Holi Festival in India

Holi is considered as one of the most revered and celebrated festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country. It is also sometimes called as the “festival of love” as on this day people get to unite together forgetting all resentments and all types of bad feeling towards each other. The great Indian festival lasts for a day and a night, which starts in the evening of Purnima or the Full Moon Day in the month of Falgun. It is celebrated with the name Holika Dahan or Choti Holi on first evening of the festival and the following day is called Holi. In different parts of the country it is known with different names.

The vibrancy of colors is something that brings in a lot of positivity in our lives and Holi being the festival of colours is actually a day worth rejoicing. Holi is a famous Hindu festival that is celebrated in every part of India with utmost joy and enthusiasm. The ritual starts by lighting up the bonfire one day before the day of Holi and this process symbolizes the triumph of good over the bad. On the day of Holi people play with colours with their friends and families and in evening they show love and respect to their close ones with Abeer.

Why is Holi called the Festival of Colours?
Holi is also known as the "Festival of Colors," mostly owing to the tradition of throwing and smearing coloured powders on each other. This joyful practice signifies the arrival of spring and the spreading of happiness and positive energy. The vibrant colours are said to represent joy, love, and unity among people, as well as the celebration of the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi serves as a reminder to let go of grudges and come together to spread joy and love.

When is Holi celebrated?
Before getting the answer to the question, "When is Holi celebrated?" Let us acknowledge the fact that it is one of the most vibrant and joyous festivals celebrated in India and worldwide, predominantly among Hindu communities. So, what is the Holi festival?

Answering that, we can say that Holi is primarily recognized as a celebration of spring, marking the triumph of good over evil. Moreover, the festival customarily takes place on the day of the full moon, which, according to the Hindu calendar, is in the month of Phalguna and tends to fall somewhere between February and March as per the Gregorian calendar. The exact date of the celebration, however, varies from year to year.

Holi is a two-day festival, with the first day being known as Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan and the second day as Rangwali Holi. On the first day, bonfires are lit in the evening to symbolise the burning of the demoness Holika, who tried to kill the devotee Prahlada. The second day is marked by the play of colours, where people smudge each other with dry powder and coloured water, dance and sing, and feast on delicious food.

The festival is a time of great merriment and revelry as people of all ages come together to celebrate. Friends and family gather to throw coloured powders, squirt coloured water, and dance to the beat of dhol drums. The use of colours is a symbol of the shedding of past mistakes and the embracing of new beginnings.

Holi offers a chance for individuals to put aside their disagreements and unite in love and harmony. The festival celebrates the arrival of spring, the conquest of good over evil, and brings people of all backgrounds together to spread joy, unity, and happiness. Holi is a delightful celebration and a must-experience event for anyone travelling to India from abroad during this period. Now, let's discover which state in India celebrates Holi the best (or where the best Holi in India is), as well as the different Holi event names in various Indian states.