What is the History and Origin of Holika Dahan?
What is Holika Dahan?
Holika Dahan is considered as the eve of Holi that is celebrated as the lightning of bonfire. The day of Holikadahan is popularly known as CholtiHoil. Next day of Holika Dahan is celebrated with colors. This day is considered as a big event. This day is celebrated as the symbol of victory of Good soul over evil soul.
What is the history behind Holika Dahan?
According to the story, once upon a time, there lived a demon king, called ‘Hiranyakashyap’. He was an egoistic king who had ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship only him and no one else. To his disappointment, his own son, ‘Prahlad’ became an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. Obviously, the king got furious over his son’s unacceptable behavior and planned to kill him. In one of his attempts, he asked his own sister ‘Holika’ to help out. The king’s sister was blessed with a reverence that she cannot be burned by fire. He told her to sit with Prahlad on a lit pyre. When ‘Holika’ coaxed him to sit in her lap, the legend has it that she herself burnt alive on that pyre as she had forgotten that if she takes anyone alongside her on the pyre, the boon will not work. On the contrary, ‘Prahlad’ come back from the pyre unharmed as he was continuously chanting Lord Krishna’s name. The learning from the story is that if a person is a true believer, he/she will come out of difficult situations as Lord helps those who help themselves. And if a person takes undue advantage of a blessing, he/she is endowed with by harming other individuals, that person have to pay for his/her mistakes.
What is the significance of Holika Dahan?
Holika Dahan is the festival that helps to gather many cultures at one place. People gather at a place for bonfire and greet everyone around. Most important significance that is associated with Holika Dahan is victory of truth and faith over evil and bad in Almighty. Holi signifies that good soul always sees a victory and evil soul always faces defeat. There are many evil people in today’s society who practices evil deeds in their daily life. Bonfire of Holi is considered as best time to burn all the evil deeds and evil thoughts from your heart. The significance is that burn all the evil thoughts in bonfire of Holi and enjoys the festival of colors with joy and enthusiasm. All the bad things of Past should be burnt in the bonfire of Holi. This festival holds great significance in the life of worshippers and it is believed to provide several benefits to them. The victory of good over bad is signified with this festival and provides the devotees with positive energy.
What is the legend of Holika Dahan?
The most important theme of celebration Holi is the victory of good over evil. According to Hindu Mythology, other than Legend of Prahlad, Legend of Radha-Kishan is also associated with this festival. According to historical facts,it is said that complexion of Lord Krishna was dark. It is believed that Lord Krishna was given Poison by a Demon. After giving poison to Lord Krishna by Demon, Demon himself died instead of Lord Krishna but this poison turned complexion of Lord Krishna in dark or blue color. One day, Lord Krishna asked a question to his mother, Yashoda. He asked why he is dark in color and why Radha is so fair in complexion. After listening to this innocent queation, YashodaMaiya asked Lord Krishna to color Radha’s face by any color which he wants. Lord Krishna took this seriously and colored Radha’s face that made Radhaher look like him, that is dark colored. Lord Krishna found this a real fun and started playing with colors with Radha and Gopis all around the village.
What are the items required for the ‘Holika Dahan’ Pooja?
The items required for performing ‘Holika Dahan’ Pooja are: A bowl of water, incense sticks, turmeric pieces, fully grown grains of wheat and gram, ‘gulal’ powder, coconut, ‘batasha’, dried cow dung, ‘roli’, rice grains, ‘dhoop’, flowers, raw cotton thread and unbroken lentil of moong.
What are the steps to do ‘Holika Dahan Pooja’ along with Mantras?
- One should keep all the ingredients of ‘Pooja ‘required in a plate along with a small water pot. Then he has to sit on a spot facing east/north. Sprinkle a little water on the ‘thali’ and on all those who intend to pray.
- One has to take a little water, rice grains and some coins in the right hand to take a vow to do the ‘Pooja’ properly.
- Remember Lord Ganesha by taking a flower and few rice grains in the right hand and chanting,”OmGanGanpatayNamah,
panchopachartheyrgandhashatpushpanisamarpyami”. While chanting, apply roli and rice grains with fragrance and offer it to the lord. - Remember Goddess Ambika after that and chant, “Om Ambikayenamah, panchopachartheyrgandhashatpushpanisamarpyami”.
- Remember Lord Narsimha, the ‘Avatar’ of Lord Vishnu by chanting, “Om NarsimhayeNamah, panchopachartheyrgandhashatpushpanisamarpyami”.
- Remember the ardent devotee ‘Prahlad’, by chanting, “Om PrahaladayaNamah, panchopachartheyrgandhashatpushpanisamarpyami”.
- Now, one along with all his family members, should stand in front of Holi and ask for blessings for power, health, wealth and prosperity.
- One should offer rice grains, fragrances, flowers, lentils, turmeric pieces, coconut, dried cow dung pieces to the holy fire. 3 or 5 rounds of raw yarn are tied around the pyre. After the pyre is lit, all the family members take the blessings from the elders. The roasted grains are thus offered as ‘Prasad’.
- Next morning, the ashes from the remains of the holy pyre are brought into the house for purification. This day, family members along with friends apply colors on each other faces and forget all differences.