Story details

Whatever the occasion, if it's sad or joyful, the coconut is always there - it's a very important part of the Hindu religion. At Holi, we build bonfires, to symbolise the triumph of good over evil.

A long time ago, there was an evil king who proclaimed himself to be higher than the God. He had a son who was a devotee of Vishnu, and although he was only a young boy he did not approve of what his father was doing at all, so his father determined to kill him. The king tried to destroy his son in many ways - throwing him from a cliff, trampling with elephants, poison - but each time Vishnu protected him and the boy lived. In the end the king turned to his sister, who had the magical property of being able to endure fire without being hurt by it, and told her to build a pyre, sit the boy on her lap and set the pyre alight, knowing that she would be unharmed but the child would die. The sister was unwilling but scared of the king, so she agreed. But the Gods saw that she was using her own powers for harming another, and took the magical charm away, so when the pyre was lit she perished in the flames but the boy stepped from the fire unharmed.

Then men with long iron rods come and fish the hot nuts out of the flames - the fire blesses them, it burns all the evil out. All the people there will crack the coconuts open and eat them for good luck, or take them home and share them. Many women will fast on this day to ask for protection for the health and wealth of their family. Women often bring new-born babies to this festival so the children can be blessed by Shiva. It's especially good for a woman to eat some of these coconuts to break their fast. We also say special prayers on this day for people who have suffered, especially in natural calamities.