Prahlad and Holika

Dadi**: Guddu beta, do you know why we celebrate Holi - the festival of colors?

Guddu**: Is it about Prahlad, Dadi?

Dadi**: Yes! It celebrates the night when Prahlad survived a fire that should have killed him - and the demoness who tried to murder him perished instead.

Guddu**: Tell me the story!

Dadi**: After all his attempts to kill Prahlad failed - the cliffs, the ocean, the elephants - Hiranyakashipu was desperate. He called upon his sister Holika for help.

Guddu**: What was special about Holika?

Dadi**: Holika had a very special power. She had received a boon that made her immune to fire. She could walk into flames and come out completely unburned!

Guddu**: That's amazing!

Dadi**: The demon king had a terrible plan. He ordered a huge bonfire to be built. Holika would sit in the fire with little Prahlad in her lap. She would survive; the boy would burn.

Guddu**: That's so cruel! Using your sister to kill your own son!

Dadi**: Evil has no limits, beta. Holika agreed to the wicked plan. On the appointed night, a massive fire was lit. The flames roared higher than the palace walls.

Guddu**: Was Prahlad scared?

Dadi**: The scriptures say Prahlad walked to his fate calmly. He trusted his Lord completely. If this was how he was meant to die, he would die chanting Vishnu's name.

Guddu**: That's so brave!

Dadi**: Holika sat down in the blazing fire and pulled young Prahlad onto her lap. The flames engulfed them both. Everyone watched, waiting for the screams.

Guddu**: What happened?!

Dadi**: Here's what Holika didn't know, beta. Her boon had a condition - it only protected her when she entered fire ALONE. By bringing Prahlad with her, she had broken the condition!

Guddu**: So her own power turned against her?

Dadi**: Exactly! The fire consumed Holika completely. She screamed as her body burned. But Prahlad? He sat in the flames untouched, peacefully chanting "Naarayana, Naarayana."

Guddu**: The one who was supposed to survive died, and the one meant to die survived!

Dadi**: That is the justice of dharma, beta. Evil plans always backfire. Those who dig pits for others fall into them themselves.

Guddu**: So that's why we burn bonfires on Holi!

Dadi**: We call those fires "Holika Dahan" - the burning of Holika. The night before Holi, communities gather around bonfires remembering this story. They burn effigies representing evil.

Guddu**: And then the next day, we play with colors?

Dadi**: The colors celebrate the triumph of good over evil, of life over death, of joy over fear. When you throw colors on Holi, you're celebrating Prahlad's survival!

Guddu**: I never knew Holi had such a deep meaning!

Dadi**: Every festival has a story, beta. The story of Prahlad teaches us that no amount of power can defeat pure devotion. Hiranyakashipu ruled the world. Holika could walk through fire. But a little boy with faith in his heart defeated them both.

Guddu**: All because he kept chanting God's name?

Dadi**: That was his protection. When fear comes, when danger threatens - remember Prahlad. He didn't fight, didn't run, didn't argue. He simply kept his heart connected to God. And God took care of the rest.

Guddu**: Next Holi, I'll remember Prahlad when we light the bonfire!

Dadi**: And may the fire burn away all our negativity, just as it burned Holika. Goodnight, beta. Happy thoughts!

Guddu**: Goodnight, Dadi!