For followers of Hinduism the Holi festival welcomes the beginning of spring. It is well known for its tradition of people throwing brightly coloured powder at each other.
The day falls on the last full moon day of the 12th month of the Hindu calendar, called Phalguna – in the Gregorian calendar, this usually falls in either February or March. This year, it is observed on March 25.
Holi is referred to as the Festival of Colours, and is the second biggest annual celebration for Hindus after Diwali, the Festival of Light. It is a day when societal divides are put aside as everyone celebrates the beginning of the new year together by rubbing on or throwing at each other coloured powder, known as gulal, and water.
The day is celebrated in India, in other countries in South Asia such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and by Hindu communities around the world.
Hindus sing, dance and throw coloured powder at each other to celebrate Holi in Hyderabad, India, in 2023. Photo: AP
The festival has two origin stories in Hindu mythology. The first, which involves a demon named Holika, is where the festival name comes from. The tradition of lighting a bonfire – the Holi bonfire – the night before the festival also originates from this story.
The story goes that Holika was ordered to kill her own nephew, Prahlada, by none other than Prahlada’s father, Hiranyakashipu – he wanted his son killed because Prahlada worshipped Lord Vishnu, whom the demon considered his mortal enemy.
Vendors in Kolkata, India, sell coloured powders ahead of the Holi festival in 2024. Photo: Reuters
Holika decided to kill her nephew by luring him into a bonfire with her, as she had a divine shawl that would protect her from the fire. When they were both in the bonfire, Prahlada started chanting for Lord Vishnu, who sent a gust of wind that placed Holika’s shawl onto Prahlada instead. Prahlada was saved, while Holika died in the fire.
This story of the triumph of good over evil is one of the central themes of the Holi festival, and “Holi bonfires” are lit the day before the festival as a reminder.
The custom of throwing coloured powder and water comes from another myth, which involves a love story featuring Krishna, one of the main deities of Hinduism, who is the god of love and compassion. People not familiar with Hinduism may recognise him by his blue skin.
A woman dances as she participates in a procession ahead of Holi in Hyderabad, India, in 2024. Photo: AP
One day, Krishna fell in love with a milk maid named Radha and playfully coloured her fair skin as he courted her.
From this story comes the practice of throwing different coloured powders on the day of the Holi festival. The practice is not just for fun – the coloured powder and water that is thrown has a purifying role, symbolically washing away the unresolved conflicts and animosity between people that accumulated during the past year so that the new year can begin with a blank slate.
These days, playful elements of Holi celebrations including its use of coloured powders have been co-opted for non-religious events such as music festivals or runs.
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