Sunday Reading : Bonfire (Holika Dahan)

 Sunday Reading : Bonfire (Holika Dahan)

Some questions  are: 

1 )  How many countries celebrate Bonfire ? Why? (If you can find reasons  ….are there common reasons?)

Holika Dahan

In some parts of India the day is actually called Holika Dehan. There are other activities associated with the story of Prahlad, but the burning of Holika is the one that we can most directly associated with Holi. Fire burnt on the eve of Holi (Holika Dahan) symbolizes the burning of Holika. The story as a whole is testament to the power of devotion (bhakta) over the evil represented by King Hiranyakashyapu, as Prahlad never lost his faith.

Bonfire Night is a name given to various annual celebrations characterised by bonfires and fireworks. The event celebrates different traditions on different dates, depending on the country. There are many countries India, Iraq, nepal, Poland, Japan, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Iran, France, Canada, Australia, Central Europe etc celebrate bonfires .

Australia : 

In Australia, bonfires are rarely allowed in the warmer months due to fire danger. Legislation about bonfires varies between states, metropolitan and rural regions, local government areas, and property types.

France :

In France, the bonfire celebrates Jean le Baptiste during the Fête de la Saint-Jean, first Saturday after the solstice, about 24 June. Like the other countries, it was a pagan celebration of the solstice, or midsummer, but Christianisation transformed it into a Catholic celebration.

Iraq : 

In Iraq bonfires lit to celebrate the Feast of the Cross by the Assyrian Christians. Beside the bonfire every household hang traditionally a lighted fire in the roof of their house.

Nepal :

Bonfire in Nepal is taken almost synonymous with camp-fire. During winter months its quite common to have a bonfire in hotels, resorts, residential area as well as private properties.

Bonfire is also done during Siva ratri in the evening. It is based on lunar calendar falls during month of February.

Reason for Holika Dahan :

The burning of Holika is the most common historical explanation for the celebration of Holi. In different parts of India varying reasons are given for Holika's death. Among those are:

Lord Vishnu stepped in and hence Holika burnt.

Holika was given the power by the Brahma on the understanding that it can never be used to bring harm to anyone. 

2 ) What is the ritual around such celebrations ?

Holika Dahan is celebrated by burning Holika, an asura. For many traditions in Hinduism, Holi celebrates the killing of Holika in order to save Prahlad, a devotee of God Vishnu and thus Holi gets its name. In olden days, people used to contribute a piece of wood or two for the Holika bonfire, and this represents Holika being consumed by the fire in which she tried to kill her nephew Prahlad. A similar holiday is Holi where people get to gather and often repair broken relationships.

3 ) Is there any story or myth around  those celebrations?  Write  about various  myths  around  bonfire.  Watch the video  linked here under  to know  about  the myths believed in by  vaishnavites and shaivites in India.  In which  myth do you  believe  more than the other  one.

Yes, there is myth around bonfire celebration. The fire ritual of Holika Dahan is related to the story of Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu and Holika.

It is believed that there lived a demon king, Hiranyakashipu, who won a boon from Lord Brahma, and wanted everyone in the kingdom to consider him as their god and worship him. When his own son, Prahlad, failed to comply with his father's wishes, and instead ended up becoming a follower or Lord Vishnu, Hirankashipu was unimpressed. He tried many ways to kill his son all of which failed, because Holika sat with her nephew Prahlad in her lap in a bonfire. When the fire diminished, Holika was burned to death, while Prahlad, who live Lord Vishnu's name.