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Festival Profile

Holi

Spring festival of colours celebrating the victory of good over evil and the divine love of Radha-Krishna.

All festivals

Holi, the festival of colours, celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of devotion over pride. It is a joyful festival of colours, music and togetherness.

Stories behind the festival

Prahlada and Holika

Satyuga
Prahlada, a devotee of Vishnu, refused to stop worshipping him despite his demon-king father Hiranyakashipu. His aunt Holika, immune to fire, sat with Prahlada in fire to burn him, but divine protection saved Prahlada and burned Holika instead. This is commemorated as Holika Dahan.
Vishnu Purana; Bhagavata Purana (Narasimha avatar)

Radha and Krishna colours

Dwapara Yuga
In the Krishna tradition, Holi celebrates the playful love of Radha and Krishna, who applied colours to each other in Vrindavan. The throwing of colours honours this divine play.
Bhagavata Purana (Krishna leela)

Why we celebrate

Holi, the festival of colours, celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of devotion over pride. It is a joyful festival of colours, music and togetherness.
Vishnu Purana; Bhagavata Purana

When

Holi is celebrated on the full moon (Purnima) of the Hindu month Phalguna (February–March), the last month of the Hindu lunar calendar.

Since when it is followed

The Prahlada story belongs to the Satyuga/Treta context; the colour festival as celebrated today is ancient and pan-Indian, with the modern form known since medieval times.
Puranic Prahlada narrative; historical festival studies

Who celebrates / for whom

Hindus across India and worldwide, with regional names such as Dol Jatra in Bengal and Yaosang in Manipur.

Origin

The origin lies in the Prahlada–Hiranyakashipu narrative from the Vishnu and Bhagavata Puranas, combined with spring harvest celebrations.
Vishnu Purana; Bhagavata Purana; regional spring tradition

Key deities

Lord Vishnu (Narasimha avatar), Lord Krishna and Radha; Holika (burned symbolically).
Vishnu Purana; Bhagavata Purana

How to celebrate

Light a bonfire (Holika Dahan) the night before. On Holi, play with colours (gulal) and water, sing, dance, and share sweets.
Regional smriti / panchang guides

Rituals & offerings

Holika Dahan bonfire, playing with colours, offering to the fire, and special regional foods and sweets.
Regional smriti / panchang guides

Key facts

The colours honour the playful love of Radha and Krishna.
Bhagavata Purana / regional tradition
In some regions Holi lasts for several days.
Regional tradition