The Bonfire Festival is Holi

Is there any story or myth around those celebrations? Write about various myths around bonfire. 

India is considered as a cultural country.  Many of the traditions that traditionally run in India are still followed.  This picture above is an example of a bonfire.  Because Holika Dahan is celebrated in India.  And another festival like it is Diwali.  In which the fire is lit.  So we will discuss about it in our blog today.  So why is the Holika Dahan program celebrated.  What are the things associated with Holika Dahan?  Which religious legends are associated with this festival?  Are such festivals celebrated in countries other than India?  We will discuss all that here in this blog.

The festival of colours Holi is spread out over two days every year. On the first day, a bonfire is created which is also known as Holika Dahan (burning of demon Holika) or Chhoti Holi. On the second day, Rangwali Holi is celebrated. However, in some places, Holi is played for five days- the fifth day is called Ranga Panchami.

Holika Dahan 2021: Muhurta

According to Hindu scriptures Holika Dahan, which is also known as Holika Deepak or Chhoti Holi, should be done during Pradosh Kaal (which starts after sunset) while Purnimasi Tithi is prevailing. Bhadra prevails during the first half of Purnimasi Tithi and all good work should be avoided when Bhadra prevails.

Holika Dahan Muhurta is from 06:37 pm to 08:56 pm (Duration: 02 hours 20 mins)

Differents storys:

1 ) Krishna and Radharani

The Holi of Braj is famous all over India for its intimate connection with the divine deities and their love plays.

It is said that when Krishna was a young boy, he asked the reason for his dark color while Radha was so fair.

His mother Yashoda playfully suggested that he should smear color on Radha’s face too and change her complexion to any color he wanted.

Captivated by the idea, Krishna proceeded to do so and thus, introduced the play of colors on Holi.

( Explanation. Even today, Holi is one of the most important festival of Braj, where the men of Nandgaon and women of Barsana play ‘latthmar Holi’ in the remembrance of the playful throw of colors by Krishna on ‘Gopis’ and their resistance. )

2 ) Sacrifice of Kamadeva

According to Hindu mythology, the world is looked after the Trinity of Gods – Lord Brahma, the creator; Lord Vishnu, the nurturer; and Lord Shiva, the destroyer.

According to a legend, Goddess Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, one of the first sons of Lord Brahma, married Lord Shiva against the wishes of her father.

Thus, Daksha did not invite her and her husband to a grand yagya arranged by him.

When Sati came to know about the event in her father’s house, she thought it to be a slip of mind and proceeded to participate in the event despite the warnings of her husband.

But once she reached there, she realized her fault and was infuriated by the insult of her husband.

As a penance for her disobedience, she entered the fire. When Lord Shiva came to know of her sudden demise, he was furious. Even after he controlled his anger, he started a severe meditation and renounced all work.

The world’s balance soon crumbled in his absence and Sati took rebirth as Goddess Parvati to try and win Lord Shiva’s heart and wake him up from his trance. She tried all ways to get the attention of Shiva.

When she had exhausted all her feminine ways, she invoked the help of Kamadava, the Indian cupid-god, who agreed to help her in the cause of the world despite the risks involved. He shot his love-arrow on Shiva’s heart.

Disturbed in his trance, Lord Shiva opened his third eye that fired anger and instantly incinerated Kamadeva. It is said that it was on the day of Holi that Kamadeva had sacrificed himself for the good of all beings.

Later, when Lord Shiva realized his mistake, he granted Kamadeva immortality in invisible form.

( Moral of the story: This incident of burning off kama is called kamadahana or Holi. As the lust was won over by Lord Shiva the kamadahana or Holi festival is celebrated as an event associating with the Bliss of God. So following kamadahana during holi, people put the powders on themselves and others remembering this victory over lust. )

3 ) Invincible Dhundhi

During the reign of Prithu, there was a terrible ogress called Dhundhi, who loved to devour innocent children.

She had performed severe penances and had won several boons from the deities that made her almost invincible. However, due to a curse of Lord Shiva, she was not so immune to the pranks and abuses of young boys as she was to weapons and arrows.

One day, the courageous boys of the village decided to get rid of her forever and chase her away from the village forever.

They got intoxicated on bhaang and drunk and then followed Dhundi to the limits of the village, beating drums, making loud noise, shouting obscenities and hurling insults at her and continued doing this until she left the village for good.

( Explanation:This is the reason that even today young boys are allowed to indulge themselves in rowdiness, using rude words and intoxication on Holi.

4 ) Bhakt Prahlad & Holika

Who is Holika?

Holika was a demoness, sister of King Hiranyakashipu and aunt of Prahlad. On the night before holi, the pyre is lit, signifying Holika Dahan. People sing and dance around the fire. The next day people play Holi, the popular festival of colours.

Are you wondering why a demoness is worshiped during the festival? It is believed that Holika was created to ward off all fears. She was a symbol of power, wealth and prosperity and could bestow those to her worshippers. Hence, Holika is worshipped along with Prahlada before Holika Dahan.

There was a mighty demon king named Hirnakashyipu who had won all the three worlds of heaven, earth and hell and had thus, become very proud. He assumed that he could defeat even Lord Vishnu with his valor. He went to the extent that he had enforced a law that everybody would worship him instead of gods and deities.

However, his little son Prahlad refused to accept his commands and continued to worship Lord Vishnu with complete devotion. Infuriated by this defiance of his son, he ordered his soldiers to throw him down a hill. Praying fervently and having full faith in Lord Vishnu, Prahlad did not retract from his word. True to his faith, Lord Vishnu rescued him at the last moment.

Flustered by this news, Hirnakashyipu invoked the help of his sister Holika, who had a boon that she could walk through the fire unharmed to do away with his son.

The wicked aunt agreed to the evil desires of his brother and entered the fire with her nephew Prahlad.

However, the brother and sister had forgot that Holika could only enter the fire alone or she would perish. Thus, blessed by Lord Vishnu, the child Prahlad remained unharmed but Holika got burnt and died instantly.

Holi is thus celebrated to commemorate the death of the evil aunt, after whom the festival is named, and the new life granted to Prahlad for his devotion and faith. To this day, cow dung is hurled into the fire and obscenities are shouted at the Holi fire at some places to insult Holika.

( Moral of the Holika story: Those who love God shall be saved, and they that torture the devotee of God shall be reduced to ashes. When Holika was burnt, people abused her and sang the glories of the Lord and of His great devotee, Prahlad. In imitation of that, people even today use abusive language, but unfortunately forget to sing the praises of the Lord and His devotee! )

What are the rituals around such celebrations? 

Holikadahan festival in my village.

The Holika Dahan program is celebrated in most of the villages in India.  Holika Dahan is celebrated in every village.  There are many beliefs behind it.  There are many different legends.  So the Holika Dahan program was also celebrated in my village.  About which I will tell you a little.

Holika Dahan is celebrated with great fanfare in Dharuka village.  In the morning the little boys of the village go out to gather firewood and prepare to light Holi.  Talked to a few elders of the village and asked why the Holika Dahan program is celebrated.  So his only answer was that when Prahlad was sitting on the fire bed to light the Holika and the Holika was burnt.  This festival is celebrated in remembrance of the victory of truth over falsehood.  In the evening all the people gather where the Holi is to be lit and light the Holi and shoot rounds around it.  Puts in Holi lit as prasadi of dates and daliya.  Couples who are married walk around pouring water in the kalash.  All the joy squeals with the sound of drums.  Finally all go home with prasadi.

So this is how Holika Dahan is celebrated in every village.  There is also a belief behind the lighting of Holi that when Holi is lit, the direction in which the smoke goes can tell what the year will be like.  With so many different beliefs, villagers celebrate Holika Dahan.  This type of Holika Dahan is also celebrated in cities.  Not only in India but there are many countries in which Born Fire Festival is celebrated.  So what are those countries?  And why are such festivals celebrated in those countries?  Let's talk about it.

What is Bonfair? 

A bonfire is a large and controlled outdoor fire, used either for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration.

How many countries celebrate Bonfire? Why? 

Australia

Canada

France

India

Iran

Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Luxembourg

Nepal

Nordic Countries

Lithuania

Poland

Romania

Slavic Europe

Czech/Slovak Republic

Turkey

United Kingdom

Scotland

United States

Top 10 fire festivals around the world

By Reuters Staff

1. Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night) - England

“Remember, remember the fifth of November - gunpowder, treason and plot” goes the nursery rhyme, chanted in the run-up to Guy Fawkes Night (November 5). It goes back to 1605 when Guy Fawkes, one of the members of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives in the House of Lords, London. With the plot to blow up the House of Lords - and kill King James I - foiled, Londoners lit bonfires around the city in celebration.

The bonfire tradition continues to this day, and usually there’s an effigy of Guy Fawkes placed at the centre of it. One of the biggest celebrations is in the town of Lewes in Sussex where, in recent years, effigies of various current figures, including those from the UK banking world, have been burned.

2. Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine’s “Oniyo” - Fukuoka, Japan

Fukuoka, capital of Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyushu Island, is one of Japan’s largest cities and hosts one of its oldest fire festivals. Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine’s “Oniyo” (Fire Festival) is a ceremony to drive away evil spirits that has been practiced for 1,600 years. It’s held in early January each year. A “devil fire” that has been guarded at the temple is transferred - at around 9 p.m. on the seventh day (January 7) - to six massive torches measuring one meter in diameter and 15 meters long.

The torches are transported around the grounds of the shrine by a group of men in loincloths. It sounds like a potential health-and-safety issue, but it’s considered to be good luck if embers or ash from the torches fall on them.

3. Jeongwol Daeboreum Deulbul Festival - Jeju, S. Korea

In early February, the Jeongwol Daeboreum Deulbul Festival takes place on the island of Jeju off the coast of South Korea. It’s a fairly new festival, younger than 20 years old, but its origins go back to the time when families kept cows.

To keep the grass grazeable, farmers set fire to the fields in the mountains to destroy old grass and kill harmful insects. Today, a hilltop is set alight to pray for health and a good harvest in the coming year. There’s a torchlight march, straw-rope making competition and deumdol (rock) lifting.

4. Diwali - India

The best-known Hindu festival is known as the “festival of lights.” Diwali (or Deepavali) means “rows of lighted lamps” and, during this time, houses, shops and public places are decorated with diyas (small earthenware oil lamps), elaborate feasts are prepared and spectacular fireworks displays light up the skies.

The five-day festival (November 13-17 this year) celebrates the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated throughout India and around the world (in Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Mauritius, Myanmar and London among many others).

5. Samhain 2012 - Out of the Darkness - Altoona, Florida, USA

More than 500 pagans gather in Florida for the state’s largest pagan festival. Running from October 31 to November 4 at Camp Ocala, each day is filled with feasting, rituals, drumming, dancing and live entertainment.

The main ritual in 2012 is centred around the “Burning Times” when so-called “witches” were put to death.

6. Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil) - Guatemala

In early December Guatemalans ready themselves for the Christmas season by...driving the devil from their homes and burning him in the streets! For centuries - at least since the 1700s - the traditional ceremony has been performed to chase bad spirits from homes and neighborhoods.

By watching bonfires, firework displays and burning devil figures in the streets, locals say they are spiritually cleansing themselves. The tradition is best experienced in Guatemala City and Antigua, but many towns throughout Guatemala host similar ceremonies

7. Ottery St Mary - Devon, England

In the small town of Ottery St Mary, the bonfire and fireworks are not the focal point of the community’s celebrations. This November 5, it will be the local townspeople carrying flaming barrels of tar through the streets. In a tradition that predates even 1605 it is said, 17 barrels are carried, starting in the afternoon, with small barrels for boys, medium barrels for youths and women and big ones for the men.

Traditionally, the barrels are set on fire at pubs and hotels around the town and a strict schedule is followed until midnight when the final barrel is carried in the square.

8. Up Helly Aa, Lerwick - Shetland Islands, Scotland

If you’ve ever wanted to see Vikings, this is the festival to see! Described as a Northern Mardi Gras, its origins stretch back 1,200 years, although the festival started in the 1870s. It’s held on the last Tuesday of January (January 29 in 2013). On that evening, nearly 1,000 men march in ranks, carrying fencing posts topped in paraffin-soaked sacking. At 7:30 p.m. a rocket cresting over the Town Hall marks the start.

Torches are lit, bands start playing and the men march with the Guizer Jarl (the head of the festival) who stands at the helm of a longship. Dragged to the burning site, the Guizer Jarl will leave his ship for it to be set alight. As the longship is engulfed by flames, the Vikings sing “The Norseman’s Home” before heading to halls for feasts of mutton soup, bannocks and plenty of warming drinks.

9. Bonfire Night - Newfoundland, Canada

When English and Irish people, in search of a better life, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Canada, they took their traditions with them. The English took Guy Fawkes Night, the Irish took Samhain and over time the traditions merged into Mischief Week.

With a belief that certain types of naughty behaviour (soaping windows, taking pins from gate hinges or stealing old tires for bonfires) is permitted at this time, many of Newfoundland & Labrador’s close-knit communities hold bonfires and celebrations.

10. Sadeh - Iran

Sadeh (or Jashn-e Sadeh) is an ancient Zoroastrian festival. While it refers to 100 days and nights before the New Year (Nowruz, which falls on the Vernal Equinox, March 20 or 21), it is celebrated 50 days earlier - around the end of January. It honours the discovery of fire that defeated the forces of darkness and cold.

Traditionally, festivities went on for three days and gifts of food were given to the poor. Today, Zoroastrians light bonfires, perform religious rituals around them and thank God for his blessings. It’s usually celebrated in the Kushk-e Varjavand gardens in Karaj (in Tehran province) where members of the Zoroastrian community congregate for the festivities.