Holi

 Holi is a festival of color and joy. Holi is a festival which is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Phalguna (mostly in early March). Holi is religious festival of Hindus. Holi is a festival which gives permit to go wild on streets.

History of Holi

Holi is celebrated in all over the India. Originally, Holi was an agricultural festival celebrating the arrival of spring.

This aspect still plays a significant part in the festival in the form of the colored powders: Holi is a time when man and nature alike throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colors and liveliness of spring.

Legend of Holika and Prahlad

The name of the festival Holi is associated with the Holica Dahan. The legend behind the festival of Holi involves an evil king named Hiranyakashipu. He forbade his son Prahlad from worshipping Vishnu, but Prahlad continued to do offer prayers to the god. Getting angry with his son, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to sit on a pyre with his wicked aunt Holika who was believed to be immune to fire. (In an alternate version, Holika put herself and Prahlad on the fire on orders from her brother.)
Prahlad accepted the challenge and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika was burnt to death, while Prahlad survived without a scar to show for it. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi from her name. This festival shows the victory of good over evil.

  Legend of Radha-Krishna

It is also associated Lord Krishna and Radha. Holi was very well playing in the Vrindavan and Mathura, the two most cities with which Krishna is closely affiliated. According to legend, the young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about why Radha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply colour on Radha's face and see how her complexion would change. In the Gokul city Krishna was playing holi with Radha and gopis. So, Krishna's followers everywhere find special meaning in the joyous festival.