BEYOND THE WATERGUNS: 3 LIFE LESSONS YOUR KIDS CAN LEARN FROM PRAHLAD THIS HOLI BY KARISHMA

King Hiranyakashyap spent his life chasing a ‘boon’ to make him invincible. He believed that having the right status, the right connections, and the right ‘protection’ meant he couldn't lose. But he forgot that a boon is a borrowed shield. It only works as long as the conditions are right.

Let’s teach our children that being ‘popular’ or having ‘clout’ is a borrowed coat. It doesn't actually keep you warm, it just hides who you are. So, the next time you see your child feeling low by seeing someone getting ahead of them by using ‘who they know’ we can explain to them the importance of status and integrity. Status is a boon it can be taken away while integrity is a muscle memory once you build it, it's yours forever.

2. The power of Endurance and unshakable calm: 

The most powerful part of Prahlad's story was that he refused to react. While the king was a storm of anger and ego, Prahlad was a calm ocean of faith and devotion. He did not shout to be powerful but his calmness was his strength. Response is a choice, reaction is a trap. We can teach our children that getting angry back at someone usually means they have won control over your emotions.

Next time your child faces a high pressure situation where someone is being bossy or unfair they don't have to scream to win. Anger is a fire that needs your reaction to stay alive. By being calm and steady, they will starve the fire until it has no choice but to go out.

3. Narasimha: Faith activates Protection: 

When things were at their absolute worst, Prahlad's faith activated the divine. Lord Vishnu appeared from a plain stone pillar as Narasimha Bhagwan - half-lion half-man. He proved that help doesn't always come from the sky, it can burst out of a stone if your faith is steady. Let’s teach our kids that when they stand up for what is right, the entire universe is on their side. Help might come from a teacher, a new friend or a sudden change in luck- but it will come.

Holika’s Mirror 

When we look at the fire of Holi, we often focus on the miracle of Prahlad, but we should also look closely at the failure of Holika (Prahlad's aunt). She entered the flames wrapped in a boon that she believed made her untouchable to fire but her intentions were to harm Prahlad. The wind shifted, the boon flew away and she got burnt into ashes. The most vital lesson we can share with our children: 

The Illusion of the ‘BOON’: In today's world the boon is often social status, unfair connections or temporary safety. These things look like armor but they are as thin as Holika’s boon. They only work when conditions are perfect.

This Holi, let's remind our children , the mud world throws at you eventually dries and falls off, but the color of your character stays forever. We celebrate the Prahlad in our children - the ones who know that you don't need a ‘boon’ to be safe when you have a soul that is fireproof. ‘Let the fire take the shadows, we are here for the light’.  

AUTHOR: KARISHMA