He lit the pyre, not with grief—but gain,
While Holika lay trapped inside the flame.
A son who smiled while setting fire to pain,
And claimed it all in god and dharma’s name.
Prahlada, sweet with mantras on his tongue,
Had longed to taste the wild the gods forbid.
He sought the highs of youth when he was young—
And so he burned the house where duty hid.
They crowned his tale in colors, bright and loud,
But ash still clings beneath the festival.
The sister lost, the screams beneath the shroud—
A truth too dark for tales celestial.
Holi, they say, is joy in fire’s breath.
But joy was born in Holika’s own death.
The Untold Story of Holi
A long time ago, there was a wise and powerful Dalit king named Hiranyakashipu. He was known for his intelligence and fairness. But the upper caste people, especially the Brahmins, could not accept a Dalit ruling such a large and successful kingdom. Out of jealousy, they planned to bring him down.
A man named Nrusimha, who was strong, clever, and ruthless, came up with a plan. Instead of fighting Hiranyakashipu directly, he decided to use the king’s young son, Prahlada. While Prahlada was getting trained in scriptures and royal skills, Nrusimha secretly sent people to befriend him. They made him addicted to drugs, perhaps opioids. While under the influence, Prahlada was manipulated into believing in a god called Vishnu, or Adinarayana, who they said was everywhere.
Hiranyakashipu saw that something was wrong with his son. To protect him, he sent Prahlada to stay with his sister Holika, hoping that she could help him recover. Holika took care of Prahlada and tried to help him become sober. But the addiction had taken over him. He could not bear the withdrawal and in a moment of desperation and confusion, he set fire to Holika’s house, killing her. The people loved Holika and were deeply saddened by her death. To remember her love and care, they began to commemorate her through a festival called Holi. They lit bonfires to mark her sacrifice and took bhang, remembering the drug addiction that had led to such a tragic event.
This origin story comes from Gulamgiri by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule (Chapter 5, Page 58). It shows how a young and innocent child was used as a tool by oppressor castes to destroy a great Dalit king. Today, Holi is seen as a festival of colours, but its roots lie in remembrance, loss, and resistance.
