The version of the origin of the holiday is the story of Shiva, who incinerated his third eye Kama (the deity of love) after he tried to interfere with the meditation of God.
Shiva stripped Kama of his body, but later succumbed to his wife's entreaties, returned the body of love to God for 3 months a year. Hindus believe that when Kama finds a bodily image, life awakens, everything blossoms with a riot of colors and it's time to celebrate the holiday of love.