Holi

Holi is also known as the festival of colours, spring and love, and is one of the most popular and significant festivals in Hinduism. It celebrates the eternal and divine love of the god Radha and Krishna. The day also signifies the triumph of good over evil, and commemorates the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hirankyakashipu. It is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent but has also spread to other regions of Asia and parts of the Western World as part of Indian diaspora.

The holiday celebrates the arrival of Spring and end of Winter. It is a day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive and repair broken relationships. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon Day) falling in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguma, which is around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. The first evening is known as Holika Dahan and the following day as Holi (and many other names). On Holika Dahan, people gather and perform religious rituals in front of a bonfire and pray that their internal evils be destroyed the way Holika, the sister of the demon king Hirankyakashipu, was killed in the fire. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi where people smear and drench each other with colours. Water guns and water filled balloons are often used to play and colour each other. Groups often carry drums and other musical instruments going from place to place singing and dancing.