Holika Dahan

Holika Dahan
Holi Bonfire at Shri Ram Chowk, I.P Extension, Delhi.
Type	Hindu
Celebrations	The day after Holika Dahan On Holi: spray colors on others, dance, visit each other, party; eat festival delicacies
Begins	Phalgun Purnima or (Full Moon)
Date	February–March
Related to	Holi

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Holi bonfire on Holi eve in Delhi, 2012

Holika Dahan also Kamudu pyre is celebrated by burning Holika, an asuri (demoness). For many traditions in Hinduism, Holi celebrates the victory of good over evil. According to the tradition, people contribute a piece of wood or two for the Holika bonfire, and this represents Holika being consumed by the fire in which she tried to kill her nephew Prahlad , a devotee of God Vishnu and thus Holi gets its name. . A similar holiday is Holi where people get to gather and often repair broken relationships.

Significance[]

Woman preparing for Holika Dahan, Kathamandu, Nepal

The night before Holi, pyres are burnt in North India, Nepal and parts of South India in keeping with this tradition.^[1] The youth playfully steal all sorts of things and put them in Holika pyre.

In some parts of India the day is actually called Holika Dehan.^[2] There are other activities associated with the story of Prahlad, but the burning of Holika is the one that we can most directly associate with Holi. Fire burnt on the eve of Holi (Holika Dahan) symbolizes the burning of Holika. The story as a whole is testament to the power of devotion (bhakta) over the evil represented by King Hiranyakashyapu, as Prahlad never lost his faith.

The Ritual[]

Holi festival bonfire at Mundra, 2015

Prepare Holika pyre for bonfire

Days before the festival people start gathering wood and combustible materials for the bonfire in parks, community centers, near temples and other open spaces. On top of the pyre is an effigy to signify Holika who tricked Prahalad into the fire. Inside homes, people stock up on color pigments, food, party drinks and festive seasonal foods such as gujiya, mathri, malpuas and other regional delicacies.

Holika dahan

On the eve of Holi, typically at or after sunset, the pyre is lit, signifying Holika Dahan. The ritual symbolises the victory of good over evil. People sing and dance around the fire. People also perform parikrama of fire.

The next day people play Holi, the popular festival of colors.

Reason for Holika dahan[]

The burning of Holika is the most common historical explanation for the celebration of Holi. In different parts of India varying reasons are given for Holika's death. Among those are:

• Lord Vishnu stepped in and hence Holika burnt.
• Holika was given the power by the Brahma on the understanding that it can never be used to bring harm to anyone^[3]

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