Introduction
March 14, 2025, begins the Hindu holiday of Holi or the “Festival of Colors.” Holi is celebrated as a Spring Festival. Indeed, in Bengali tradition, part of the holiday is actually called Basant-Utsav which in Bengali means Spring Festival. In many traditions, Holi actually begins with the lighting of bonfires on Holi Eve (for 2025, the evening of March 13). Employees, staff and students should be accommodated for religious observance.
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| Colored powders used for Holi |
Holi customarily lasts three days in most Hindu traditions, although in some traditions may last up to 16 days. Holi is generally a time of boisterous celebration marked by such lack of inhibitions that people are allowed to do all sorts of things they would not normally be allowed to do. These include saying outrageous things (notably the allowable use of vulgar jokes), laughing at others, playing in puddles. Most famously, Holi is a time for celebrating with bright colors. The main means for this is with colored powder that friends and family apply to one another. It is also common to throw colored powder or squirt water colored with powder at friends, relatives and even passers-by. An expression common to Holi is the Hindi phrase Bura na mano, Holi hai. (Don’t mind this, it’s Holi).
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| Outsourced (2006) |
Holi received considerable attention in Europe and the Americas when the
holiday featured prominently in the popular romantic comedy Outsourced. The film was released in 2006 and had the two leads Todd Anderson (played by Josh Hamilton) and Puro (played by Asif Basra) participating in Holi activities unwillingly at first and then with great enthusiasm.
holiday featured prominently in the popular romantic comedy Outsourced. The film was released in 2006 and had the two leads Todd Anderson (played by Josh Hamilton) and Puro (played by Asif Basra) participating in Holi activities unwillingly at first and then with great enthusiasm.
Religious Significance of Holi
Religiously, Holi is tied to the victory of Prahlad over the demon Holika, which in itself is a representation of the victory of good over evil. Holi takes its name from Holika.
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| Prahlad and Holika in the fire |
While virtually all traditions of Hinduism recognize the ties of Holi to Prahlad and Holika, other traditions also tie Holi to other Hindu stories. Some worshipers associate with Holi the Kamadeva legend in which Lord Shiva opened his third eye burning up the love deity Kamadeva. For those following the Kamadeva tradition, worshipers make offerings of mango flowers and sandalwood.
The practice of throwing colored water or powder has its origins in another Hindu legend, that of the love between Lord Krishna and Radha. Lord Krishna as part of the story applied colored powder to Radha’s face. Also, since Lord Krishna played many pranks on people (including throwing colored powder on them) when he was young, the playing of pranks on Holi also is tied to this.
Some Holi Traditions
Uttar Pradesh
The people of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh bill themselves as the "hub of Holi." This is because Uttar Pradesh is home to the birthplace of both Lord Krishna at Nandgaon and of his beloved Radha at Barsana. Since the entire tradition of throwing colored water and powders derives from the love story of Lord Krishna and Radha, it makes sense that at Holi their birthplaces would be major centers of pilgrimage as people travel there to venerate them
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| Radha and her friends striking Lord Krishna with lathis |
Women from Radha's village of Barsana dress in traditional outfits for the holiday and carry lathis. These are long cane sticks of the same sort used in the martial arts of the same name.
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| Lathmaar Holi in Barsana, Mathura |
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| Thandai |
http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-holi-recipes-thandai-dahi-vada-and-more/20110317.htm
Gujarat
In the state of Gujarat people have a special tradition around buttermilk based on Lord Krishna's fondness for stealing unguarded buttermilk and butter from homes. A greeting unique to Gujarat for Holi is warn people to guard their butter and milk.
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| In Gujarat, boys form human pyramids reach a buttermilk pot and become Holi King |
The title of Holi King is bestowed on the boy who is finally able to break open the pot and let the buttermilk come pouring out. In some villages, this is accompanied by an actual prize, but in many others, being named Holi King is prize enough.
Goa
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| The Shigmo Parade in Panaji, Goa includes elaborate floats of Hindu dieties |
The state government of Goa funds many events for Shimgo in the capital city of Panaji. These include street dance performances, folk music and dance shows, and most importantly the Panaji Shigmo Parade with floats showing religious scenes related to the holiday. Many of the floats feature huge images of various Hindu deities, some mechanically operated to move and gesture. The parade includes a range of participants from all castes and cultures in the state. These include people performing various regional dances, flame-throwers, acrobats, brass bands, special marchers with colored umbrellas, and people dressed as various deities. This also includes men playing special large drums rolled on special carts and beaten from a distance with long handled sticks.
The state government of Goa sponsors Shigmo events for 14 days, including many outside of Panaji in other towns and in rural areas.
Punjab
The Sikh community celebrates Holla Mohalla the day after Holi (this year on March 15), and lasting three days. The tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, developed the tradition for warriors to undertake martial arts, kushti traditional wrestling, mock sword fights and feats of strength. Following these, the warriors recite poetry.
Manipur
Yaoshang is the most important holiday among the Meitei people in Manipur. While the holiday coincides with Holi, it really represents a more central festival than in much of the rest of the Hindu world. Yaoshang begins on the same day as Holi but lasts for five days.
On the first day at sunset, in every village across Manipur, the Meisei ritually burn a hut -- the Yaoshang Mei thaba -- after which children practice nakatheng -- going door to door requesting donations.
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| Yaoshang Mei thaba, Burning of the huts, Manipur |
On the following days, the nakatheng extends to blocking roads for more donations for the temple. During the festivities, in addition to the splashing of water and colors, local bands perform kirtan (religious call-and-response music), participate in sporting competitions, and, of course, spray each other with water and colors.
West Bengal and Bangladesh
In Bengali tradition, Holi is celebrated as Dol Purnima (or the Swing Festival) and, as mentioned above, with observance of a Basant-Utsav (or Vasanta Utsav, the Spring Festival).
The Bengal celebration of the holiday is somewhat unique in its dignified atmosphere in observing the holiday. In contrast to almost everywhere else in the Hindu world where Holi is celebrated with considerable abandon, for Bengal Dol's Purnima and Baasant-Utsav the atmosphere is more reserved and dignified.
Dol Purnima (also called Dolyatra) is an ancient Bengal celebration honoring Lord Krishna. On this day, people dress in saffron robes for a great procession. At the center of the procession is a swinging litter called a palki, which they decorate with garlands of flowers and brightly colored cloth. They then adorn a statue of Lord Krishna with colored powder and place it in the palki, which they then carry through the streets. As the procession moves, people blow conch shells and shout "Jai" ("Victory"). The name Dol Purnima means "Swing Festival" because the litter carrying Lord Krishna swings back and forth as it is carried.
The Basant Utsav events at Bishwabharati University involve special shows including major dance performances and group choreography, musical performances and a wide variety of other cultural programming. The Bishwabharati University students as well as local children in the city dress in special outfits of saffron and other bright colors.
Finally, at the end of the events, as with Holi celebrations elsewhere in India, the participants paint each other in brightly colored powders.
Nepal
Nepal, the only officially Hindu nation, celebrates Holi for a full week. In Nepal, another name for the holiday is Phagu which is the name for a sacred red powder.
The holiday begins on the first day with a tradition unique to Nepal: the setting up of the chir. The chir is a long bamboo pole on which brightly colored cloth is hung. Each strip of cloth represents a good luck charm for the coming year.
The chir is tied to Lord Krishna and his teasing of young women. The Nepalese tradition tells of an incident where Lord Krishna came upon a group of young women all bathing in the Yamuna River in what they thought was total privacy. The mischievous deity then hung all of their clothing high in a tree well out of their reach. Some versions of the story say that the reason the women were all bathing at once was also related to a trick of Lord Krishna, who had covered them all with colored powder.
The festival culminates at the end of the week with the dousing of each other with colored water. In Nepal, the colored water is held in lolas (a type of water balloons) that people throw at family and friends. Finally, at the close of day on the last nigh of the festival, the chir is set on fire in a communal bonfire. The burning of the cloth strips serve as offerings for good luck.
As with all of these religious observance posts, this is meant only as informational. Nothing I have written here or in any of these blogs is intended to indicate what is or is not the proper way to worship or observe traditions.
Also, while I have researched these to the best of my ability, if I have made an error, please inform me. Finally, I am aware that Holi is a varied holiday and has many traditions that were not covered here. Please feel free to add your own traditions or thoughts at the end of this blog.
Happy Holi! Holi Hai!
Dey, Panchali (March 6, 2020), "Unique Holi traditions in North, East, West and South of India," Times Travel, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/unique-holi-traditions-in-north-east-west-and-south-of-india/articleshow/62996908.cms
West Bengal and Bangladesh
In Bengali tradition, Holi is celebrated as Dol Purnima (or the Swing Festival) and, as mentioned above, with observance of a Basant-Utsav (or Vasanta Utsav, the Spring Festival).
The Bengal celebration of the holiday is somewhat unique in its dignified atmosphere in observing the holiday. In contrast to almost everywhere else in the Hindu world where Holi is celebrated with considerable abandon, for Bengal Dol's Purnima and Baasant-Utsav the atmosphere is more reserved and dignified.
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| Dol Purnima Procession at Shntiniketan, West Bengal |
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| Rabidranath Tagore |
While Dol Purnima has been celebrated for centuries, the observance of Basant Utsav was actually only introduced in the early 20th century by the Nobel Laureate Rabidranath Tagore. To build on the tradition of Holi in an intellectually and spiritually uplifting sense, Tagore lived at the time in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, and because of this focused his attentions on Bishwabharati University, and started what he called Basant Utsav, or the Spring Festival, there.
Because Tagore was among the best-known Indians worldwide, the Basant Utsav attracted international attention from its very start. Today, Shantiniketan has become a center not only of Bengali celebration of Holi but as a major tourist destination from across India and beyond.
Because Tagore was among the best-known Indians worldwide, the Basant Utsav attracted international attention from its very start. Today, Shantiniketan has become a center not only of Bengali celebration of Holi but as a major tourist destination from across India and beyond.
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| Dance performance at Bishwabharati University |
Finally, at the end of the events, as with Holi celebrations elsewhere in India, the participants paint each other in brightly colored powders.
Nepal
Nepal, the only officially Hindu nation, celebrates Holi for a full week. In Nepal, another name for the holiday is Phagu which is the name for a sacred red powder.
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| Nepalese Chir |
The chir is tied to Lord Krishna and his teasing of young women. The Nepalese tradition tells of an incident where Lord Krishna came upon a group of young women all bathing in the Yamuna River in what they thought was total privacy. The mischievous deity then hung all of their clothing high in a tree well out of their reach. Some versions of the story say that the reason the women were all bathing at once was also related to a trick of Lord Krishna, who had covered them all with colored powder.
The festival culminates at the end of the week with the dousing of each other with colored water. In Nepal, the colored water is held in lolas (a type of water balloons) that people throw at family and friends. Finally, at the close of day on the last nigh of the festival, the chir is set on fire in a communal bonfire. The burning of the cloth strips serve as offerings for good luck.
Conclusion
As with all of these religious observance posts, this is meant only as informational. Nothing I have written here or in any of these blogs is intended to indicate what is or is not the proper way to worship or observe traditions.
Also, while I have researched these to the best of my ability, if I have made an error, please inform me. Finally, I am aware that Holi is a varied holiday and has many traditions that were not covered here. Please feel free to add your own traditions or thoughts at the end of this blog.
Happy Holi! Holi Hai!
Want to Read More?
Dey, Panchali (March 6, 2020), "Unique Holi traditions in North, East, West and South of India," Times Travel, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/unique-holi-traditions-in-north-east-west-and-south-of-india/articleshow/62996908.cms
"Festivals of Nepal: Holi," Nepal Travel Guide: http://www.nepalhomepage.com/society/festivals/fagupurnima.html
"Holi," BBC Religions: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/holi_1.shtml
"Holi," Religion Facts.com: http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/holidays/holi.htm
"Holi," Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India: http://www.holifestival.org/
"Holi Customs," I Love India.com: http://festivals.iloveindia.com/holi/holi-customs.html
"Holi: Festival of Colours," The Colors of India: http://www.thecolorsofindia.com/holi.html
"Holi, The Festival of Colours," India Express.com: http://www.indiaexpress.com/rangoli/holi.html
"Holika Dahan -- the Bonfire or Lighting of Fire before Holi," Hindublog.com http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/03/holika-dahan-2008-bonfire-or-lighting.html
"Shigmo in Panjim," Goacom: http://www.goacom.com/culture/religion/shigmo/
"Vasanta Utsav (or Basanta Utsab) and Holi," The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/holi/vasanta_utsav.htm
Clip Art Sources
Happy Holi: http://www.wiseshe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Happy-Holi.png.jpg
Holi colored powders: http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/holidays/holi.htm
Outsourced (2006), IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425326/mediaviewer/rm2529705216/?ref_=tt_ov_i
Prahlad and Holika in the fire: http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/03/holika-dahan-2008-bonfire-or-lighting.html
Radha and her friends beat Lord Krishna lathis: http://www.bloggermoms.com/wp-content/uploads/holi-3.jpg
Lathmaar Holi in Barsana, Mathura: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110320/nat6.jpg
Thandai: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-holi-recipes-thandai-dahi-vada-and-more/20110317.htm
Gujarat boys forming human pyramid: http://www.theholidayspot.com/holi/graphics/team.jpg
Dol Purnima Procession at Shntiniketan, West Bengal: The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/holi/graphics/ghy3.jpg
Tagore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tagore3.jpg
Dance performance at Bishwabharati University: http://www.theholidayspot.com/holi/graphics/ghy3.jpg
Nepalese chir: http://www.nepalhomepage.com/society/festivals/fagupurnima.html
Holi Hai image: http://www.kamalascorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/holi-hai.jpg
Radha and her friends beat Lord Krishna lathis: http://www.bloggermoms.com/wp-content/uploads/holi-3.jpg
Lathmaar Holi in Barsana, Mathura: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110320/nat6.jpg
Thandai: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-holi-recipes-thandai-dahi-vada-and-more/20110317.htm
Gujarat boys forming human pyramid: http://www.theholidayspot.com/holi/graphics/team.jpg
Yaoshang Mei thaba, Burning of the huts, Manipur. Jimmy Leivon, "Yaoshang festival begins in Manipur, Express," https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/yaoshang-festival-begins-in-manipur-8484747/
Tagore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tagore3.jpg
Dance performance at Bishwabharati University: http://www.theholidayspot.com/holi/graphics/ghy3.jpg
Nepalese chir: http://www.nepalhomepage.com/society/festivals/fagupurnima.html
Holi Hai image: http://www.kamalascorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/holi-hai.jpg
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