What Holi is
Holi marks the start of spring, in two parts. On the first evening, Phalguna Purnima, Holika Dahan: a pile of wood and cow-dung cakes is lit to remember Prahlada's devotion. The next morning, Dhulandi or colour Holi: gulal, water, songs, sweets, and embracing after letting old grievances go.
In purnimanta calendars the colour day is Chaitra Krishna Pratipada; in amanta ones, Phalguna Krishna Pratipada. It is the same day.
How the date is decided
Holika Dahan (Shastra, Dharmasindhu): the Purnima taken is the one present at pradosha (the first part of the night after sunset) and free of Bhadra. If at pradosha on both days, the second. If Bhadra falls at pradosha, Dharmasindhu gives sub-rules: if Bhadra ends before midnight, light the fire after it ends; if later, avoid Bhadra's ‘mouth’, or use its ‘tail’ (last part). And it says plainly: no text allows the fire in daytime.
Bhadra is the name of the Vishti karana, half a tithi long. It is simply avoided; nothing to fear. (See the karana page.)
Colour Holi (Dharmasindhu): the Krishna Pratipada after the Purnima, the one at sunrise; if at both sunrises, the first.
The story: tradition / Purana story
Prahlada and Holika: tradition tells that the asura king Hiranyakashipu wanted all to worship him, but his son Prahlada was devoted to Vishnu. The king's sister Holika had a boon that fire would not burn her; she sat in the fire with Prahlada in her lap. Holika burned and Prahlada was unharmed. Holika Dahan remembers this: the protection of devotion and truth.
Radha and Krishna: in Braj, Holi is tied to Krishna and Radha playing with colour; Barsana's Lathmar Holi and Vrindavan's flower Holi carry it on.
Dharmasindhu describes a great festival on Krishna Dvitiya with sindoor powders and sandal; today's gulal continues that custom.
How families celebrate
In north India families roast ears of new wheat and barley at the neighbourhood fire and offer coconut and jaggery. Next morning: colours, gujiya, thandai and visiting. In Mathura–Vrindavan Holi runs for more than a week. Bengal and Odisha keep Dol Yatra, with Radha–Krishna on a swing and abir. Maharashtra has ‘Shimga’ and colours on Rangpanchami (five days later). Punjab has Hola Mohalla. In parts of the south it is kept as Kama-dahana.
A simple puja
Holika Dahan evening:
- Take water, roli, rice, flowers, raw cotton thread, jaggery and ears of new grain to the fire.
- Walk around it three or seven times, winding the thread.
- Offer water; remember Prahlada and Narasimha.
- Roast the grain in the fire and share it as prasad.
Holi morning: offer gulal to the deity, then touch elders' feet with gulal for blessings.
Safety: fire, colour and water
Fire: light the pyre away from power lines, trees, vehicles and houses; don't cut green trees, use old wood and cow-dung cakes. Watch children and loose clothes; keep water and sand nearby.
Colour: use dry, natural or skin-safe colours; oil your face and hair first. If colour gets in the eyes, rinse with clean water and see a doctor if irritation stays. People with asthma can avoid clouds of dry gulal.
Water and consent: use less water. Don't colour anyone who doesn't want it, or animals. No driving after bhang.
In ePandit
In ePandit: our calendar shows the festival day with your city's sunrise and sunset. The day is decided once, for Ujjain; your city's times are shown separately. We don't compute muhurta yet, and we never call a festival good or bad for anyone.