Holika Dahan is a festival celebrated before Holi in India. It shows the victory of good over evil and devotion to God.
In Hindu mythology, there was a very powerful king called Hiranyakashipu. He became too proud and wanted all people to worship him as God.
Hiranyakashipu’s son, Prahlad, was a faithful worshipper of Lord Vishnu. Prahlad’s father tried to kill him for not obeying, but Prahlad’s strong faith in the Lord kept him safe.
Hiranyakashipu’s sister, Holika, could not be hurt by fire. They made a plan to burn Prahlad alive by tricking him to sit on a big fire with Holika.
When the fire was lit, Prahlad’s strong belief in Lord Vishnu protected him, but Holika burned and died, because her power to resist fire only worked if she went into the fire by herself.
On this day called Holika Dahan, people light big fires to celebrate the win of good over bad, and to honor Prahlad’s strong faith. It marks the beginning of the Holi festival the next day.