinned girl. To bridge the color gap between them, Krishna playfully applied color to Radha’s face. This colorful play became symbolic of their love and was eventually incorporated into the celebration of Holi.