Holika Dahan

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/holika-dahan

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the associated regional observance?Kama Dahanam in South India, linked to Lord Shiva burning Kamadeva
2. What is Holika Dahan and why do people light a big bonfire?Holika Dahan is a festival that shows how good beats bad. People light a big bonfire to burn away badness and welcome new life.
3. Who was Prahlada and why was he saved from the fire?Prahlada was a prince who loved Lord Vishnu. He was protected by his devotion, so he stayed safe while the fire burned.

Hiranyakashipu: The tyrannical demon king and father of Prahlada, who sought to suppress his son's devotion to Vishnu.
Boons: Divine gifts or powers granted to individuals, often with specific conditions, as possessed by Holika.
Kamadeva: The Hindu deity of love, desire, and passion, whose burning by Shiva is commemorated in some Holika Dahan traditions.