Learn all about Holi

How Holi Started

The origin of Holi is believed to date back to a time before the birth of Christ. According to legend, Lord Vishnu killed the younger brother of the demon king Hiranyakashipu in an act of vengeance. However, the demon king had a deeper motive—he sought to conquer the heavens, the earth, and the underworld by defeating Vishnu. Armed with a boon that made him seemingly invincible, Hiranyakashipu ordered his entire kingdom to worship him and reject the gods. But his son, Prahalad, refused to abandon his devotion to Vishnu. Furious, the tyrant king plotted to kill his son with the help of his sister Holika, who was immune to fire. A massive pyre was prepared, and Holika sat on it, holding Prahalad in her lap. Miraculously, Prahalad emerged from the flames unharmed, while Holika was consumed by the fire. In the end, Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu as well. To this day, the story of Holika is symbolically reenacted during Holi, with bonfires lit across the country to mark the triumph of good over evil.

Who is Krishna and why is he Blue?

Krishna, the eighth incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, is considered by many to be the supreme deity. According to legend, Krishna's blue skin came from drinking poisonous milk as an infant, which turned his complexion that color. As he grew, Krishna fell in love with Goddess Radha, but he worried that she wouldn't love him in return because of his striking blue hue. Curious, he asked his mother, "Why is Radha as white as a pearl, while I am blue?" His mother replied, "I don't know, but why not paint her blue?". In his mischievous spirit, Krishna did just that—he painted Radha's skin blue. From that day forward, the Festival of Colors was born, symbolizing the joy and vibrancy of love and togetherness.