Misconceptions about Other Peoples Religions Research Paper

Misconceptions about Other Peoples Religions - Research Paper Example To me, Holi was merely a spring festival that was celebrated in fun and colorful way. Until then, I did not know that this religious festival had some kind of history, and it celebrated the battle between the good and the bad. I was informed by my host that we shall have to come for two days: firstly for the religious service, and secondly for the festivities. The religious service was performed a day prior to Holi and it is called ‘Holi pooja’. It is performed on the day before Holi, called ‘Holika Dahan’. â€Å"People light bonfires on the eve of Holi festival to celebrate the victory of good over bad which is called Holika Dahan.† (SCFI) The religious devotion of the people in that ceremony really inspired me and I could not help relating the phenomenon of victory of good over bad with my own religious faith. I was surprised to feel that the sense of unfamiliarity started to fade away as the service proceeded and I began to understand what the history of Holi was all about. The name Holi comes from a princess named Holika. A story relates that many years ago Holika tried to kill her brother Prahlad. She did so at the instance of her father [who] wanted to be worshipped as a god, but one person stood in his way. That person was his son, Prahlad... [the King] ordered Holika to sit inside a bonfire and hold Prahlad on her lap... Instead of Prahlad being burned to death, it was Holika who perished. (Haze, pp. 20-21) I had not the slightest idea that the history of this religious festival dated back to ancient times and how important the victory of good over bad was important to them. Thus, the bonfires that are lit on the eve of Holika Dahan are a re-enactment of the trial of the good and the bad. Hindus put the effigies of Holika (that symbolizes the bad) and Prahlad (that symbolizes the good).