# Holi Legends: Story and Vidhi

> The legends of Holi: Prahlada and Holika, Radha and Krishna's colours, Shiva burning Kama, and the demoness Dhundhi chased away by children.

Source: https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/holi/festivals-holi-legends

| Bonfire | Holika and Prahlada |
| --- | --- |
| Colours | Radha and Krishna |
| In the south | Kama Dahanam, Shiva burning Kama |

## Prahlada and Holika

The demon king Hiranyakashipu could not turn his son Prahlada from his devotion to Vishnu, and every attempt to kill the boy failed. His sister Holika had a boon, or a shawl, that made her proof against fire. She sat in a blazing pyre with Prahlada in her lap. But the protection left her and covered the boy: Holika burned and Prahlada came out unharmed. The Holi bonfire celebrates the burning of evil and the safety of faith.

## Radha and Krishna

The child Krishna, whose skin had turned dark blue from the poison of the demoness Putana, complained to his mother Yashoda that fair Radha would never love him. Yashoda laughed and told him to colour Radha's face any colour he liked. Krishna did, and the play of colours between Krishna and the gopis became Holi. In Braj, Holi is still played as Krishna's festival.

## Kama Dahanam

When Shiva was lost in meditation after Sati's death, the gods needed him to marry Parvati and father a son to defeat the demon Taraka. Kama, the god of love, shot his flower arrow at Shiva, who, angered, opened his third eye and burned Kama to ashes. Kama's wife Rati wept, and Shiva promised that Kama would live on without a body. In the south the day of Holi is kept as Kama Dahanam.

## Dhundhi

The Bhavishya Purana tells of a demoness, Dhundhi, who troubled the children of King Raghu's kingdom. She could be driven away only by the noise, laughter and pranks of children, so on the full Moon of Phalguna children were allowed to shout, play and make mischief around a fire, and she fled. This is said to be why Holi is a day of licensed noise and fun.

## Dates and related pages

- [Holi](https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/holi/info/holi)
- [Holi Puja Vidhi](https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/holi/holi-puja-vidhi)
- [Why Holika Is Worshipped](https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/holi/info/why-holika-is-worshipped)

## Festival and Vrat Kathas

- [Vat Savitri Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/vat-savitri/vat-savitri-vrat-katha)
- [Varalakshmi Vrata Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/varalakshmi-puja/varalakshmi-vrata-katha)
- [Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/maha-lakshmi/mahalakshmi-vrat-katha)
- [Kojagara Puja Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/kojagara-puja/kojagara-puja-vrat-katha)
- [Maha Shivaratri Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/maha-shivaratri/maha-shivaratri-vrat-katha)
- [Tulasi Vivah Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/tulasi-vivah/tulasi-vivah-vrat-katha)
- [Ananta Chaturdashi Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/ananta-chaturdashi/ananta-chaturdashi-vrat-katha)
- [Akshaya Tritiya Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/akshaya-tritiya/akshaya-tritiya-vrat-katha)
- [Akshaya Navami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/akshaya-navami/akshaya-navami-vrat-katha)
- [Yama Dwitiya Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/yama-dwitiya/yama-dwitiya-vrat-katha)
- [Nag Panchami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/nag-panchami/nag-panchami-vrat-katha)
- [Rishi Panchami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/rishi-panchami/rishi-panchami-vrat-katha)
- [Hala Shashthi Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/hala-shashthi/hala-shashthi-vrat-katha)
- [Jivitputrika Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/jivitputrika-vrata/jivitputrika-vrat-katha)
- [Kokila Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/kokila/kokila-vrat-katha)
- [Jaya Parvati Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/jaya-parvati/jaya-parvati-vrat-katha)
- [Mangala Gauri Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/mangala-gauri/mangala-gauri-vrat-katha)
- [Gangaur Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/gangaur/gangaur-vrat-katha)
- [Jyeshtha Gauri Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/jyeshtha-gauri/jyeshtha-gauri-vrat-katha)
- [Pithori Amavasya Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/pithori-amavasya/pithori-amavasya-vrat-katha)
- [Ashoka Ashtami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/ashoka-ashtami/ashoka-ashtami-vrat-katha)
- [Durva Ashtami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/durva-ashtami/durva-ashtami-vrat-katha)
- [Purnima Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/purnima/purnima-vrat-katha)
- [Rama Navami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/rama-navami/rama-navami-vrat-katha)
- [Sita Navami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/sita-navami/sita-navami-vrat-katha)
- [Vivah Panchami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/vivah-panchami/vivah-panchami-vrat-katha)
- [Hanuman Jayanti Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/hanuman-jayanti/hanuman-jayanti-vrat-katha)
- [Narasimha Jayanti Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/narasimha-jayanti/narasimha-jayanti-vrat-katha)
- [Parashurama Jayanti Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/parashurama-jayanti/parashurama-jayanti-vrat-katha)
- [Balarama Jayanti Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/balarama-jayanti/balarama-jayanti-vrat-katha)
- [Buddha Purnima Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/buddha-purnima/buddha-purnima-vrat-katha)
- [Narada Jayanti Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/narada-jayanti/narada-jayanti-vrat-katha)
- [Ganga Saptami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/ganga-saptami/ganga-saptami-vrat-katha)
- [Chhinnamasta Jayanti Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/chhinnamasta-jayanti/chhinnamasta-jayanti-vrat-katha)
- [Mahesh Navami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/vrat-katha/mahesh-navami/mahesh-navami-vrat-katha)
- [Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/karwa-chauth/legends/karwa-chauth-legends)
- [Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/ahoi-ashtami/legends/ahoi-ashtami-vrat-katha)
- [Hartalika Vrat Legend](https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/teej/legends/hartalika-vrat-legend)
- [Dhanteras Legends](https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/dhanteras/legends/dhanteras-legends)
- [Raksha Bandhan Legends](https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/raksha-bandhan/legends/raksha-bandhan-legends)
- Holi Legends
- [Sharad Purnima Vrat Katha](https://www.hinducalendar.today/purnima/sharad/legends/sharad-purnima-vrat-katha)
- [Kumbha Mela Legends](https://www.hinducalendar.today/kumbh-mela/legends/kumbha-mela-legends)