What is Holi, festival of colour?

The origins of Holi

Holi is one of the oldest festivals in India, originally known as ‘Holika’, and focuses on the victory of good over evil. There are several legends associated with the festival, but the most popular is that of demon king Hiranyakashipu. The tale tells that Hiranyakashipu wanted everyone to worship him as a god, but his son Prahlad (or Prahlada) was a devotee of Hindu god Vishnu and refused. After attempts to kill Prahlad had failed, Hiranyakashipu’s sister Holika offered (or was commanded) to carry him into a blazing pyre as she was protected from fire. However, Vishnu saved Prahlad and it was Holika who burned to ashes, with the god later killing Hiranyakashipu too.

Another explains why colour is such an important past of the festival, with the story of the god Krishna and goddess Radha. Krishna fell in love with the goddess but believed she would not return his affection because of his blue skin, before later playfully dyeing her face. The couple are now seen as a symbol of eternal love.

When is Holi festival?

Holi is celebrated on the last full moon in the lunar month of Phalguna, a date which this usually occurs in March, although it varies from year to year. It also marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring, as well as celebrating new life.

How Holi is celebrated in India

Holi celebrations do vary across the country, although throwing colour is at the heart of the festival wherever you go.

The night before Holi

The night before Holi, people light bonfires to say farewell to winter; in northern India, it’s known as Holika Dahan, celebrating the death of Holika and Prahlad’s escape, while in southern India, the festival is known as Kama Dahanam, marking the day the god Shiva burnt Kamadeva, the god of love, to ashes after he disturbed Shiva’s mourning meditation. There are often celebrations, singing and music at temples, as well as special sweets known as gujiya, with dried fruits and spiced nuts stuffed inside flaky pastry.

Holi

The main Holi celebrations get going in the early morning, when people throw bright colours at anyone they see in the street, either in powder form or sprayed from water guns. Known as ‘playing Holi, it’s a day when normal social customs and differences are abandoned.

The different colours have different meanings, with red symbolising love, blue representing Hindu god Krishna and green standing for new beginnings. The main celebrations normally take place in the morning, with life returning to normal at lunchtime in most places.

Celebrations around India

Holi celebrations often vary depending on the part of India that you’re visiting, lasting up to 40 days in some regions, but only two days in others, with some of the biggest and longest festivities in northern India.

In Barsana and other surrounding areas of Uttar Pradesh, the festival begins with Basant Panchami, 40 days before the final day of Holi. It’s here that the goddess Radha is said to have been born, and where Krishna spent part of his childhood; on the afternoon of Holi, women from Radha’s childhood village mock attack the men of Krishna’s village with staves, while they try to defend themselves with shields.

Elsewhere, in Maharashtra, mud is used instead of powder on the day after Holika Dahan, while colours are used on Rang Panchami, celebrated four days later. And in the coastal parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, celebrations can last as long as a fortnight, with processions and carnival-style parades.

Where in India to experience Holi

The best places for tourists to experience Holi in India are usually in the north of the country, where celebrations tend to be bigger and more public, although in some places the festival can be overwhelming. In recent years, private ticketed events have become more common, to enable people to join in safely.

Mathura, not far from Agra, and nearby Vrindavan both have links to Krishna and the temples and shrines attract thousands of visitors on Holi, while the ritual ‘battle’ taking place in Barsana is also extremely busy.

Pushkar is one of the most popular places for tourists to enjoy Holi if you’re looking for a party atmosphere, with locals and visitors throwing powder in the streets, although Varanasi, another popular location, is getting a reputation as somewhere to avoid for the sheer craziness of the public celebrations.

Instead, Jaipur and Udaipur in Rajasthan have long been centres for celebration, with events that keep the fun but which tend to be less uncontrolled and busy than some other areas.

The Holi festival for tourists, dos and don’ts

Tourists are welcome to join in playing Holi, although it’s wise to stay as a group or take advice from locals in order to enjoy the celebrations but avoid areas where events can get out of control.

DO: Wear old clothes and leave your valuables at home – you can’t avoid the coloured powder which often stains, and it’s common to get drenched with coloured water too. Buying cheap white/pale clothing and donating it afterwards is a good option

DO: Apply skin oil or moisturiser generously onto your skin and face before heading out, to create a protective barrier. Many of the coloured powders are natural and unlikely to irritate your skin, although not all, but this makes it easier to clean the colour off afterwards,

DO: Wear sunglasses, to avoid coloured powder and water going into your eyes, as it can sting.

DO: Consider wearing a scarf around long hair, particularly if it’s light coloured.

DON’T: Expect to escape being covered in colour – this isn’t a festival where you can stand and observe.

DON’T: Take offense if someone throws coloured powder at you – this is what Holi is all about.

DON’T: Throw colours onto babies, older people or animals.

Check out our India tours for a chance to enjoy the Holi festival first-hand, including India’s Golden Triangle with Ranthambore National Park, or see our festival holidays