What is Holi?
Quick answer
Holi is the Hindu festival of colors, celebrated mainly in India and Nepal at the end of winter, usually in March. People throw colored powder (gulal) and water at each other, dance and share sweets. It celebrates the arrival of spring, the victory of good over evil and the love of Krishna and Radha.
When is Holi?
Holi falls on the full moon of the Hindu month of Phalguna, usually in March, so the date changes each year. It’s celebrated over two days:
| Day | Name | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Evening before | Holika Dahan | Bonfires are lit to symbolize the burning away of evil |
| Main day | Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) | The color celebrations |
The legends behind Holi
- Prahlad and Holika: The demon king Hiranyakashipu wanted everyone to worship him, but his son Prahlad stayed devoted to Lord Vishnu. The king’s sister Holika, believed to be immune to fire, sat in a bonfire holding Prahlad. Holika burned, and Prahlad survived. The bonfire on Holi eve recalls this story.
- Krishna and Radha: Young Krishna, worried that his blue skin made him different from fair-skinned Radha, playfully colored her face. The tradition of throwing colors grew from this story, especially in Mathura and Vrindavan, where celebrations last for days.
How Holi is celebrated
- Throwing gulal (colored powder) and spraying colored water
- Music, dancing and street parties
- Sweets such as gujiya, filled dumplings
- A spirit of forgiveness: social rules relax, and people mend broken relationships
- In Barsana, women playfully hit men with sticks in a tradition called Lathmar Holi
Tips for joining in
Wear old clothes, oil your skin and hair beforehand to make colors easier to wash off, and choose natural or skin-safe colors. Protect your eyes, phone and camera.
Holi is now celebrated around the world, from London to New York. For India’s festival of lights, see what Diwali is. Calling family in India? Check what time it is in India.
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