Holi is the festival of colours. This festival has some mythological roots especially connected with Mathura Vrindavan Holi which is also the land of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. There is a famous story of Prahlad and Holika. According to Hindu mythology, Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu who was saved from his evil father, King Hiranyakashipu and his aunt Holika. A sage gave a boon to Holika that the fire neither burn her nor can make any fatal damage to her, by remembering this boon, she took her nephew and sat with him in the fire, and then, Prahlad who was the great devotee of Lord Vishnu, started chanting lord's name, by the grace of god, Holika got burnt and Prahlad left with no harm. This story teaches us the victory of good over evil and hence it is celebrated as Holika Dahan which occurs the night before Holi.

Another significant legend is associated with Lord Krishna and Radha. Krishna is known for his playful nature and once complained to his mother about Radha’s fair complexion compared to his dark skin. Mother Yashoda playfully suggested little Krishna smear colours on Radha's face since then, the tradition of playing Holi with colours started and it is also the reason that Mathura Vrindavan Holi is very famous among devotees. Many kinds of holi are being played in Mathura and Vrindavan with unique celebrations such as Lathmar Holi in Barsana in which women playfully hit men with sticks and men throw colours and splash water on women and Phoolon Ki Holi at Banke Bihari Temple in which devotees are being showered by the flowers.

History of Celebrating Holi

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