The Holi festival commemorates the victory of good over evil, particularly the burning and destruction of a demon woman named Holika. This was made possible with the help of Lord Vishnu. Holi got its name as the "Festival of Colors" from the childhood antics of Lord Krishna, a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who liked to play pranks on the village girls by drenching them in water and colors. In parts of India, Holi is also celebrated as a spring festival, to provide thanksgiving for an abundant harvest season.
When is Holi celebrated?
The day after the full moon in March each year. In 2020, Holi will fall on March 10, with Holika Dahan on March 9. The festival takes place a day earlier in West Bengal and Odisha, where it is celebrated as Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima on the same day as Holika Dahan. In addition, in some parts of India (such as Mathura and Vrindavan) festivities commence a week or so earlier.
Where is Holi celebrated?
Traditional Holi celebrations are the biggest at Mathura and Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna is believed to have grown up. However, safety issues are a concern for women there, due to the rowdy behavior of many local men. So, it's best to travel as part of a guided group tour. Rajasthan is a popular Holi destination for foreign tourists, particularly places such as Pushkar, Jaipur, and Udaipur. Many backpacker hostels organize Holi parties for guests there. Rajasthan Tourism also holds a special Holi festival in Jaipur.
How is Holi celebrated?
People spend the day applying colored powder over each other's faces, throwing colored water at each other, having parties, and dancing under water sprinklers. Bhang, a paste made from cannabis plants, is also traditionally consumed as part of the celebrations. Special Holi events with music, rain dances, and colors are organized in large cities across India - particularly in Delhi and Mumbai.
What Rituals are performed?
The emphasis of Holi rituals is on the burning of demoness Holika. On the eve of Holi, large bonfires are lit to mark the occasion. This is known as Holika Dahan. As well as conducting a special puja (worship ritual), people sing and dance around the fire, and walk around it three times. In some parts of India, people even walk across the hot coals of the fire! Such fire walking is considered to be sacred. One place where it happens is Saras village near Surat in Gujarat.
The destruction of Holika is mentioned in the Hindu text, the Narada Purana. Holika's brother, the demon King Hiranyakashyap, apparently wanted her to burn his son, Prahlad, because he followed Lord Vishnu and didn't worship him. Holika sat with Prahlad in her lap, in the burning fire, because it was thought that no fire could harm her. However, Prahlad survived because his devotion to Lord Vishnu protected him. Holika was instead charred to death.
Holi in Odisha and West Bengal
Similar to Holi, the Dol Jatra celebrations in West Bengal and Odisha are dedicated to Lord Krishna. However, the mythology is different. The festival celebrates the love that Krishna is believed to have expressed to Radha on that day. Idols of Radha and Krishna are carried around in procession on specially decorated palanquins. Devotional songs are sung during the procession. The idols are also smeared with colored powder. Of course, colors are thrown at people on the streets too! Festivities actually begin six days beforehand, on Phagu Dashami.
