Which demoness was burned in the Holika bonfire?

Which demoness was burned in the Holika bonfire? Holika was the demoness traditionally said to have been burned in the Holika Dahana fire.

In the Hindu legend, Holika was the sister of the powerful asura king Hiranyakashipu and the paternal aunt of Prahlada. Hiranyakashipu wanted Prahlada killed because the boy worshipped Vishnu instead of accepting his father as a god.

Holika was believed to possess protection from fire. She sat with Prahlada on a burning pyre, intending that he would perish while she survived. Instead, Prahlada emerged unharmed through Vishnu’s grace, while Holika was consumed by the flames. In some versions, a fire-resistant garment blew from Holika and covered Prahlada.

Holika Dahana is observed on the night before the main day of Holi. The bonfire represents the destruction of evil and the triumph of devotion and righteousness. It is distinct from Kama Dahanam, a related South Indian observance associated with Shiva burning Kamadeva.