| Holi, Phagwa or Basant Utsav is an annual festival | | | | of forgetting all enmity and meeting each other with |
| that welcomes spring. It is celebrated on the day | | | | lots of love. Also, people sing and dance on the beats |
| after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna | | | | of dholak. All these traditions add more joy to the |
| (end February or early March). Holi is particularly | | | | festivities on Holi. |
| celebrated in North India. The association of Holi with | | | | Legend Behind Holi Colours |
| religion is absent now since there are no longer any | | | | As with Holika Dahan, the story behind Holi colours is |
| customs that may remind us of its religious roots. | | | | connected to another of Lord Vishnu's avatars, |
| How do People Spend This Holi-Day? | | | | Krishna. Legend has it that Lord Krishna was not too |
| Holi is celebrated in all states and territories except | | | | happy with the fact that whereas Radha was fair |
| Karnataka, Kerala, Nagaland, Puduchery, Tamil Nadu | | | | complexioned, he himself was very dark. Krishna |
| and Tripura. Vasant Panchami in Orissa, Tripura, West | | | | questioned his mother about this injustice. To make |
| Bengal. The day begins with people attending Holi | | | | her son happy, Yashoda suggested that Krishna apply |
| parties where everyone gathers to celebrate Holi | | | | colour on Radha's face and change her complexion. |
| with dance music and colours. There is a ritual of | | | | Krishna was also understood to have played with |
| drinking bhang ki thandai and eating mithais and | | | | milkmaids (gopis) by throwing colour and water on |
| sweets (that may also be filled with bhang, an | | | | them. It was thus that the game of applying colours |
| intoxicating homemade drug). Rest of the day is | | | | gained popularity and became a part of Holi traditions. |
| spent visiting family and friends and exchanging Holi | | | | Even now, the application of colours is also an |
| gifts in India. | | | | expression of love. |
| Holi Bonfires | | | | Playing with Colours on Holi |
| Initially Holi was a celebration of fertility and new | | | | All kinds of distinctions are forgotten during Holi. The |
| beginnings that lasted for many days or weeks. But, | | | | tradition of playing with colours on Holi is extremely |
| the main festivities last two days. On the first day of | | | | popular as a general leveller among men and women |
| the celebration, which is known as Chhoti Holi, Holika | | | | (and other differences) in the society. There are Holi |
| Dahan takes place. This tradition involves burning | | | | games that generate a feeling of goodwill and |
| huge bonfires, dancing, singing and general merry | | | | equality. Children also especially wait for this festival |
| making. The idea behind Holika Dahan is the victory | | | | to show their true mischievous colours. They eagerly |
| of good over evil. | | | | wait for someone with dry colours and water colours |
| Colours of Holi | | | | filled in a water jet popularly called a pichkari. 'Bura na |
| The best part of any Holi celebration is the play with | | | | mano Holi hai' is the underlining theme of this fun filled |
| colours. People throw Holi gulal and Abeer on friends | | | | festival. |
| and dear ones on Badi Holi or Dhulendi. It is the time | | | | You can check various sources for gift ideas on Holi. |