Bonfire ( Holika Dahan )
♧ Introduction :-
Different festivals are the very important part our society which binds one to each other in different relations. Especially in India we have many festivals like " Rakshabandhan " the festival of brother and sister, " Shivratri " the festival of lord Shiva, " Navratri " the festival of Goddess as the same we also have the festival of " Holika Dahan ( Bonfire ) " the festival of Holika etc. But the very surprising and exciting thing is that all festivals have its own different myth. And all these festivals are celebrated worldwide but in different way and all have their different myth and rituals. It is very intresting to know how people celebrating these festivals according to their rituals. As a Sunday reading task here I am sharing the views and different rituals of Bonfire ( Holika Dahan ). I hope you will enjoy. Let us see.
♧ What is Bonfire ?
A Bonfire is a large and controlled outdoor fire, used either for informal disposal of burnable waste materials or as a part of celebration.
♧ Farm and Garden Bonfire :-
There are many different myths around Bonfire in India and in many othet countries also. But if we think scientifically then there are many benefits and disadvantages of Bonfire also which somehow useful to weather and to nature. These types of bonfires generally seen in farms and in gardens.
Bonfires are used in farms, in large gardens and allotments to dispose of waste plant materials that is not readily composted. This includes woody material, pernicious weeds, diseased material and material treated with persistent pesticides and herbicides. Such Bonfires may be quite small but are often designed to burn slowly for several days so that wet and green material may be reduce to ash by frequently turning the unburnt material into the centre. Such Bonfires can also deal with turf and other earthy materials.
The ash from garden bonfires is a useful source of potash and may be beneficial in improving the soil structure of some soils although such fires must be managed with safety in mind. Garden and farm bonfires are frequently smoky and can cause local nuisance if poorly managed or lit in unsuitable weather condition.
♧ A brief history of Bonfire :-
The Bonfires takes its name from the medieval bon - fire of animals bones. While modern day bonfires ingredients are generally less gruesome, burning waste materials can cause pollution and local nuisance. Fires have been of great use throughout the centuries - to mark occasions, as signals and to dispose of waste. However, we now have alternatives for signalling, for disposing of most materials and burning some things is illegal. Now in modern days apart from these all scientific reasons, different regions and countries have different myths and rituals for bonfires.
♧ Disadvantages of Bonfire :-
There are many disadvantages of bonfires like,
[ 1 ] Air Pollution :-
Burning plastic, rubber or painted materials creates noxious fumes that contain a range of poisonous compounds.
[ 2 ] Health effects :-
Air pollution can have damaging potentially fatal health effects and people with existing health problems are especially vulnerable. The chances of diseases will increase like people with heart condition, children and the elders.
[ 4 ] Annoyance :-
Smoke, Smuts and smell from bonfires have long been a source of a significant number of complaints to local authorities every year. Smoke prevents neighbours from enjoying their gardens, opening windows or hanging washing out.
[ 5 ] Safety :-
Fire can spread to fences or buildings or forests and scorch trees and plants. Piles of garden waste are often used as a refuge by animals, so look out for hibernating wildlife and sleeping pets.
These are all scientific reasons, benefits and disadvantages of bonfire. Now let us come to the main point. How Indian people and many other countries are celebrating the festival of Bonfire as a myth of Holika Dahan and as a tradition or as a ritual. In India also different regions people have myths and rituals around Holika Dahan or Bonfire. Let us discuss in detail.
♧ The myth of Holika Dahan in India :-
The tradition of burning " Holika " is religiously followed in Gujrat and Orissa also. Here, people render their gratitude to Agni, the god of fire by offering gram and stalks from the harvest with all humility. Further on the last day of Holi, people take a little fire from the bonfire to their homes. It is believed that by following this custom their homes will be free from disease. At several places there is also a tradition of cleaning homes, removing all dirty articles from around the house and burning them. Disease breeding bacteria are thereby destroyed and the sanitary condition of the locality is improved.
◇ The Legend of Holika and Prahlad :-
There was once a demon king by the name of Hiranyakashyap who won over the kingdom of earth. He was so egoistic that he commanded everybody in his kingdom to worship only him. But to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana and refused to worship his father. Hiranyakashyap tried several ways to kill his son Prahlad but Lord Vishnu saved him every time. Finally, he asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. For, Hiranyakashyap knew that Holika had a boon, whereby, she could enter the fire unscathed. Holika coaxed young Prahlad to sit in her lap and she herself took her seat in a blazing fire.
The legend has it that Holika had to pay the price of her sinister desire by her life. Holika was not aware that the boon worked only when she entered the fire alone. Prahlad, who kept chanting the namw of Lord Naarayana all this while came out unharmed as the Lord blessed him for his extreme devotion. Thus, Holi derives its name from Holika. And is celebrated as a festival of victory of good over evil. Holi is also celebrated as the triumph of a devotee.
In different parts of India many reasons are given for Holika's death. Vishnu intervened and hence Holika was burnt. Brahma had given Holika the power on the understanding that it can never be used to harm anyone. Holika was good and it was her clothes that gave her the power. The night before Holi, pyres are burnt in North India, Nepal and parts of South India in keeping with this tradition. The youth playfully steal all sort of things and put them in Holika pyres.
Apart from India, there are many other countries which are celebrating the festival of bonfires. Let us see in detail.
♧ Guy Fawkes Night ( Bonfire) London :-
Friday, 5th November
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes day, Bonfire Night and fireworks night is an annual commemoration observed on 5th November primarily in the United kingdom.
" Remember, remember the fifth of November - gunpowder, treason and plot. "
Goes the nursery rhyme, chanted in the run up to Guy Fawkes night. It goes back to 1605 when Guy Fawkes, one of the member of the gunpowder plot, was arrested while guarding explosives in the house Lord, London. With the plot to blow up the house of Lord and kill King James I - foiled Londoners lit bonfires around the city in celebration. The bonfires tradition continues to this days, and usually there's an effigy of Guy Fawkes placed at the centre of it. One of the biggest celebrations is in the town of Lewes in Sussex.
♧ Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine's " Oniyo " Fukuoka, Japan :-
Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine's " Oniyo " ( Fire festival ) is a ceremony to drive away evil spirits that has been practiced for 16,000 years. It's held in early January each year. A Devil fire that has been guarded at the temple is transferred around 9.00 pm on the 7th January to six massive torches measuring one meter in diameter and 15 meter long. The torches are transported around the grounds of the shrine by a group of men in loincloths. It sounds like a potential health and safety issue, but it's considered to be good luck if embers or ash from the torches fall on them.
♧ Jeongawol Dacboreum Deulbul Festival - Korea :-
It is a fairly new festival, younger than 20 years old, its origin go back to the time when families kept cows. In early February, the Jeongawol Daeboreum Deulbul festival takes place on the Island of Jeju off the coast of South Korea. To keep the grass grazeable, farmers set fire to the field in the mountains to destroy old grass and kill harmful insects. Today, a hilltop is set a light to pray for health and good harvest in the coming year. There is torchlight march also.
♧ Quema del Diablo ( Burning of the Devil ) Guatemala :-
In early December Guatemalas ready themselves for the Christmas season by driving the devil from their homes and burning him in the streets. For centuries - at least since the 1700s. The traditional ceremony has been performed to chase bad spirit from homes and neighbourhoods. By watching bonfires, fireworks display and burning Devil figures in the streets, local says they are spiritually cleaning themselves.
♧ Ottery St Mary - Devon, England :-
♧ Bonfire Night - Newfoundland - Canada :-
When English and Irish people in search of a better life, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Canada, they took their traditions with them. The English took Guys Fawkes Night, the Irish took Samhain and over time the traditions merged into mischief week with a belief that certain types of naughty behaviour is permitted at this time, many Newfoundland and Labrador's close knit communities hold bonfires and celebrations.
♧ Sadeh - Iran :-
Sadeh is an ancient Zoroastrian festival. It honours the discovery of fire that defeated the forces of Darkness and cold. Traditionally, festivities went on for three days and gifts of food were given to the poor. Today, Zoroastrians light bonfires, perform religious rituals around them and thank god for his blessings.
These all are the various traditions, myths and rituals of bonfires in various countries. After the discussion of this tradition in detail we come to know that all the countries haven't same myths and rituals but the Purpose of celebration of the festival of bonfires is same that is,
" The triumph of good over evil. "
♧ References :-
Top 10 Fire Festivals around the World. 2 Nov. 2012, www.reuters.com/article/uk-travel-picks-firefestivals-idUKLNE8A101N20121102.
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