WEB CHUTNEY

Holi is one of the oldest festivals which is also known as the festival of colour. It’s a two day celebration and celebrates fertility, colour and love. There are a few legends as to why Holi is celebrated.

One legend of Holi is that an evil king named Hiranyakashipu forbade his son Prahland from worshiping lord Vishnu.

But Prahland would still worship Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu got angry an challenged his son to sit on a prye with Hiranyakshipu sister ‘Holika’ who was beleived to be immune to fire. Prahland prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe and when they both sat on the prye Holika got burnt to death.

Her death signifies the burning of all that is bad so in some states a pyre in the form of bonfire is lit on the day before Holi day to remember the death of evil.

Another Legend is that Lord Shiva was meditating and had spent many hours in solitude, when Madana the God of love decided to test his resolve and appeared infront of Shiva as a nymph. Shiva recognised Madana and in rage shot fire out of his third eye and reduced Madana to ashes.

Another legend is that Krishna loved Radha, but felt very self conscious about how his skin colour. Krishnas mother then advised him to paint his face. This is why lovers paint each others face during Holi.

Holi is celebrated to bring everyone together regardless of race, sex or social standing. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil and

Will you be celebrating Holi?