History

Holi is an ancient festival of India and was initially known as ‘Holika’. Commonly it is celebrated as a festival of colours. The festival is celebrated on Falgun Poornima (full moon in the month of falgun) across the country. It marks the end of the winter season and the beginning of spring. The festival finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini’s Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that all Aryans celebrated Holi. A stone inscription belonging to 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya finds mention of Holikotsav on it. King Harsha too, has mentioned about holikotsav in his work Ratnavali written during the 7th century. The famous Muslim tourist – Ulbaruni has also mentioned about holikotsav in his historical memoirs. Other Muslim writers of that period have said, that holikotsav was not only celebrated by the Hindus but also by the Muslims.
However, the meaning of the festival got changed over the years. Earlier, it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families along with the worship of the full moon (Raka).  Even the temples of ancient India have sculptures of Holi on their walls. One of these is a temple from the 16th century in Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagar. The temple has many scenes of Holi sculpted on its walls, and one depicts a Prince and his Princess standing amidst maids waiting with syringes or pichkaris to drench the Royal couple in coloured water. Many medieval paintings such as a 16th century Ahmednagar painting, Mewar painting (1755), and Bundi miniature all depict Holi celebrations in one way or the other. For instance, the 16th century Ahmednagar painting is on the theme of Vasanta Ragini – spring song or music. It shows a royal couple sitting on a grand swing, while maidens are playing music and spraying colours with pichkaris. The Mewar painting shows the Maharana with his courtiers. While the ruler is bestowing gifts on some people, a merry dance is on, and in the centre is a tank filled with coloured water. The Bundi miniature shows a king seated on a tusker and some damsels are shown showering gulal (coloured powders) on him from a balcony above.

Mythological legends

Hiranyakashap and Holika

There are various mythological legends associated with Holi. The foremost of all is the legend associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap. Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him, but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad adored only Lord Nārāyana. Hiaranyakashyap commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon whereby she could enter fire without any damage on herself. However, she was not aware that the boon could work only if and when she enters the fire. As a result, she paid the price for being part of the sinister motive of her brother while Nārāyan saved Prahlad for his extreme devotion. The festival celebrated as ‘Holika Dahan’ therefore, signifies the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of faith.

Radha and Krishana

Holi celebration also has a basis on a legend involving Radha and Krishna which describes the extreme delight Krishna felt in applying colour on Radha and other gopis. The legend of Radha and Krishna has a close link with this tradition of colours on Holi. Some sources tend to indicate that young Krishna, who had a dark complexion, was jealous of his beloved Radha’s extremely fair skin. In a mischievous mood, he applied colour on Radha’s face. This prank of Krishna later became a trend and a part of the Holi festivities. Following this ancient legend, lovers till date long to colour their beloved as an expression of love. 

Shiva

Kāmadahana is one of the names for Holi in South India, the day on which Lord Shiva burnt cupid. According to the legend, people in South India celebrate Holi as a mark of sacrifice of the passion divinity Kāmadeva, who risked his life to awaken Godhead Shiva from his meditation and save the world. It is also known as Madana Utsava, a vernal festival honouring Madana. Madana Trayodashi is the 13th day in the bright half of Chaitra when a celebration in honour of Madana takes place. Madana Chaturdashi is the 14th day in the bright half of Chaitra honouring Madana.

As per this legend, Godhead Shiva was in a deep trance in his Tapas (penance). Kāma or Manmatha or Madana was the son of Krishna and Rukmini and, Rati his wife. Divinity head Indra, the king of the Devas, wanted a commander to lead their forces in their war with the demon Tāraka. Tāraka was the son of Vajranga and Varangi. He propitiated Godhead Brahma by a severe penance on the Pariyatra mountain. When Brahma appeared before him, he asked for the boon (vara) that no one could kill him other than a seven-day-old child. Brahma granted him the boon.

Misusing this boon, Tāraka began to oppress the gods. They were obliged to approach Brahma for help to destroy Tāraka. Brahma told devas that only an offspring of Shiva could destroy him. For this, they sought the help of Kāma (also known as Māra or Manmatha, the god of love in Hindu mythology) to drag Shiva out of his meditation and generate an issue with Parvati. That was the only way to kill the demon Taraka. Kāma agreed to undertake this mission as this alone can save the divinities from Tāraka.

Māra shot his arrows at Shiva, but that could not break the trance of Shiva. Māra then shot a powerful arrow in a final effort to perturb Shiva. At this, Shiva being offended opened his third eye (Phāla Netra) and Māra was burnt to ashes instantly. Subsequently, at the beseechment of Rati and devas, Shiva restored him in the form of Pradyumna. His intimate friend is Vasanta or the Spring. His son is Aniruddha. He is armed with a bow and arrows, the bowstring is a line of bees and the arrows being a string of flowers of five different plants. Kārtikeya was born to Shiva and Parvati, and on the seventh day of his birth, he slew the demon Tāraka.

As per the above legend, Holi represents an instance of the conquest of base instincts of man, and the Holi fire connotes this in Hindu mythology as the conquest of lust buy Shiva. Hence Shiva is also known as Kameswara, Māra Ripu or Madana Ripu suggesting one who has conquered carnal desires.

Holika, Dhundhi and Pootna

Another legend has it that once upon a time, an older woman’s grandchild was to be sacrificed to a demoness named Holika. A Saint advised the old lady that abuse and foul language would subdue Holika. The older woman collected many children and made them abuse Holika in foul language. The demoness fell dead on the ground. The children then made a bonfire of her remains. Also, famous is the legend of Ogress Dhundhi who used to trouble children in the kingdom of Raghu and was ultimately chased away by the pranks of the children on the day of Holi. It is because they believe in this legend that children till date play pranks and hurl abuses at the time of Holika Dahan.  Mythology also states that Holi is the celebration of the death of Ogress Pootana who tried to kill infant Krishna by feeding poisonous milk to him.

Diversity of celebration

 Holi celebration has different names in this culturally diverse country. The traditions followed also vary from little to a lot as one moves from one state to the other, getting a feel of the various facets of the festival. Nowhere is it celebrated with so much charm and enthusiasm as in Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon – the places associated with birth and childhood of Lord Krishna. At Barsana Holi assumes the name of Lathmaar Holi. Here, women of Barsana give a tough time to men of Nandgaon as they come to play Holi with them. Men come with padded with clothes as they know what to expect as the women of Barsana try to beat them off with sticks. They try not to get captured, and the unlucky ones get dragged, beaten and made to dress in female attire – yet all are in the spirit of Holi. Next day, it is the turn of Barsana men being given back in the same coin and captured and drenched in colours by the Nandgaon women.

Women of Haryana, specifically the bhabhis too get the upper hand on the day as they have the social sanction to beat their devars and take sweet revenge for all the mischiefs they have played on them. This revengeful tradition is called the Dulandi Holi.

The most enjoyable tradition of Holi, of course, apart from the play of colours is the tradition of breaking the pot. A celebration with much fanfare in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Here, a pot of buttermilk is hung high on the streets. Men form a huge human pyramid, and one on the top breaks the pot with his head.  Meanwhile, women keep singing Holi folk songs and throw buckets and buckets of water. The tradition has its roots in the mischievous nature of Lord Krishna who was so fond of buttermilk that he used to steal it from every accessible house in the village. Womenfolk used to hang it high to hide the butter from young Krishna. All in vain! 

Most dignified manner of Holi celebration is in the state of Bengal.  At Vishwa Bharti University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore, there is a tradition of celebrating Holi as ‘Basant Utsav’ or ‘Spring Festival’. Students decorate the campus with intricate rangolis and carry out Prabhat pheris in the morning. Clad in traditional attire, young boys and girls sing songs composed by Gurudev and present an enchanting view to the onlookers gathered there. In other parts of Bengal, Holi celebration is as Dol Yatra where the idols of Radha and Krishna are placed on a decorated palanquin and taken out in procession. 

For Sikhs, Holi calls for the display of their physical strength and military prowess as they gather at Anandpur Sahib a day after Holi to celebrate Hola Mohalla. The tradition started by the tenth and the last guru of Sikh religion, Guru Gobind Singh Ji stands religiously carried forward to even now.

In the northeast, Manipuris colourfully celebrate the festival for six successive days. Here, the centuries-old Yaosang Festival of Manipur got amalgamated with Holi with the introduction of Vaishnavism in the eighteenth century. The highlight of the festival here is a special Manipuri dance called ‘Thabal Chongba’.

Well, there are many many more ways in which Holi celebrations happen. Different states, different cities and different villages have come out with their unique and innovative styles of playing Holi. It may not be possible to describe all of them in one place. What is noteworthy, though, is the fact that the spirit of Holi remains the same throughout. It is the festival which generates the spirit of brotherhood and brings people close – and this is what matters most than anything else.

Calculating the Day of Holi

There are two ways of recording a lunar month- ‘purnimanta’ and ‘amanta’. In the former, the first day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. Though the amanta method is more common now, the purnimanta was very much in vogue in the earlier days.

According to purnimanta method, Phalguna Purnima was the last day of the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-Ritu (with spring starting from next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking and an announcement of the commencement of the spring season.

Cultural Significance

Celebration of various legends associated with Holi reassures people of the power of truth. The moral of all these legends is the ultimate victory of good over evil. The legend of Hiranyakashyap and Prahlad also points to the fact that extreme devotion to the Supreme Lord always takes his true devotee in his shelter. 

All these legends help people to be righteous in their lives and help believe in the virtue of being truthful. This is extremely important in the modern-day society when so many people resort to evil practices for small gains and torture the one. Holi helps the people to believe in the virtue of being truthful and honest and also to fight away the evil.

Besides, Holi celebration occurs at a time of the year when the fields are in full bloom, and people are expecting a good harvest. This is a good reason for people to rejoice, make merry and immerse themselves in the spirit of Holi.

Social significance   

 Holi has significance in holding society together. It also can help strengthen the secular fabric of the country. This is so because the festival is celebrated by non-Hindus also as everybody likes to be a part of such a colourful and joyous festival.

 Also, the tradition of Holi is that even enemies turn friends on Holi and forget all feelings of hatred. Besides, on this day people forget the differences between rich and poor and everybody celebrates the festival together in a spirit of bonhomie and brotherhood. In the evening, people visit friends and relatives and exchange gifts, sweets and greetings. This helps in revitalising relationships and strengthening emotional bonds between people

Biological significance

Apart from providing joy and fun, Holi is also significant for our lives and body in many other ways. Our forefathers always had great insight and foresight, and every festival had its relevance and even scientific basis.

Holi comes at a time of the year when people tend to feel lazy and sleepy due to being a transition phase between winter and summer. It is natural for the body to experience some tardiness due to this changing season, and to counteract this tardiness of the body, people sing loudly or even speak loudly. Their movements are brisk, and their music is loud. All of this helps to rejuvenate the body.

Besides, the colours when sprayed on the body have their own effect. Biologists believe that the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates through the pores and has a strengthening impact at the ionic level with improved health and beauty.  Besides, traditionally colours are made of neem, kumkum, haldi, bilva and other medicinal herbs which are prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors.

Another scientific reason for celebrating Holi has to do with the Holi fire. The transition between winter and spring induces growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. The temperature usually rises to about 65 – 70o Celsius when the Holi fire burns. When people perform the traditional circumambulation around the fire, the heat from the fire kills bacteria in the body, thus cleaning it. The celebration of Holi in the south also helps promote good health. The day after the burning of Holika, people put ash (Vibhuti) on their forehead, and they also mix chandan (sandal paste) with tender leaves and flowers of Mango tree and consume it to promote good health.


Playing with colours also helps promote good healthas colours have a significant impact on our body and health. Western-Physicians and doctors believe that for a healthy body, colours too have an essential role besides other vital elements. Deficiency of a particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only by providing that specific colour. People also clean-up their houses on the occasion of Holi, which again helps in clearing the dust and mess in the home and get rid of mosquitoes and others pests. A clean house generally makes the residents feel good and generate positive energies. 

Spiritual significance

Holi is not merely about getting rid of the waste and negatives from our lives and homes. The significance of Holi is much more than this. This is the time when people start working on their shortcomings and weaknesses. Holi, in short, is a pledge day, when you accept and thus, take stock of your mistakes, and promise yourself not to repeat them. Holi is not about mindlessly throwing colours at others or shouting and creating a nuisance, as many do, but is about uprooting the negativity from your life. 

Festivals like Holi have their spiritual value. Apart from the fun, frolic and revelry, festival-like Holi helps create faith in the Supreme Lord. Hindu festivals always have a spiritual significance. They wean man away from sensual pleasures and take him gradually to the spiritual path and divine communion

What is required on occasions like Holi is to worship the one and only Supreme Lord and organise discourses. Undertake Charity to the poor to the best possible extent. Then only Holi can be said to have been appropriately celebrated. Devotees of the Lord should remember His delightful, blissful sport of His Supreme abode. 

Holi also means “sacrifice”. Burn all the mental impurities of egoism, vanity and lust, through the fire of devotion and knowledge. Ignite cosmic love, mercy, generosity, selflessness, truthfulness and purity through the fire of Yogic practice. This is the real spirit of Holi. Rise from the mire of stupidity and absurdity and dive deep into the ocean of divinity.

The call of Holi is always to keep ablaze the light of the love of the Supreme Lord shining in one’s heart. Inner illumination is the real Holi and detachment from worldly pleasures and pining love for the beloved Supreme Lord is to be re-emphasised to attain eternal salvation. Regarding detachment Shri Krishn tells Arjun thus in Gita:

“Dhyayato vishayaan pumsah, vangas teshupa jaayate
Sangaat sanjaayate kaamah, kaamat krodhobhi jaayate
Krodhad bhavati sammohah, sammohat smriti vibramaha
Smriti bhramsaad buddhi nasho, buddhi maashaat pranasyati” Gita, 2/62, 63


While contemplating on objects of the senses, persons become attached to them. From attachment, desires are born, from desire, anger arises. Anger leads to delusion and delusion to mental bewilderment. Bewilderment and forgetfulness of memory lead to the loss of spiritual intelligence. Loss of spiritual intelligence and discretion lead to the downfall of the person.

Some Do’sand Don’t

Do’s:

  •  Play natural by making your herbal colours and using them.
  • Make your pichkaris from used plastic bottles.
  • Use less, enjoy more-take pledge to use less water, less wood for Holi fire. 
  • Say no to plastic bags and water balloons.                    
  • Take a Holi vow of yourself and your family.


Making colours:

Mix Haldi powder with besan for lovely yellow colour. Slice a beetroot and soak in water for a deep pink. For an orange-red paste, henna (Mehndi) leaves can be dried, powdered and mixed with water. The Flame of Forest/Tesu/Palash’s flowers can be soaked in water overnight, and the bright orange colour is obtained. Boil dried fruits of Amla in an iron vessel and leave overnight. Dilute with water and use.

The herbal colour does not cause any irritation, skin allergies, respiratory problems etc. When these colours are mixed with the soil and water, they do not add toxicity; therefore, it doesn’t harm the myriad life forms that live in the ground and water.


Don’ts:

  • Do not cut green trees to burn in fire/ Holi.
  • Make aware people about the environmental impacts of celebrating Holi and encourage people to celebrate it in an Eco-friendly manner. 
  • In the Holi fire, all kinds of material other than organic ones and those that cause harm, such as plastics, tyre tubes etc. should be avoided.
  • Do not apply colours forcibly. Stop people from doing so and give them the reasons.
  • Stop people from using excessive colours and hurling water balloons.
  • Do not use harmful chemical colours.


Harmful effects of artificial colours

Greencolour – obtained from copper sulphate can cause allergies in the eye or even temporary blindness.

Silveris obtained from aluminium bromide – a known carcinogenic.

Purple is obtained from chromium iodide – which may cause bronchial asthma or other forms of allergy.

Red is obtained from mercury sulphite – may cause skin cancer or Minamata disease.

ShinyColours powdered glass being added to the colours.

Blackis obtained from lead oxide – may cause renal failures or learning disability.