The Manufactured Outrage Against Holi and Holika Dahan

With Holi celebrations underway, the now-predictable wave of criticism has begun. Every year, this festival—celebrated with joy and devotion across Bharat—is selectively targeted with calls to “conserve water” and “avoid pollution.” This year, the attack has taken an even more absurd turn, with some claiming that Holika Dahan is a symbol of hatred toward women. Such arguments not only misrepresent the festival’s essence but also expose a deeper pattern of undermining Hindu traditions through selective outrage and misinformation.

The Misinterpretation of Holika Dahan

Holika Dahan marks the triumph of devotion over arrogance. The legend behind it is well-known—Prahlad, a devout child, refuses to renounce his faith in Bhagwan Vishnu despite his tyrannical father Hiranyakashipu’s threats. His aunt, Holika, who possesses a boon that makes her immune to fire, is enlisted to kill Prahlad by sitting with him in flames. However, due to divine intervention, she perishes while Prahlad emerges unscathed. The ritual of Holika Dahan symbolizes the destruction of evil forces, arrogance, and oppression.

This year, an absurd claim has surfaced: that burning Holika represents a form of misogyny, as she was a woman. This argument is not just illogical but laughable. If Holika’s gender were the reason for her fate, then what about Mahishasura, Ravana, or Kansa—male figures who also met their end due to their wrongdoing? Holika’s downfall had nothing to do with her being a woman but everything to do with her abuse of power. To frame it as a gender issue is to distort history and faith with an agenda.

The Hypocrisy of Environmental Concerns

Beyond such bizarre claims, the standard environmental criticism of Holi persists. Activists push for a “dry Holi,” citing water conservation, but their concern is strangely absent when it comes to other large-scale water-consuming activities. Weddings, industrial projects, and political rallies use far more water than Holi celebrations, yet they escape scrutiny. The hypocrisy becomes even clearer when no such campaigns appear during events like Holi celebrations in the West, where color runs and music festivals with water-based fun continue unchecked.

Similarly, Holika Dahan is criticized for contributing to pollution, yet large-scale bonfires during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations do not face the same condemnation. Why is it that only Hindu rituals become the target of environmental lectures, while equally polluting practices in other traditions are ignored? The pattern suggests not genuine environmental concern but an attempt to single out Hindu festivals for criticism.

A Festival of Bhakti, Not Bigotry

Holi is not merely a festival of colors—it is deeply rooted in bhakti (devotion). It celebrates the unwavering faith of Prahlad, the destruction of evil, and the joyous spirit of unity. Reducing it to a narrative of gender oppression or environmental irresponsibility is a deliberate attempt to erode its significance. If we truly wish to engage in constructive conversations about environmental impact, the focus should be on equitable and widespread measures rather than targeting selective traditions.

Holi has survived centuries of attacks—physical and ideological. It will continue to be celebrated with the same joy, devotion, and spirit of togetherness. The critics may change their tactics, but the essence of the festival remains untouchable.