The myth (神话故事) behind this Hindu festival varies depending on the region of India. The most popular one is about Hiranyakashipu, the king of evil and his son Prahlada. The king was unhappy that Prahlada was a supporter of Lord Vishnu, the protector of all mankind. When all efforts to discourage him failed, the king asked his sister Holika for help. Holika who had been born with the power to resist heat invited Prahlada to join her inside a burning fire. But thanks to the protection from Lord Vishnu, the young boy escaped, while Holika was burned to ashes. The locals marked the victory of good over evil with a celebration that was similar to the modern-day Holi and a fun tradition was born.

　　The night before Holi, many Hindus get together and light a giant bonfire (篝火). The highlight (最精彩的部分) of the festival is the Lathmar Holi, which is celebrated several days before the real Holi. The biggest Lathmar Holi celebration takes place in the village of Barsana. On this day, the village women stage a battle with the men from the neighboring village of Nandgaon to prevent them from placing a flag on Radhika’s temple. The women “hit” the men with the bamboo sticks, while the men attempt to fight back with the only weapon they have — colored powder.

　　Though the myth behind Holi may differ, the spirit of the festival is the same. It is the day (or month) when people set aside all worries and enjoy the day by throwing everyone they meet colored powder, water balloons and perhaps even entire buckets of water.

【2017届高考英语广东版英语测试报高三上学期综合版训练：第9期 B2（外研版）】相关文章：

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习书面表达限时测验：4（含解析）

★ 四川省2016届高考英语一轮复习课时作业（35） Module 5 Cloning 外研版选修6

★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(二十八)必修5Module 4《Carnival》（外研版）

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习课时训练：14（含解析）

★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(三十二)选修6Module 2《Fantasy Literature》（外研版）

★ 【课堂新坐标】2017届高考英语（通用版）二轮复习短文改错专题训练：模式1 缺一词（含解析）

★ 【优化方案】2017届高考英语二轮复习全国卷Ⅱ题型重组训练：第3组（含解析）

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习书面表达限时测验：7（含解析）

★ 2017高考四川省广安市英语阅读理解一轮系列训练：25（含解析）

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习大题冲关秘籍语法填空：体验真题（含解析）