Holi - The Festival of colors | What is this festival and How is it celebrated?





Do you know that the month of March is being eagerly awaited by the people of Indian Subcontinent? If no, then let me tell you that month of March consider being the month of colours as it marks the onset of a famous Indian festival called ‘Holi’. This particular festival is celebrated with great fervour and joy not only in India but across the world be it U.S., U.K. and elsewhere.

Let’s know more about this Festival

What is Holi?
Holi is called the ‘Festival of colours’ as multiple colours are used to express joy on this day. The festival highlights the victory of good over evil. It marks the onset of spring and the end of winter. The festival also marks the start of a good spring harvest season.

Origin of Holi

There are various accounts of Holi’s origin which are mentioned in the ancient Indian literature. According to the one popular version of the story, there was a king who became so powerful that he asked his subjects to worship him. On the other hand, his son Prahlada was a devotee of Hindu Deity Lord Vishnu which gets the king’s ire. To satiate his anger, king plotted with his sister, Holika, to kill his son. Holika, who was immune to fire, tricked Prahlada to sit on a pyre with her. When the pyre was lit, Prahlada being Lord Vishnu devotee left unscathed while Holika burned to death despite her immunity.

Significance for other religions than Hinduism


Apart from Hindus, Sikh people celebrated this festival which their texts refer to as Hola. Tenth Guru of Sikhs-Guru Gobind Singh- modified Holi with a three day Hola Mohalla extension of Sikh martial arts. There is a display of great martial skills over the period of Hola Mohalla by the Sikh Devotees. People throng from all over India and world to Anandpur sahib to be part of the celebration. Holi was observed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his Sikh empire that extended across India and Pakistan. This observation of Hola Mohalla continues to this day.

How Holi is celebrated?

Holi is celebrated with the splash of colours and water over each other. Various artificial and herbal colours are being used over each other. Roads are turned into a rainbow with the splash of multiple colours over each other. Water balloons and guns are being used to squirt water. Later in the day, special meals and sweets are prepared and distributed among each other to mark the celebrations. 

Therefore it is the presence and celebrations of these sorts of festivals make India incredible in true sense.

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