23 March 2016 - QA 1

What is the significance of the burning of Holika (bonfire on the night before Holi)?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

The burning of Holika has an effect on the coming monsoon. There is story of Prahlada (from which the festival of Holi originated). Prahlada was a young boy who was very dedicated to God but his father was not. His father was a very egoistic and a cruel king. So the story goes that he wanted to teach his son a lesson because he was very hurt that the boy was preaching the name of God when he being the king was an atheist. He tried in all ways to change him but the boy didn't change. When he couldn’t change him he wanted to kill him. So he approached one of his sisters -- she had a boon that whoever she took on her lap, she could do something whereby the person would get burnt. Her name was Holika. So she took Prahlada on her lap to burn him, but instead she got burnt and Prahlada came out safe because he was chanting 'Hari om’, and was devoted to God, and that protected him from the fire.

In some of the villages, people do fire walking but nothing happens to them, not a blister on their feet! Faith has great power, it contributes to life.

Holi is generally during spring time, but now it’s becoming summer! In 5000 years everything has changed. All romantic stories happened around Holi and Yamuna River, where we had WCF. Literature is full of those romantic stories. We too had our big romantic and challenging program there! We also got wet with the little bit of rain coming.