Holi

Holi(Hindi pronunciation:['hoːli:]) is a popular and significantHindufestival celebrated as theFestival of Colours,Love, andSpring.It celebrates the eternal and divine love of the deitiesRadhaandKrishna.Additionally, the day signifies the triumph of good over evil,as it commemorates the victory ofVishnuasNarasimhaoverHiranyakashipu.Holi originated and is predominantly celebrated in theIndian subcontinent, but has also spread to other regions ofAsiaand parts of theWestern worldthrough the Indian diaspora.
Holi also celebrates the arrival ofspringin India, the end of winter, and the blossoming of love.It is also an invocation for a good springharvestseason.It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of thePurnima(full moon day) falling on theHindu calendarmonth ofPhalguna, which falls around the middle of March in theGregorian calendar.
Holi(Hindi:होली,Gujarati:હોળી,Kannada:ಹೋಳಿ,Marathi:होळी,Nepali:होली,Punjabi:ਹੋਲੀ,Telugu:హోళి) is also known asDol Jatra(swing festival") andBôshonto Utshôb(Bengali:বসন্ত উৎসব) ("spring festival") inBengal(West BengalandBangladesh),Phakua(Assamese:ফাকুৱা) andDôl Jātrā(Assamese:দ’ল যাত্ৰা) inAssam,Phāgu Pūrṇimā(Nepali:फागु पूर्णिमा) in the hilly region ofNepal,Dola jātra(Odia:ଦୋଳଯାତ୍ରା) inOdisha,FaguaorPhagua(Bhojpuri:𑂤𑂏𑂳𑂄) in easternUttar Pradesh, westernBihar, and northwesternJharkhand,PhagwahorPhagwa(Caribbean Hindustani: पगवा) in theCaribbean(namelyTrinidad and Tobago,Guyana,Suriname, andJamaica), andPhagua(Fiji Hindi:पगवा) inFiji.
The main day of the celebration is known as "Holi", "Rangwali Holi", "Dol Purnima", "Dhuleti", "Dhulandi","Ukuli", "Manjal Kuli","Yaosang", "Shigmo","Phagwah",or "Jajiri".
Holi is a sacred ancienttraditionof Hindus, a holiday in many states of India with regional holidays in other countries. It is a cultural celebration that gives Hindus and non-Hindus alike an opportunity to have fun banter with other people by throwing coloured water and powder at each other. It is also observed broadly on theIndian subcontinent. Holi is celebrated at the end of winter, on the lastfull moonday of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month, marking the spring, making the date vary with the lunar cycle.The date falls typically in March, but sometimes late February of the Gregorian calendar.
The festival has many purposes; most prominently, it celebrates the beginning of spring. In 17th century literature, it was identified as a festival that celebrated agriculture, commemorated good spring harvests, and the fertile land.Hindus believe it is a time to enjoying spring's abundant colours and say farewell to winter. To many Hindus, Holi festivities mark an occasion to reset and renew rupturedrelationships, end conflicts, and rid themselves of accumulated emotional impurities from the past.
It also has areligiouspurpose, symbolically signified by the legend of Holika. The night before Holi, bonfires are lit in a ceremony known as Holika Dahan (burning ofHolika) or Little Holi. People gather near fires, sing and dance. The next day, Holi, also known asDhuliin Sanskrit, orDhulheti,DhulandiorDhulendi, is celebrated.
In northern parts of India, children and youth spray coloured powder solutions (gulal) at each other, laugh, and celebrate, while adults smear dry coloured powder (abir) on each other's faces.Visitors to homes are first teased with colours, then served with Holi delicacies (such asgujhia, shakkarpaare, matri, anddahi vada), desserts and drinks.After playing with colours, and cleaning up, people bathe, put on clean clothes, and visit friends and family.
Like Holika Dahan,Kama Dahanamis celebrated in some parts ofIndia. The festival of colours in these parts is calledRangapanchami, and occurs on the fifth day afterPoornima(full moon).
The Holi festival is an ancient Hindu festival with its own cultural rituals which emerged before theGuptaperiod.The festival of colours finds mentioned in numerous scriptures, such as in works likeJaimini'sPurva Mimamsa SutrasandKathaka-Grhya-Sutraswith even more detailed descriptions in ancient texts like theNarada PuranaandBhavishya Purana. The festival of"holikotsav"was also mentioned in the 7th century work,Ratnavali, byKing Harsha.It is mentioned in thePuranas,Dasakumara CharitabyDaṇḍin, and by the poetKālidāsaduring the 4th century reign ofChandragupta II.
The celebration of Holi is also mentioned in the 7th-century Sanskrit dramaRatnavali.The festival of Holi caught the fascination of European traders and British colonial staff by the 17th century. Various old editions of the Oxford English Dictionary mention it, but with varying, phonetically derived spellings:Houly(1687),Hooly(1698),Huli(1789),Hohlee(1809),Hoolee(1825), andHoliin editions published after 1910.
In theBrajregion of India, where the Hindu deitiesRadhaandKrishnagrew up, the festival is celebrated untilRang Panchmiin commemoration of their divine love for each other. The festivities officially usher in spring, with Holi celebrated as a festival of love.Garga Samhita, a puranic work by SageGargawas the first work of literature to mention the romantic description of Radha and Krishna playing Holi.There is also a popular symbolic legend behind the festival. In his youth, Krishna despaired whether the fair-skinned Radha would like him because of his dark skin colour. His motherYashoda, tired of his desperation, asks him to approach Radha and ask her to colour his face in any colour she wanted. This Radha did, and Radha and Krishna became a couple. Ever since, the playful colouring of Radha and Krishna's faces has been commemorated as Holi.Beyond India, these legends help to explain the significance of Holi (Phagwah), which is common in someCaribbeancommunities ofIndianorigin such asGuyana,Suriname,Trinidad and Tobago, andJamaica.It is also celebrated with great fervour inMauritius,Fiji, andSouth Africa.
There is a symbolic legend found in the 7th chapter of theBhagavata Puranaexplaining why Holi is celebrated as a festival of triumph of good over evil in the honour of Hindu godVishnuand his devoteePrahlada. KingHiranyakashipu, the father of Prahlada, was the king of demonicAsurasand had earned aboonthat gave him five special powers: he could be killed by neither a human being nor an animal, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither at day nor at night, neither byastra(projectile weapons) nor by anyshastra(handheld weapons), and neither on land nor in water or air. Hiranyakashipu grew arrogant, thought he was God, and demanded that everyone worship only him.Hiranyakashipu's own son,Prahlada, however, remained devoted toVishnu.This infuriated Hiranyakashipu. He subjected Prahlada to cruel punishments, none of which affected the boy or his resolve to do what he thought was right. Finally, Holika, Prahlada's evil aunt, tricked him into sitting on apyrewith her.Holika was wearing acloakthat made her immune to injury from fire, while Prahlada was not. As the fire spread, the cloak flew from Holika and encased Prahlada,who survived while Holika burned. Vishnu, the god who appears as anavatarto restoreDharmain Hindu beliefs, took the form ofNarasimha– half human and half lion (which is neither a human nor an animal), at dusk (when it was neither day nor night), took Hiranyakashyapu at a doorstep (which was neither indoors nor outdoors), placed him on his lap (which was neither land, water nor air), and then eviscerated and killed the king with his lion claws (which were neither a handheld weapon nor a launched weapon).
The Holika bonfire and Holi signifies the celebration of the symbolic victory of good over evil, of Prahlada over Hiranyakashipu, and of the fire that burnedHolika.
Among other Hindu traditions such asShaivismandShaktism, the legendary significance of Holi is linked toShivainyogaand deep meditation. GoddessParvatiwanting to bring Shiva back into the world, seeks help from the Hindu god of love calledKamadevaonVasant Panchami. The love god shoots arrows at Shiva, the yogi opens his third eye and burns Kama to ashes. This upsets both Kama's wifeRati(Kamadevi) and his own wifeParvati.Ratiperforms her own meditative asceticism for forty days, upon which Shiva understands, forgives out of compassion and restores the god of love. This return of the god of love, is celebrated on the 40th day after the Vasant Panchami festival as Holi.The Kama legend and its significance to Holi has many variant forms, particularly inSouth India.
The Holi festival has a cultural significance among various Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. It is the festive day to end and rid oneself of past errors, to end conflicts by meeting others, a day to forget and forgive. People pay or forgive debts, as well as deal anew with those in their lives. Holi also marks the start of spring, an occasion for people to enjoy the changing seasons and make new friends.
Holi is of particular significance in theBrajregion, which includes locations traditionally associated withRadha Krishna:Mathura,Vrindavan,Nandgaon,Barsana, andGokula. These places are popular tourist attractions during Holi.
Outside India, Holi is observed by Hindus inNepal,BangladeshandPakistanas well as in countries with largediasporapopulations from India around the world. The Holi rituals and customs can vary with local adaptations.
The festival has traditionally been also observed by non-Hindus, such as bySikhs, JainsandNewars(Nepal).
InMughal India, Holi was celebrated with such exuberance that people of all castes could throw colour on the Emperor.According to Sharma (2017), "there are several paintings of Mughal emperors celebrating Holi".Grand celebrations of Holi were held at theLal Qila, where the festival was also known asEid-e-gulaabiorAab-e-Pashi.Mehfilswere held throughout the walled city of Delhi with aristocrats and traders alike participating. This changed during the rule of Emperor Aurangzeb. He banned the public celebration of Holi using aFarmanissue in November 1665.However, the celebration were later restarted after the death of Emperor Aurangzeb.Bahadur Shah Zafarhimself wrote a song for the festival, while poets such asAmir Khusrau,Ibrahim Raskhan,Nazeer Akbarabadiand Mehjoor Lakhnavi relished it in their writings.
Sikhs have traditionally celebrated the festival, at least through the 19th century,with its historic texts referring to it asHola.Guru Gobind Singh– the last human guru of the Sikhs – modified Holi with a three-dayHola Mohallaextension festival of martial arts. The extension started the day after the Holi festival inAnandpur Sahib, where Sikh soldiers would train in mock battles, compete in horsemanship, athletics, archery and military exercises.
Holi was observed byMaharaja Ranjit Singhand his Sikh Empire that extended across what are now northern parts of India and Pakistan. According to a report by Tribune India, Sikh court records state that 300 mounds of colours were used in 1837 by Ranjit Singh and his officials inLahore. Ranjit Singh would celebrate Holi with others in the Bilawal gardens, where decorative tents were set up. In 1837, SirHenry Fanewho was the commander-in-chief of theBritish Indian armyjoined the Holi celebrations organised by Ranjit Singh. A mural in the Lahore Fort was sponsored by Ranjit Singh and it showed the Hindu god Krishna playing Holi withgopis. After the death of Ranjit Singh, his Sikh sons and others continued to play Holi every year with colours and lavish festivities. The colonial British officials joined these celebrations.
The night before Holi is calledHolika Dahanor "Chhoti Holi" whereby people gather around a lit bonfire, symbolising the victory of good over evil as well as the removal of the old and arrival of the new. Various rituals are performed around the fire such as singing and dancing.This ritual is derived from the story ofHolika, who attempted to kill Prahlada, the son ofHiranyakashipu, through the flames of a bonfire. Although Holika was endowed with a boon to remain immune to fire, she was burned to ashes, while Prahlada remained unharmed.
The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi (Dhuleti) where people smear and drench each other with colours. Water guns and water-filled balloons are often used to play and colour each other, with anyone and any place being considered fair game to colour. Groups often carry drums and other musical instruments going from place to place, singing and dancing. Throughout the day, people visit family, and friends and foes come together to chat, enjoy food and drinks, and partake in Holi delicacies.Holi is also a festival of forgiveness and new starts, which ritually aims to generate harmony in society.Many cities in Uttar Pradesh also organiseKavi sammelanin the evening.
Groups sing and dance, some playing drums anddholak. After each stop of fun and play with colours, people offergujiya,mathri,malpuasand other traditional delicacies.Cold drinks, including drinks made with marijuana, are also part of the Holi festivity.
Holi is known asPhaguwaorFaguain theBhojpurilanguage. In this region as well, the legend of Holika is prevalent. On the eve of Phalgun Poornima, people light bonfires. They put dried cow dung cakes, wood of the Araad or Redi tree and Holika tree, grains from the fresh harvest and unwanted wood leaves in the bonfire. At the time of Holika people assemble near the pyre. The eldest member of the gathering or apurohitinitiates the lighting. He then smears others with colour as a mark of greeting. Next day the festival is celebrated with colours and much frolic. Traditionally, people also clean their houses to mark the festival.
Holi Milan is also observed inBihar, where family members and well-wishers visit each other's family, apply colours (abeer) on each other's faces, and on feet, if elderly. Usually, this takes place on the evening of Holi, day after Holi with wet colours is played in the morning through the afternoon. Due to large-scale internal migration issues faced by the people, recently, this tradition has slowly begun to transform, and it is common to have Holi Milan on an entirely different day either before or after the actual day of Holi.
Children and youths take extreme delight in the festival. Though the festival is usually celebrated with colours, in some places, people also enjoy celebrating Holi with water solutions of mud or clay. Folk songs are sung at high pitch and people dance to the sound of thedholak(a two-headed hand-drum) and the spirit of Holi. Intoxicatingbhang, made fromcannabis, milk and spices, is consumed with a variety of mouth-watering delicacies, such aspakorasandthandai, to enhance the mood of the festival.
In theKanpur, Holi lasts for seven days. On the last day, a fair calledGanga Melaor theHoli Melais celebrated. The fair was started by freedom fighters who fought British rule.
InGorakhpur districtof Uttar Pradesh, a special event called "Holi Milan" is celebrated.
Holi is locally called Ukkuli inKonkani. It is celebrated around the Konkani temple called Gosripuram temple. It is a part of theGoanor Konkani spring festival known asŚigmoor शिगमो inKoṅkaṇīorŚiśirotsava, which lasts for about a month. The colour festival or Holi is a part of longer, more extensive spring festival celebrations.Holi festivities (but not Śigmo festivities) include:Holika PujaandDahan,DhulvadorDhuli vandan,Halduneor offering yellow and saffron colour orGulalto the deity.
InGujarat, Holi is a two-day festival. On the evening of the first day, a bonfire is lit and raw coconut and corn is offered to the fire. The second day is the festival of colour or "Dhuleti", celebrated by sprinkling coloured water and applying colours to each other.Dwarka, a coastal city of Gujarat, celebrates Holi at theDwarkadhish templewith citywide music festivities.Holi marks the agricultural season of therabi crop.
In some places, there is a custom in undivided Hindu families that the woman beats her brother-in-law with a sari rolled up into a rope in a mock rage and tries to drench him with colours, and in turn, the brother-in-law brings sweets (Indian desserts) to her in the evening.
InJammu and Kashmir, Holi celebrations are much in line with the general definition of Holi celebrations: a high-spirited festival to mark the beginning of the harvesting of the summer crop, with the throwing of coloured water and powder and singing and dancing.
Traditionally, in ruralKarnataka, children collect money and wood in the weeks prior to Holi, and on "Kamadahana" night, all the wood is put together and lit. The festival is celebrated for two days. People in northern parts of Karnataka prepare special food on this day.
InSirsi, Karnataka, Holi is celebrated with a unique folk dance called "Bedara Vesha", which is performed during the nights beginning five days before the actual festival day. The festival is celebrated every alternate year in the town, which attracts a large number of tourists from different parts of India.
InMaharashtra, Holi Purnima is also celebrated as Shimga, festivities that last five to seven days. A week before the festival, youngsters go around the community, collecting firewood and money. On the day of Shimga, the firewood is heaped into a huge pile in each neighbourhood. In the evening, the fire is lit. Every household brings a meal and dessert, in the honour of the fire god.Puran Poliis the main delicacy and children shout "Holi re Holi puranachi poli". Shimga celebrates the elimination of all evil. The colour celebrations here take place on the day ofRang Panchami, five days after Shimga.During this festival, people are supposed to forget and forgive any rivalries and start new healthy relations with all.
Manipuriscelebrate Holi for 6 days. Here, this holiday merges with the festival ofYaosang. Traditionally, the festival commences with the burning of a thatched hut of hay and twigs.Young children go from house to house to collect money, locally known asnakadeng(ornakatheng), as gifts on the first two days. The youths at night perform a group folk dance calledThabal chongbaon the full moon night of Lamta (Phalgun), traditionally accompanied by folk songs and rhythmic beats of the indigenous drum, but nowadays by modern bands andfluorescent lamps.In Krishna temples, devotees sing devotional songs, perform dances and celebrate withaber(gulal) wearing traditional white and yellow turbans. On the last day of the festival, large processions are taken out to the main Krishna temple nearImphalwhere several cultural activities are held. In recent decades,Yaosang, a type of Indian sport, has become common in many places of the valley, where people of all ages come out to participate in a number of sports that are somewhat altered for the holiday.
The people ofOdishacelebrateDolaorPushpadolaon the day of Holi where the icons ofJagannathreplace the icons of Krishna and Radha.Dola Melana, processions of the deities are celebrated in villages andbhogais offered to the deities. "Dola yatra" was prevalent even before 1560 much before Holi was started where the idols ofJagannath,BalabhadraandSubhadraused to be taken to the "Dolamandapa" (podium inJagannath temple).People used to offer natural colours known as "abira" to the deities and apply on each other's feats.
InPunjab, the eight days preceding Holi are known as luhatak.Sekhon (2000) states that people start throwing colours many days before Holi.
Holi is preceded byHolika Dahanthe night before when a fire is lit. Historically, the Lubana community of Punjab celebrated holi "with great pomp and show. The Lubanas buried a pice and betel nut. They heaped up cow-dung cakes over the spot and made a large fire. When the fire had burnt out, they proceeded to hunt for the pice and betel-nut. Whosoever found these, was considered very lucky."Elsewhere in Punjab, Holi was also associated with making fools of others. Bose writing in Cultural Anthropology: And Other Essays in 1929 noted that "the custom of playing Holi-fools is prevalent in Punjab".
On the day of Holi, people engage in throwing colourson each other.For locals, Holi marks the end of winter. The Punjabi sayingPhaggan phal laggan(Phagunis the month for fructifying) exemplifies the seasonal aspect of Holi. Trees and plants start blossoming from the day of Basant and start bearing fruit by Holi.
During Holi inPunjab, walls and courtyards of rural houses are enhanced with drawings and paintings similar torangoliin South India,mandanain Rajasthan, and rural arts in other parts of India. This art is known aschowk-pooranaorchowkpuranain Punjab and is given shape by the peasant women of the state. In courtyards, this art is drawn using a piece of cloth. The art includes drawing tree motifs, flowers, ferns, creepers, plants, peacocks, palanquins, geometric patterns along with vertical, horizontal and oblique lines. These arts add to the festive atmosphere.
Folk theatrical performances known as swang or nautanki take place during Holi,with the latter originating in the Punjab.According to Self (1993), Holi fairs are held in the Punjab which may go on for many days.Bose (1961) states that "in some parts of Punjab, Holi is celebrated with wrestling matches".
Holi is called asKamuni Punnami/Kama PurnimaorJajiriinTelugu. Hindus celebrate Holi as it relates to the legend ofKamadeva. Holi is also known by different names: Kamavilas, Kamuni Panduga and Kama-Dahanam.
It is a 10-day festival in Telangana, of which last two days are of great importance. As in other parts of India, in ruralTelangana, the 9 days preceding Holi, children celebratekamudaby playingKolatasticks along with singing folk songs calledjajiriand collect money, rice, corn and wood.For this reason Holi is well known for "Jajiri Paatalu Kamudi aatalu", which means festival of "Jajiri songs and Kamudi games" and on 9th night i.e. Holy eve, all the wood is put together and set on fire representingKama Dahanam.
Next morning i.e. 10th day is celebrated as Holi, with colours traditionally extracted from Moduga/Gogu Flowers (Palash/Butea monosperma).
InTripuraHoli is known as "Pali" which means colour in Tripuri language, it's celebrated all over Tripura.
Barsana, a town nearMathurain theBrajregion ofUttar Pradesh, celebratesLathmar Holiin the sprawling compound of theRadha Rani Temple. Thousands gather to witness the Lath Mar Holi when women beat up men with sticks as those on the sidelines become hysterical, sing Holi songs and shout "Radhe Radhe" or "Sri Radhe Krishna".The Holi songs of Braj Mandal are sung in pure Braj, the local language. Holi celebrated atBarsanais unique in the sense that here women chase men away with sticks. Males also sing provocative songs in a bid to invite the attention of women. Women then go on the offensive and use long staves calledlathisto beat the men, who protect themselves with shields.
Mathura, in the Braj region, is the birthplace ofKrishna. InVrindavanthis day is celebrated with specialpujaand the traditional custom of worshipping Radha Krishna; here the festival lasts for sixteen days.All over the Braj regionand neighbouring places likeHathras,Aligarh, andAgra, Holi is celebrated in more or less the same way as in Mathura,Vrindavanand Barsana.
A traditional celebration includesMatki Phod, similar toDahi Handiin Maharashtra and Gujarat duringKrishna Janmashtami, both in the memory of god Krishna who is also calledmakhan chor(literally, butter thief). This is a historic tradition of the Braj region as well as the western region of India.An earthen pot filled with butter or other milk products is hung high by a rope. Groups of boys and men climb on each other's shoulders to form pyramids to reach and break it, while girls and women sing songs and throw coloured water on the pyramid to distract them and make their job harder.This ritual sport continues in Hindu diaspora communities.
KumaoniHoli inUttarakhandincludes a musical affair. It takes different forms such as the Baithki Holi, the Khari Holi and the Mahila Holi. In Baithki Holi and Khari Holi, people sing songs with a touch of melody, fun, and spiritualism. These songs are essentially based on classicalragas. Baithki Holi (बैठकी होली), also known asNirvan Ki Holi, begins from the premises of temples, whereHoliyars(होल्यार) sing Holi songs and people gather to participate, along with playing classical music. The songs are sung in a particular sequence depending on the time of day; for instance, at noon the songs are based on Peelu, Bhimpalasi and Sarang ragas, while evening songs are based on the ragas such as Kalyan, Shyamkalyan and Yaman. TheKhari Holi(खड़ी होली) is mostly celebrated in the rural areas of Kumaon. The songs of the Khari Holi are sung by the people, who, sporting traditional whitechuridarpayajamaandkurta, dance in groups to the tune of ethnic musical instruments such as thedholandhurka.
In the Kumaon region, the Holika pyre, known asCheer(चीर), is ceremonially built in a ceremony known asCheer Bandhan(चीर बंधन) fifteen days before Dulhendi. TheCheeris a bonfire with a greenPaiyatree branch in the middle. TheCheerof every village and neighbourhood is rigorously guarded as rivalmohallastry to playfully steal each other'scheer.
The colours used on Holi are derived from natural sources. Dulhendi, known asCharadi(छरड़ी) (fromChharad(छरड़)), is made from flower extracts, ash and water. Holi is celebrated with great gusto much in the same way all across North India.
InWest Bengal, the tradition ofDol Jatra(meaningSwing procession)orDolotsava(meaningSwing Festival) orDol Purnima- (Swing Full Moon)is common amongGaudiya Vaishnavsjust like among Vaishnavs inBraj regionand otherKrishna centric sampradaysall over India.However, several Bengali Vaishnava padavalis also use the term Holi (Bangla: হোলী) for the festival.
In Shantiniketan, West Bengal, Holi is additionally also known as "Basanta Utsab". The festival is celebrated by worshipping the icons ofRadhaand Krishna by placing them on a decorated swing.On theDol Purnimaday in the early morning, students (mainly in Shantiniketan) dress up in saffron-coloured or pure white clothes and wear garlands of fragrant flowers. They sing and dance to the accompaniment of musical instruments, such as theektara, dubri, andveena. The devotees take turns to swing them while women dance around the swing and sing songs. During these activities, the people keep throwing coloured water and dry colours,abir, at them.
Around 500 years ago, SriChaitanya Mahaprabhuwent toVrindavanin present-day Uttar Pradesh to witness the festival there at the birthplace of Lord Sri Krishna. After his return to Bengal, he thought of starting the festival here. So he asked his followers to smear color or abir to Lord Krishna's idol and then put that abir on each other. He also instructed them to give the other person a treat with a local sweet calledmalpoa. The biographies of Sri Chaitanya say that he was very fond of this sweet.
Holi, also known as Phagu Purnima, along with many other Hindu festivals, is celebrated in Nepal as anational festival. It is an important major Nepal-wide festival along withDashainandTihar(Dipawali).It is celebrated in the Nepali month ofFalgun(Terai region celebrates on the same date as Indian Holi, while rest of the country celebrates it a day earlier), and signifies the legends of the Hindu god Krishna.They worshipSaraswatishrine in Vajrayogini temples and celebrate the festival with their Hindu friends.
Traditional concerts are held in most cities in Nepal, includingKathmandu,Narayangarh,Pokhara,Itahari,Hetauda, andDharan, and arebroadcaston television with various celebrity guests.
People walk through their neighbourhoods to celebrate Holi by exchanging colours and spraying coloured water on one another. A popular activity is the throwing of water balloons at one another, sometimes calledlola(meaning water balloon).Many people mixbhang(made fromcannabis, milk and spices) in their drinks and food, as is also done duringShivaratri. It is believed that the combination of different colours at this festival takes allsorrowaway and makes life itself more colourful.
Holi is celebrated by theminority Hindupopulation in Pakistan. Community events by Hindus have been reported by Pakistani media in various cities such asKarachi,Hazara,Rawalpindi,Sindh,Hyderabad,MultanandLahore.The Hindu tribes of Cholistan in the Punjab province of Pakistan play the game called Khido in the days leading up to the Holi. The game Khido is considered sacred by them as it is believed that Parhlad used to play this game during his childhood.
Holi was not a public holiday in Pakistan from 1947 to 2016. Holi along with Diwali for Hindus, and Easter for Christians, was adopted as public holiday resolution by Pakistan's parliament in 2016, giving the local governments and public institutions the right to declare Holi as a holiday and grant leave for its minority communities, for the first time.This decision has been controversial, with some Pakistanis welcoming the decision, while others criticising it, with the concern that declaring Holi a public holiday advertises a Hindu festival to Pakistani children.
Over the years, Holi has become an important festival in many regions whereverIndian diasporawere either taken asindentured labourersduringcolonial era, or where they emigrated on their own, and are now present in large numbers such as in Africa, North America, Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia such as Fiji.
Holi is a national holiday inSuriname. It is calledPhagwafestival, and is celebrated to mark the beginning of spring. In Suriname, Holi Phagwa is a festival of colour. It is customary to wear old white clothes on this day, be prepared to get them dirty and join in the colour throwing excitement and party.
Phagwa is celebrated with much colour and splendour, along with the singing on traditional Phagwah songs such asChowtaland new songs such asPichakaree. It is celebrated throughout the country by people of all ethnicties and religions. Many Hindu schools get the day off as well. Holika Dahan is celebrated the night before Phagwah. ACastorplant is planted in a ceremonial manner along with the chanting ofmantrasin honour of Holi, and is called a Holika. On this day, many temples in the Indo-Caribbean community also doPujasin honour ofRadha Krishna,Saraswati,Vishnu,Lakshmi, and the temples patron deity.
Phagwah is apublic holidayinGuyana, and peoples of all races and religions participate in the celebrations.The main celebration inGeorgetownis held at the Mandir in Prashad Nagar.
Indo-Fijians celebrate Holi orPaguaas its called inFiji Hindi, as the festival of colours, folksongs, and dances. The folksongs sung inFijiduring Holi season are calledphaag gaaian. Phagan, also written as Phalgan, is the last month of the Hindu calendar. Holi is celebrated on the full moon of Phagan. Holi marks the advent of spring and ripening of crops in Northern India. Not only it is a season of romance and excitement, folk songs and dances, it is also an occasion of playing with powder, perfumes, and colours. Many of the Holi songs in Fiji are around the theme of love-relationship between Radha and Krishna.
Holi inMauritiuscomes close on the heels of Shivaratri. It celebrates the beginning of spring, commemorating good harvests and the fertile land. Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring's abundant colours and saying farewell to winter. It is considered one of the most exhilarating religious holidays in existence. During this event, participants hold a bonfire, throw coloured powder at each other, and celebrate wildly.
Holi is celebrated in many US states by mainlySouth Asian Americans, particularly those withIndian ancestry. It is usually hosted in Hindu temples or cultural halls. Members of Hindu associations and volunteers assist in hosting the event along with temple devotees. Some of the places known to celebrate Holi areNew Brunswick(NJ),Spanish Fork(Utah),Houston(TX),Dallas(TX),South El Monte(CA),Milpitas(CA),Mountain House(CA),Tracy(CA),Lathrop(CA),Chicago(IL),Potomac(MD),Tampa(FL),Sterling(VA), andBoston(MA).
In Indonesia,Indian IndonesiansandBalineseHindu peoplecelebrate Holi as festival of colours. The main celebrations are inMedanandBali.
Sometimes the Indian immigrants from other countries may also celebrate a small-scale version of Holi.
The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. The playful throwing of natural coloured powders, calledgulalhas a medicinal significance: the colours are traditionally made ofpalash,neem,kumkum,haldi,bilva, and other medicinal herbs suggested byĀyurvedicdoctors.
Many colours are obtained by mixing primary colours. Artisans produce and sell many of the colours from natural sources in dry powder form, in weeks and months preceding Holi. Some of the traditional natural plant-based sources of colours are:
The flowers ofpalashor tesu tree, also called the flame of the forest, are typical source of bright red and deep orange colours. Powdered fragrant redsandalwood, driedhibiscusflowers,madder tree,radish, andpomegranateare alternate sources and shades of red. Mixinglimewithturmericpowder creates an alternate source of orange powder, as does boilingsaffron(kesar) in water.
Mehendiand dried leaves ofgulmohurtree offer a source of green colour. In some areas, the leaves of spring crops and herbs have been used as a source of green pigment.
Haldi(turmeric) powder is the typical source of yellow colour. Sometimes this is mixed withchickpea(gram) or other flour to get the right shade.Baelfruit,amaltas, species ofchrysanthemums, and species ofmarigoldare alternate sources of yellow.
Indigo plant,Indian berries, species ofgrapes, blue hibiscus, andjacarandaflowers are traditional sources of blue colour for Holi.
Beetrootis the traditional source of magenta and purple colour. Often these are directly boiled in water to prepare coloured water.
Driedtealeaves offer a source of brown coloured water. Certainclaysare alternate source of brown.
Species of grapes, fruits ofamla(gooseberry) andvegetable carbon(charcoal) offer grey to black colours.
A 2007 study found thatmalachite green, a synthetic bluish-green dye used in some colours during Holi festival, was responsible for severe eye irritation in Delhi, if eyes were not washed upon exposure. Though the study found that the pigment did not penetrate through the cornea, malachite green is of concern and needs further study.
Another 2009 study reports that some colours produced and sold in India contain metal-based industrial dyes, causing an increase in skin problems to some people in the days following Holi. These colours are produced in India, particularly by small informal businesses, without any quality checks and are sold freely in the market. The colours are sold without labelling, and the consumer lacks information about the source of the colours, their contents, and possible toxic effects. In recent years, several non-governmental organisations have started campaigning for safe practices related to the use of colours. Some are producing and marketing ranges of safer colours derived from natural sources such as vegetables and flowers.
These reports have galvanised a number of groups into promoting more natural celebrations of Holi.Development Alternatives, Delhi's CLEAN India campaign,Kalpavriksh Environment Action Group, Pune,Society for Child Development through its Avacayam Cooperative Campaignhave launched campaigns to help children learn to make their own colours for Holi from safer, natural ingredients. Meanwhile, some commercial companies such as the National Botanical Research Institute have begun to market "herbal" dyes, though these are substantially more expensive than the dangerous alternatives. However, it may be noted that many parts of rural India have always resorted to natural colours (and other parts of festivities more than colours) due to availability.
In urban areas, some people wear nose masks and sunglasses to avoid inhaling pigments and to prevent chemical exposure to eyes.
An alleged environmental issue related to the celebration of Holi is the traditional Holika bonfire, which is believed to contribute to deforestation.According to a local tabloid, 30,000 bonfires burn every year during Holi, with each fire burning approximately 100 kilograms (220 lb) of wood.
The use of heavy metal-based pigments during Holi is also reported to cause temporarywastewaterpollution, with the water systems recovering to pre-festival levels within 5 days.
Holi is celebrated as a social event in parts of the United States.For example, atSri Sri Radha Krishna TempleinSpanish Fork, Utah,NYC Holi HaiinManhattan,New YorkandFestival of Colors: Holi NYCinNew York City,New York.
A number of Holi-inspired social events have also surfaced, particularly in Europe and the United States, often organised by companies as for-profit or charity events with paid admission, and with varying scheduling that does not coincide with the actual Holi festival. These have included Holi-inspiredmusic festivalssuch as theFestival Of Colours Tourand Holi One(which feature timed throws of Holi powder), and5K runfranchises such asThe Color Run, Holi Run and Color Me Rad,in which participants are doused with the powder at per-kilometre checkpoints.TheBiH Color Festivalis a Holi-inspiredelectronic music festivalheld annually inBrčko,Bosnia and Herzegovina.In recent years, schools across Australia have also adopted Holi inspired fund raising activities which leverage fundraising platforms such as Australian Fundraising, School Fun Run, Colour Frenzy and Go Raise It Australia to conduct such events. New Zealand schools have also followed the trend with holi powder Colour Run fundraisers run by local company Go Raise It NZ.
There have been concerns that these eventsappropriateand trivialise aspects of Holi for commercial gain—downplaying or completely ignoring the cultural and spiritual roots of the celebration.Organisers of these events have argued that the costs are to cover various key aspects of their events, such as safe colour powders, safety and security, and entertainment.