Hailing from a cosmopolitan city like Kolkata, Holika Dahan wasn’t new to me. However, the extent of celebrations around Holi is different in North India. While I always knew Mathura and Vrindavan would have festivities that lasted a month, Jaipur wasn’t any less during the Faag festivities, followed by Holika Dahan and Holi. The Holika Dahan story was especially intriguing because it was the same day I went to the first Narasimha temple. A little on the later, but first, let us know what Holika Dahan is all about.
Holika Dahan story
If you’re in north India during the festival of colors, you will find streets full of haystacks all over the city just a day before the main event. This is the day of Holika Dahan (burning of Holika), which is associated with a story from Vishnu Purana.
The ritual symbolizes the victory of good over evil while honoring the glory of Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Prahlad was the son of King Hiranyakashipu, a supreme among the Asuras (demons). He did not like his son’s devotion to Lord Vishnu and tried to dominate supremacy. Prahlad remained steadfast in his love for Lord Vishnu, which angered his father.
Hiranyakashipu tried to dissuade Prahlad many times to refrain him from his devotion. He also punished him in numerous ways, but Prahlad was unshakeable. The rage became so rampant in the father that he wanted to kill his own.
Hiranyakashipu had a sister called Holika, who had a special boon. Whenever she wrapped a special cloth around her, she would be immune to fire. Hiranyakashipu wanted to use this to his benefit and kill Prahlad. He ordered Holika to take Prahlad in her lap and sit inside a pyre so that he would be burnt to death while Holika would be saved due to her boon.
Holika followed the instructions and went into the fire, but Lord Vishnu intervened, and the cloth moved from her body and went onto Prahlad. The young boy was saved, leaving Holika dead.
After this incident, Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Vishnu, emerged from a pillar. He was a half-lion and half-man and devoured the evil king with his sharp claws.
North India celebrates Holika Dahan with much festivity, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The bonfire represents the cleansing power of truth and righteousness, and the ritual is done to spread positivity.
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Narasimha Mandir in Jaipur
Imagine finding out the Holika Dahan story on the day of the auspicious event and visiting a Narasimha temple for the first time the same day! This happened to me when I discovered that Govind Dev Ji mandir isn’t the only temple located inside the famous Jaipur mandir.
The temple is part of the City Palace premises, but since it is open to the public, a wall separates the royal residence. There is also a temple within the premises dedicated to Lord Narasimha.
As you enter Govind Dev Ji’s premises, there is a tiny road on the left that moves towards the City Palace premises. There lies a historic mandir with the idol of Lord Narasimha seated beside Goddess Laxmi. There is also an idol of Lord Krishna on the right.
When I visited the temple, sunlight fell right on the face of the idol, and it felt alive. It made me deeply want to know more about the Holika Dahan story, and my experience was refined outside the City Palace premises.
Holika Dahan in City Palace Jaipur
I stepped out of my house around early evening, expecting Holika Dahan to happen after sunset. I went to Jaipur City Palace only to find out that the event would happen after 11 p.m.
While I am sure there is a subh muhurta (auspicious timing), I assumed the event ended late to avoid danger. It primarily happens late in the night as people within the city who follow the age-old tradition run with fire on sticks that they bring from the royal residence.
Centuries ago, when kings still ruled different parts of our nation, they were the ‘malik’ or the supreme. The ritual of Holika Dahan used to begin from the royal premises, and the ruling king would light the fire. A ritualistic tradition includes a puja ceremony that ends with Holika Dahan.
Once the fire started burning, commoners were allowed to light up their sticks and take fire from the same pyre to light Holika Dahan in their homes. There was also a tradition to use the fire to cook food and keep it burning with the help of coal all through the year. While it is not mandatory to follow this ritual, many Jaipur families keep the tradition alive.
Here is how it looks like
It is a spectacle to experience right outside the back gate of City Palace (bank opposite Jantar Mantar). I tried to break into the palace in multiple possible ways (LOL), as they wouldn’t allow commoners in.
Only guests who were invited to the City Palace could participate in this exquisite experience. Everyone else had to wait at the back gate to experience the Holika Dahan and then be allowed in to take the fire.
The crowd started gathering around 10:30 p.m. to wait for the king to carry out the rituals. It was around 11:30 p.m. that I felt like I was part of a period drama.
A loud mic seemed to chant the words to announce the arrival of Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh. I wasn’t expecting such an imperial experience, but there he was, alongside princess Gauravi Kumari, lighting up the pyre. It was an exciting experience and felt like it took me back in time. But what shook me was men carrying sticks full of fire, running outside of the gate of City Palace. The feeling shifted the concept of ‘supreme’ in my perspective.
How to experience Holika Dahan?
If the Holika Dahan story intrigues you and you, too, want to experience it, make sure you’re in North India during Holi. The event happens one day before Holi. You can always search Holika Dahan for dates and add the year of your visit to get the accurate time for you to be here.
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