Holi: The Festival of Colours

Significance

Holi commemorates Prahlada, the boy-devotee of Vishnu, who emerged unharmed from the fire that consumed Holika, a reminder that devotion outlasts tyranny. The bonfire of Holika Dahan is lit on Phalguna Purnima evening, avoiding the Bhadra period; the next morning is Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi), when colours dissolve every social distance.

Observance

• Holika Dahan: the pyre is worshipped with roli, akshata and coconut, then lit after Bhadra ends. The correct evening can shift by a day depending on when Purnima and Bhadra fall in your city
• Dhulandi: gulal, water, music and sweets, especially gujiya and thandai
• Rang Panchami (five days later) closes the festival in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh

In Braj (Mathura-Vrindavan) the celebrations run for over a week, including the famous Lathmar Holi of Barsana.