Pundit Lokesh Maharaj
Takes a closer look at Holika Dahan, which is popularly known as the Holi festival and is celebrated around the world today
HIRANYAKASHYAP was a demon king who ruled over Earth. He demanded that everybody worship only him.
However, his son, Prahalad, was an ardent devotee of Lord Narayana and refused.
Hiranyakashyap made several attempts to kill his son, but each time Prahalad’s intense devotion to Lord Narayana saved him.
Finally, Hiranyakashyap asked his sister, Holika, to enter a blazing fire with Prahalad on her lap. Holika had been granted a boon that she could enter the fire and escape unscathed.
Holika coaxed Prahalad to sit on her lap while she took a seat in the blazing fire.
Prahalad continuously chanted the name of Lord Narayana and came out unharmed, while Holika burnt to death.
Thus Holi derives its name from Holika. It is celebrated as a festival of good’s victory over evil.
Holika Dahan, a festival celebrated on the full moon of the month of Phalguna (February/ March), is one of the most popular festivals of the Hindu Dharma. The observance begins at different places at different times of the month, varying from a month to 10 days before the full moon.
At this time, discrimination of any kind is not permitted to mar the sanctity of the occasion. Holi is a great leveller – all participate and celebrate together, irrespective of caste or class.
In ancient India, on this day a Yajna called “vaisvadeva” was performed before crops were harvested.
Vedic hymns were chanted to secure God’s protection from evil. Thanksgiving offerings of wheat, gram and cereals were made to the holy fire and remnants of the offerings were partaken as prasadh, which means the grace of God.
Incidentally, Holika, also means gram or pea roasted in fire. The ashes from the fire, known as “yajna bhasma”, were smeared on the foreheads of worshippers as a blessing.
Later, this practice changed into scattering ashes on all and sundry, but in fun, emphasising the happy mood of the occasion.
This was originally a spring festival. Trees and plants were full of fragrant flowers, proclaiming the glory of nature. This day marked and reminded created beings of the everlasting beauty and the majesty of God.
In this celebration, water coloured with the juices of flowers and dyes of crimson are sprayed in fun on anyone who chances to venture outdoor.
The bonfires made to mark the occasion also symbolise the burning up of the old year and the ushering in of the new year.
This is a day of union, when people unite. Rich and poor, big and small embrace and celebrate as equals.
Let us forget the outgoing year’s ill feelings, disagreements and quarrels and let us begin the new year with a genuine feeling of love, understanding, mutual respect and equality.
Let us burn up the impurities of the mind, lust, anger, hatred and greed. Let light, universal love, mercy, truth and charity rule our hearts, because “the call of Holi is the blaze of God’s love, shining in our hearts”. Pundit Lokesh Maharaj Head of Priests’ Council SA Hindu Maha Sabha