Holi, known as the Festival of Colors, Love, and Spring, is a Hindu celebration that venerates the eternal love of Radha and Krishna and symbolises the victory of good over evil with Vishnu’s triumph as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu. Originating in the Indian subcontinent, Holi has spread to Asia and parts of the Western world.

It marks the onset of spring, the end of winter, and the flourishing of love, while also heralding the beginning of a fruitful harvest season. Lasting a night and a day, it commences on the evening of the full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Phalaguna, typically in mid-March.

 

Holi is a sacred Hindu tradition celebrated as a holiday in many states of India and Nepal, with regional observances in other countries. It serves as a cultural celebration, inviting people of all backgrounds to partake in the joy by exchanging colored water and powder, as well as a time for Hindus to reflect on renewing relationships, resolving conflicts, and letting go of past emotional burdens.

Furthermore, Holi carries religious significance, exemplified by the legend of Holika, underscoring its multifaceted importance in Hindu culture and beyond.