Holi is one of the most celebrated festivals in India after Diwali. When Holi comes, the whole country is a festival. Hindu mythology says that this festival has been celebrated since Satya Yuga. Holi means "fire" or "holy with fire." Holi is also treated as "Holika Purnima." This festival, which comes every year on the full moon day of Phalguna month, is also known as Holi, Kamuni Punnami, and Dolikotsavam. There are different legends about the origins of this festival.

Story

Prahlad, the son of the demon king Hiranyakasapu, always remembers the image of Vishnu. Hiranyakasapu doesn't like that. With this, he decides to kill Prahlad. So he calls his demon sister Holika. He asked her to burn Prahlad with her power. With this, she jumps into the fire with Prahlad sitting on her lap. However, while Prahlad was scared for his life by Vishnu's magic, the demon Holika died in the fire. There is a rumour that Holika is called "Holi" on the day it is burned. That is why Holika burning is done at night in some places.

Another Story

In Krit Yuga, there was a king named Raghunath of the Surya dynasty, and one day all the people came and complained that a demon called Holika was hurting their children. Sage Narada, who was there at that time, He explains that if those pujas are performed during the day, there will be difficulties, and everything should be performed at night. It is said by the ancestors that "Holi" pujas have been held since then.

Dolotsava, or Dolikotsava, is celebrated in Vanga country. It is believed that on that day, Lord Krishna and the Gopis celebrated this festival with flowers and colours in Vrindavan. It is believed that by sprinkling flowers and colours like this, love and prosperity will flow.

And Dolika means Uyyala. The Puranas say that Balabalakrishna was placed in Uyas in the month of Falguna and Purnima Tithi. On this occasion in West Bengal, on Holi, Lord Krishna's statue is placed in a cradle, and "Dolikotsavam" is celebrated. According to the Puranas, Lord Krishna appears on Holi.