The festival of Holi is celebrated with great joy every year in the month of Phalguna. It starts with the burning of Holika, followed the next day by playing with colors and gulal. The story of Holi is deeply rooted in Hindu tradition. According to a popular legend, Devi Parvati wanted to marry Lord Shiva, but he was lost in deep meditation and did not notice her. To help her, the god of love, Kamadeva, shot a love arrow at Shiva, breaking his meditation. This angered Shiva, who opened his third eye and burned Kamadeva to ashes. Later, Shiva realized Parvati's devotion and accepted her as his wife.
However, after Kamadeva’s death, his wife, Rati, became a widow. She pleaded with Shiva for mercy, and understanding Kamadeva's innocence, Shiva brought him back to life. Kamadeva's actions were necessary for bringing Shiva and Parvati together. Even so, Shiva held Kamadeva responsible because his arrow represented physical desire. Shiva revived Kamadeva in an ethereal form and renamed him Manasija. This all happened on the night of the full moon in Phalguna, after people had already celebrated Holika’s burning. By morning, the desires had burned away in the fire, transforming into love. Kamadeva, now ethereal, inspired celebrations of new life. This day became known as Holi. Even today, in many places, Rati’s sorrow is depicted through folk songs and music.
Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Hinduism, with its history tied to various ancient scriptures and legends. One famous story links Holi to the life of Prahlad, the son of Lord Vishnu's incarnation, Narasimha. Prahlad was devoted to worshipping God, but his father, Hiranyakashipu, refused to acknowledge God. One day, Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahlad with the help of his sister, Holika. Holika had a boon that made her immune to fire, so she sat in the fire with Prahlad. However, by God's grace, Prahlad survived, and Holika was burned to death. This event became the basis for celebrating Holi with colors. The festival of Holi symbolizes God's grace, the victory of truth, and the destruction of evil.