Krishna · Krishna, Radha, Vishnu
Holi
The festival of colours that greets spring, forgives old quarrels and celebrates the love of Radha and Krishna.
Also known as: Rangwali Holi, Dhulandi, Festival of Colours, Dol Purnima
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
On the day after Holika Dahan, that is the first day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha Pratipada) following the full moon of the month of Phalguna, usually in March. In some regions it is celebrated on Purnima itself.
About Holi
Holi, the festival of colours, is one of India's most joyful days. People smear each other with dry gulal and throw coloured water, sing folk songs, dance to dhol beats and visit friends and relatives, so that for a few hours differences of age, rank and status are set aside.
The day's food is as much a part of it as the colour: gujiya, malpua, dahi bhalla, thandai (sometimes with bhang in some regions), and namkeen are shared at every door. After the play, people bathe, put on clean clothes and visit elders for blessings.
Significance
Holi follows the bonfire of Holika, so it is first of all the celebration of good outlasting evil. The colours speak of spring: the fresh greens, yellows and reds of blossoms and ripening fields, and of the joy of renewal as winter ends.
Socially it is a day of forgiveness and reconciliation. Embracing someone, even a former rival, with colour on your hands is a custom that means the past quarrel is over. The love of Radha and Krishna, played out in the colours of Braj, gives it a devotional meaning as well.
How Holi is kept
- 1Wake early, bathe, and pray before the family deity. Some people first put a tilak of gulal on the deity's forehead, as a first offering of colour.
- 2Collect the ash of the Holika fire in some places, and apply a little on the forehead as a blessing.
- 3Prepare gujiya, sweets, savouries and thandai, and arrange dry gulal and plain water in clean plates.
- 4Begin with a gentle tilak of gulal on elders' feet and forehead, seeking blessings, and greet younger members with colour on the cheeks.
- 5Go out to meet neighbours and friends, play with colour, sing Holi songs and dance to the dhol.
- 6Share sweets and food at every home, and extend forgiveness to anyone with whom you have had a misunderstanding.
- 7Once the colour play is done, bathe, wear clean clothes, and in the evening visit relatives and friends to exchange greetings.
The story
Holi grows out of the story of Prahlad and Holika. Holika, who could not be burnt by fire, was consumed in the pyre while the devoted Prahlad survived, and the next day the people celebrated with colour and joy, which is how the festival is said to have taken shape.
In Braj, Holi is also linked to the childhood of Krishna. The story tells that Krishna, dark-skinned, worried that fair-complexioned Radha would not accept him. His mother Yashoda playfully suggested he colour Radha's face as he wished, and the colour play of Barsana, Nandgaon and Vrindavan is remembered as the roots of this custom.
What to do
- ✓Use natural, skin-safe colours and dry gulal.
- ✓Apply oil on skin and hair before playing, and protect your eyes.
- ✓Play only with those who are willing; ask before applying colour.
- ✓Greet elders with respect and take their blessings.
- ✓Drink plenty of water and eat in moderation.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not force colour on anyone or throw it at strangers.
- ✕Avoid harsh chemical colours, paints and anything that can hurt the eyes.
- ✕Do not waste water; use it wisely.
- ✕Do not drive or ride under the influence of intoxicants.
- ✕Do not misbehave under the cover of the festival.
Around the country
- Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon: celebrations run for days, including Lathmar Holi, in which women playfully strike men with sticks.
- West Bengal and Odisha: called Dol Jatra or Basanta Utsav, with Krishna images taken on swings and in processions, and students dressing in white and yellow.
- Punjab: Hola Mohalla, a martial-arts and music gathering around Anandpur Sahib, begins the day after Holi and runs for a few days.
- Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat: Rang Panchami and Shimga, with a bonfire, and in some parts of Gujarat, matki-breaking games with hung buttermilk pots are said to recall the butter stories of Krishna.
Frequently asked questions
When is colour played, the night of Holika Dahan or the next day?
Colours are played the day after Holika Dahan, in the morning. Holika Dahan itself is an evening bonfire, and the day with colours is also called Dhulandi.
Why do people use colours on Holi?
The colours celebrate spring, and also recall the colour play of Krishna and Radha in Braj. They are also meant to bring people together without distinction.
Is Holi celebrated on the same day everywhere?
Mostly yes, though in some places Holi is played on Purnima itself or the date differs by a day depending on the local tithi. Braj and Bengal also have their own schedules.