Holi finds its reference in centuries-old scriptures. It was then called Vasantotsav (festival of Spring). The great poet Mahakavi Kalidas called it Madanotsav (festival of the love god)

There are many legends associated with the festival of Holi. The most common one is the story of Prahlad and Holika. A mighty egoistic king, Hiranyakashyapu by name, ordered his subjects to worship him as god. His son Prahlad, defying his father's orders, continued to worship Lord Vishnu.

The king, in order to wipe out the very name of Vishnu, sent his sister Holika to destroy Prahlad. Holika possessed the boon of never being burnt by fire.

But when Holika entered a pyre along with Prahlad, the flames consumed her and young Prahlad, who was sitting on her lap, walked out of the fire alive, unscathed. Perhaps the festival got its name from this legend.

To mark this day, effigies of Holika are burnt in parts of Northern and Western India.

Photograph: Rediff Archives

Also See: Worshipping Lord Shiva