Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates spring, love, and new life. Holi marks the arrival of spring and the end of winter and is also known as the ‘festival of colours’. This is because it involves dancing, singing, and throwing of powder paint and coloured water.
Some families hold religious ceremonies, but for many Holi is more a time for fun. It's a colourful festival, with dancing, singing and throwing of powder paint and coloured water.
The story of Holi
Holi also celebrates the Hindu god Krishna and the legend of Holika and Prahlad.
It is said that Hiranyakashipu was an evil king. He had special powers that made him nearly invincible and he wanted everyone in his kingdom to worship him. Sadly, he started to act like a God, so punished those who disobeyed him.
Hiranyakashipu had a son called Prahlad. Prahlad disobeyed his father and worshipped Vishnu instead of him, so his father planned to kill him. The king asked his sister Holika to help kill Prahlad. Holika had a special cloak that would protect her from fire. So, she planned to trick Prahlad by taking him into a fire, but, because she was using her powers for evil, the plan failed and the cloak flew from Holika and covered Prahlad. Prahlad was safe, and Vishnu then defeated the evil king.
Today, Hindus light bonfires to represent the triumph of good over evil.
On this Holi, we wish good health, prosperity, and achievements to all those celebrating.
