Holi in India

India is a land of customs, traditions and rituals followed with festivals and social ceremonies. Holi, the 'Festival of Colors' is celebrated in India af the end of winter season i.e. in February or March. Holi in India is celebrated in almost every state and region. According to Hindu mythology, the origin of Holi lies in the story of Hiranya Kashipu, a cruel king who was father of Prahlad. He got boon from God Shiva that nobody could kill him. This boon made the king become more powerfull than God and even he ordered all the people to start worshipping him. But his son, Prahalad, was great devotee of Lord Vishnu so he denied worshipping his father and kept on chanting, "Ram, Ram, Ram.". This made Hiranyakashyap so much angry that he ordered his soldiers to kill Prahlad but everytime he came alive. Hiranya Kashipu decided to set fire for Prahlad to be seated in Holika's (Hiranya Kashipu's sister) lap. His sister had a magical ohri who protect her from fire. The father said his son, "Now I'll see how your Vishnu is going to protect you?". And in a moment, holika burnt in fire and again Prahlad came unhurt from the fire because God Vishnu was protecting his great devotee, Prahlad. Since then the tradition of holika dahan is being practised. Now about the holi of colors. Indians love to play holi with water, gulal, pichkari, balloons and other material to have enjoyable time together. This festival of colors denotes the love story of Krishna and Radha.