Holi Stories and Fun Craft Activities
Holi is the time of year when a soft breeze blows, roses, petunias, and bougainvillea bloom everywhere, and the air is filled with laughter, songs, and colour.
But do you know there are many stories behind the festival of Holi? Would you like to hear some? How about trying some fun activities too?
Read and share these stories with your preschoolers, and don’t forget to enjoy some exciting Holi festival craft ideas along the way!
One day before Holi, people celebrate Holika Dehan by lighting bonfires. Let’s hear the story about Prahlad and Holika and understand why we light bonfires before Holi.
Prahlad and Holika
Many, many years ago, there lived a demon king named Hiranyakashyap. He believed that he was the greatest of all. He wanted all people to worship him. Everybody was afraid of him. But his son was different. Prahlad did not follow his father’s wish and worshipped Lord Vishnu.
When Hiranyakashyap learned about this, he was furious. He ordered the soldiers to kill him, but Lord Vishnu saved him. Another time, the demon king threw Prahlad under the elephants to be trampled, but Lord Vishnu saved him again. He tried many ways to kill Prahlad, but his efforts were in vain.
Finally, he summoned his sister, Holika.
“Holika, you have magical powers. Fire cannot harm you. Sit in the fire with Prahlad and destroy him!” commanded the devil king.
Holika took Prahlad on her lap and sat in the middle of a bonfire. When the gods saw this, they took away all the magic powers. Holika got burned in the fire while Prahlad remained unharmed.
From that day onwards, people started lighting bonfires before Holi to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
Would you like to have some fun with crafts and create a bonfire?
Activity: Bonfire Art with Twigs
What you need:
- A4 black paper (which will represent the night sky)
- Small twigs (for the bonfire)
- Glue (to paste the twigs)
- Red, orange, and yellow tissue paper (we need flames, too!)
- Glitter (to make the night bright)
Method:
- Collect small twigs and arrange them like a bonfire on the black paper.
- Tear and crumple red, orange, and yellow tissue paper and make flames.
- Glue the flames over the twigs to form the fire.
- You can also sprinkle glitter to make the night sky shine!
The next day after Holika Dahan, we play Holi with colours. Wouldn’t you like to know why we play with colours? Well! Here is the story.
The Story of Krishna and Radha
Little Krishna and Radha were very good friends and always played together. One day, it struck Krishna that his colour was dark blue while his friend Radha was fair-skinned. Krishna became sad and asked his mother, “Amma, why am I so different? Why is my colour not like Radha’s?”
When Radha heard the conversation, she thought of an idea! She took some bright colours and put them playfully on Krishna’s face. Krishna laughed and coloured her back. Soon, all their friends joined in!
Since then, we all play with colours on Holi and celebrate our love and friendship.
Would you like to make some organic colours to play Holi with your friends?
Activity: Making Natural Colours
What you need:
- Turmeric
- Gram flour/ plain flour
- Dried marigold leaves
- Henna
- Dried hibiscus flowers
- Red sandalwood
Method
Yellow Colour Powder:
- Take turmeric powder and gram flour (besan) or wheat flour and mix it together.
- You can also use dried marigold petals and grind them into a powder. Then mix the powder with flour for more volume.
Green Colour Powder:
- Use pure henna and mix with a little flour for smoothness.
Red Colour Powder:
- You can use red sandalwood powder or dry hibiscus flowers in the sun and grind them into a fine powder. Mix the powder with rice flour for a smoother texture.
Now that we have made colours, what is Holi without laughter and noise? That brings us to our next story.
The Tale of Dhundhi, The Monster
Once upon a time, there lived a monster named Dhundhi. She did not like children; rather, she hated them. She couldn’t bear the laughter and noise the children made. She troubled and scared the children away whenever she saw them. One Holi day, the children banged drums, clapped, played music and made lots of noise. When Dhundhi heard so much noise, for the first time, she was frightened. She ran fast and was never seen again!
Do you know that since then, Holi has been a festival of fun, music, and laughter?
Let’s learn to make some musical instruments and play some music this Holi!
Activity: Holi Maracas
What you need:
- Empty plastic bottles
- Small pebbles, beads, or grains (for sound)
- Colours to paint
- Glue or tape to seal
Method:
- Take empty plastic bottles and fill them up with small beads or pebbles.
- Seal the bottles tightly with glue and tape.
- Paint them in bright Holi colours.
- Shake them and make some music!
It’s spring and one can see flowers everywhere. Holi is also the time for new beginnings, love and happiness. Let’s read one more story.
The Story of Kamadeva and Lord Shiva
One day, when Lord Shiva was deep in meditation, the gods needed his help! They asked for help from Kamadeva, the God of Love. To wake up Shiva, Kamadeva took out his bow and shot the arrow imbued with the powers of a magical flower at him. Shiva woke up from his deep meditation but got furious. He turned Kamadeva into ashes! All the gods were sad. Looking at the gods’ faces, Shiva brought Kamadeva back and filled the world with love, flowers, and birds.
That’s why Holi is a time of happiness, new beginnings, and love!
Let us use flower petals to make a colourful rangoli!
Activity: Flower Rangoli
What you need:
- Paper plates
- Fresh flower petals
- Glue
Method:
- Draw a pattern on the paper plate.
- Arrange the flower petals in a rangoli pattern on the plate.
- Glue them down to hold the design.
So, we have reached the end of our Holi stories. But before you go, there is one last very interesting story about baby Krishna and the wicked demon Pootana!
Baby Krishna and Pootna
Pootna was a wicked demon who did not like Krishna and wanted to harm him. One day she changed herself into a kind woman and tried to feed him poisoned milk. Little Krishna drank the milk, but nothing happened to him. Pootana, on the other hand fell and disappeared forever!
We should remember that goodness always wins. Holi is a time to spread kindness and have lots of fun!
Would you like to make Krishna using your handprints?
Activity: Handprint Krishna
What you need:
- Blue paint (that’s Krishna’s skin colour!)
- White paper
- Yellow paper (for Krishna’s crown)
- Glue and markers
Method:
- Dip your hand in blue paint and make a handprint on white paper.
- Cut a small golden/yellow crown and glue it above the handprint.
- Use markers to draw Krishna’s eyes, flute, and peacock feather.
Which is your favourite Holi craft activity and story? Let us know!
By
Ms. Sonia Duggal
