| Holi is an Hindu festival celebrated in all over India. | | | | physical lust. The Holi bonfire is believed to be |
| In Vrindavan and Mathura, where Lord Krishna | | | | celebrated in commemoration of this event. |
| grew up, the festival is celebrated for 16 days | | | | Hiranyakashipu's own son, ([Prahlada]), was a |
| (until Rangpanchmi in commemoration of the | | | | devotee of Lord Vishnu. In spite of several |
| divine love of Radha for Krishna). Lord Krishna is | | | | threats from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada continued |
| believed to have popularized the festival by | | | | offering prayers to Lord Vishnu. He was poisoned |
| playing pranks on the gopis here. Krishna is | | | | but the poison turned to nectar in his mouth. He |
| believed to have complained to his mother about | | | | was ordered to be trampled by elephants yet |
| the contrast between his dark colour and his | | | | remained unharmed. He was put in a room with |
| consort Radha's fair colour. Krishna's mother | | | | hungry, poisonous snakes and survived. All of |
| decided to apply colour to Radha's face. The | | | | Hiranyakashipu's attempts to kill his son failed. |
| celebrations officially usher in spring, the | | | | Finally, he ordered young Prahlada to sit on a pyre |
| celebrated season of love. | | | | on the lap of his sister, Holika, who could not die |
| There is another story about the origin of Holi. | | | | by fire by virtue of a shawl which would prevent |
| Kamadeva is a god of love. Kama's body was | | | | fire affecting the person wearing it. Prahlada |
| destroyed when he shot his weapon at Shiva in | | | | readily accepted his father's orders, and prayed to |
| order to disrupt his penance and help Parvati to | | | | Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, |
| marry Shiva. Shiva then opened his third eye, the | | | | everyone watched in amazement as the shawl |
| gaze of which was so powerful that Kama's body | | | | flew from Holika, who then was burnt to death, |
| was reduced to ashes. For the sake of Kama's | | | | while Prahlada survived unharmed, after the shawl |
| wife Rati (passion), Shiva restored him, but only | | | | moved to cover him. The burning of Holika is |
| as a mental image, representing the true | | | | celebrated as Holi. |
| emotional and mental state of love rather than | | | | |