In ancient times, the demon king Hiranyakashipu performed intense penance and obtained a boon from Lord Brahma. This boon made him invincible—no living being, deity, demon, or human could kill him. He could not die at night or during the day, neither on earth nor in the sky, neither inside a house nor outside, and no weapon could harm him.
Empowered by this boon, Hiranyakashipu became arrogant and tyrannical. However, his own son, Prahlada, was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and was blessed with divine protection.
Hiranyakashipu ordered Prahlada to worship only him and no other deity. When Prahlada refused and continued to worship Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu became furious and attempted to kill him in various ways. But every time, Prahlada was saved by divine grace.
Hiranyakashipu’s sister, Holika, had a boon that made her immune to fire. Using this advantage, Hiranyakashipu devised a plan to kill Prahlada by burning him alive in a fire while Holika sat with him on her lap.
However, by the grace of Lord Vishnu, Holika was reduced to ashes, while Prahlada remained unharmed.
Later, Lord Vishnu took the Narasimha avatar, emerging from a pillar at twilight (neither day nor night), on the threshold of a door (neither inside nor outside), and killed Hiranyakashipu using his nails (which were not weapons). Since then, the festival of Holi has been celebrated to mark this victory of devotion and righteousness over evil.
Holika Dahan Puja Vidhi (Rituals)
On the full moon day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Phalguna, devotees take a holy bath in the morning and observe the Holika Vrat. In the afternoon, the designated place for Holika Dahan is purified with sacred water. A pyre is prepared with wood, Pidakalu (dried cow dung cakes).
In the evening, lamps are lit near Holika, and the fire is worshipped. Devotees offer sacred water and other offerings to Holika. Family members circumambulate the fire three or seven times and then offer Yava dhanya (barley), Godhuma (wheat), and Chanaka (chickpeas) into the flames.
Holika Dahan Mantra
“Asṛkpābhayasanttrastaiḥ kṛtā tvaṁ holi bāliṣaiḥ।
Atastvāṁ pūjayiṣyāmi bhūte bhūtipradā bhava।।”
Translation:
“O Holika! The ignorant and the fearful created you. I worship you so that you may grant well-being and prosperity.”
Holika Dahan symbolizes the victory of devotion, righteousness, and divine grace over arrogance and evil. It is a festival that reminds us that good always triumphs over evil. Let us celebrate Holi with devotion and joy!
Happy Holi everyone there