Every year we celebrate many festivals. But sometimes we do not know the stories and reasons behind it. Why these festivals are celebrated. This is the season of Holi so we will see why we celebrate it the reason behind and what must learn.

What is the story behind Holi why do we celebrate it?

This Festival got its name from 'Holika'. Hiranya Kashyap use to be king of demons and after long prolonged austerity(meditation) he was blessed with power by Lord Bhrama which was no one can kill him either at night or during the day, nor at home or outside, without any weapons. He became powerful as he uses to misuse his powers and tell others to worship him as he was booned by gods.

Then after a long time, he was blessed with a son named 'Prahlad'. Prahlad uses to worship Lord Vishnu and he had a huge belief in Vishnu. When others use to worship Hiranya Kashyap his own son use to worship Lord Vishnu, he got angry.

Hiranya also threatened his son to worship him. But his son refused it. He also executed many plans to kill his son but none worked, even Prahlad was placed in between the poisonous snakes but none affected him he still worshiped God Vishnu.

Holika sitting along with Prahlad on burning pyres

At last, his father Hirnaya thought of one more plan to kill his son Prahlad, he approached his demoness daughter named Holika and told her that you are going to sit on fire with her younger brother Prahlad, Holika sat on fire covering herself with a blanket so that Prahlad get burnt. But Prahlad had the blessings of Lord Vishnu. 

But Look at the beauty of Nature, the blanket came on Prahlad, and Holika got burnt to ashes and Prahlad was safe.

After that Lord Vishnu came in the evening between day and night and killed Hiranya Kashyap and ended the story.

This is the reason every year on this day people burn large pyres to symbolize the burning of the demoness Holika then after this Festival got its name  'Holika' and one more question arises.

Why do we play with colors on Holi?

The question you must be thinking that why do we play with colors on Holi and who started it.

It all started when Shri Krishna started playing Holi with colors in Vrindavan with his friends. Colors had significant importance because at that time colors were made using flowers and that is the reason they were skin-friendly. 

But for a few decades, these colors are made using chemicals that harm our skin.

Thus, after the Holika bonfire, Holi is celebrated with colors.

Things to be learned 

Many things can be learned from this festival of Holi but here are some of the qualities of things we must learn,

Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. Many stories are associated with Diwali like Lord Rama returning to Ayodhya, Goddess Durga killing Demon Mahishasura, and Pandavas returning home to Hastinapura. But few people must be knowing about Lord Krishna's victory over Demon Narakaasura.

Narakaasura was born to Varaha an avatar of Vishnu and goddess earth as he was born with the qualities of demon Goddess Earth feared, that he might be killed by Vishnu in the future so she pleaded with Vishnu not to kill Narakaasura at any cost, Vishnu thought for a while and Narakaasura was booned that except his mother no one can kill him. Goddess Earth was happy after hearing the decision and was confident that she would never kill her son(Narakaasura) at any cost.

As the days passed by Narakaasura grew more powerful than before even Indra could not defeat Narakaasura, so the only way was going to Lord Vishnu to protect people from Narakaasura, Lord Vishnu assures them that the end is near for Narakasura soon Lord Vishnu took the avatar of Lord Krishna and Goddess earth was born as Satyabhama, meanwhile, Narakaasura continued his evilness. He tormented(mentally suffering) the Rishis and challenged the kings.

On one such day, he had to face Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna knew that the end of Narakaasura was in the hands of Goddess earth so he did not stop Satyabhama when she wished to watch the battle between Shri Krishna and Narakaasura. The battle between them(Shri Krishna and Narakaasura) started, they both fought fiercely after a while Narakaasura was able to make Shri Krishna unconscious with one of his weapons. Then Satyabham herself fought with Narakaasura. She courageously faced him and aimed arrows at him. 

Satyabhama killing Narakaasura

At last, Narakaasura has fallen for the arrows of Satyabhama. That day was called Naraka Chaturdashi(Narak Chaturthi) and people celebrated the occasion with lamps and lights with crackers. The next day is Diwali(Deepavali). The word Diwali means "row of lights" in Sanskrit. The symbol of Diwali is light and oil lamps called Diyas. Diwali is not just celebrated by Hindus but also celebrated by Jains and Sikhs too. 

Some Lesser Facts About Diwali

• The last Tirthankara of Jains Vartamanam Mahaviram has attained nirvana on this very day.
• Another name for Diwali is Lakshmi puja. Hindus and Marwadis give a lot of importance to Lakshmi puja. And New Year in fact starts with Diwali.
• Diwali is not only the festival of Hindus but also the festival of Sikhs and Jains.
• Diwali honors the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. The lights and lamps help goddess Lakshmi find her way into people's homes and bring prosperity to their new year.
• Rangoli is the most popular on Diwali.
• In the United Kingdom(UK), the city of Leicester has the largest Diwali celebration outside India.
• How Goddess Durga Killed Mahishasura on Dusshera, after 20 days of Dusshera Diwali is celebrated (Read More about it..)

Burning the Demon qualities in ourselves and generating good qualities should be our main focus for growth in life.