Holi

Holi History

Holi is the ancient Hindu Festival of Love and also known as the Festival of Colors. The origins of Holi lie in ancient Hindu traditions where Holi was celebrated to mark the arrival of spring.

Holi is also related to the legend of Holika, the evil sister of demon king Hiranyakashipu, who tried to burn Hiranyakashipu's son Prahlada. Prahlada had maintained faith in god (Vishnu), while Hiranyakashipu contended that he was god. Wearing a cloak that guarded her from fire, Holika lured Prahlada into a fire but the cloak that was guarding Holika flew and protected Prahlada instead. Because of this Holi also celebrates the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and love over hate.

Top 10 Facts for Holi (Hindu Festival) in 2026

• The Braj region of India, including towns like Mathura and Vrindavan, hosts an extensive 16-day celebration that begins weeks before the official full moon date to honor the locations associated with the childhood of Krishna.
• In the village of Barsana, women participate in the Lathmar Holi tradition by playfully beating men with large wooden sticks, while the men use shields to protect themselves in a ritualistic reenactment of a legend involving Krishna and Radha.
• The evening before the main festival is marked by Holika Dahan, a ritual bonfire where an effigy of the demoness Holika is burned to signify the Triumph of Good Over Evil based on the mythological story of Prahlad.
• Many participants consume Bhang, a traditional edible preparation made from cannabis leaves and buds, which is mixed into milk-based drinks like Thandai or sweets to induce a state of euphoria during the festivities.
• The quintessential Bollywood anthem Rang Barse, sung by Amitabh Bachchan for the film Silsila, remains the most iconic musical fixture for street celebrations and public gatherings worldwide.
• At the Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal, the festival is observed as Basant Utsav, a graceful artistic celebration founded by Rabindranath Tagore where students perform traditional dances and recite poetry.
• In the state of Manipur, the observance is known as Yaosang and spans six days, featuring the Thabal Chongba dance performed under the moonlight and various local sporting competitions.
• The city of Spanish Fork, Utah, currently holds the record for hosting one of the world's largest Holi festivals outside of Asia, attracting tens of thousands of attendees to the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple for coordinated color throws.
• Historically, the vibrant colors used in the festival were derived from natural Ayurvedic sources such as neem leaves, turmeric, and palash flowers, which were believed to have medicinal properties that protected the skin during the change of seasons.
• Modern celebrations have expanded into global pop culture, inspiring international events like the Holi One music festivals and various Color Run athletic races that utilize the tradition of throwing colored powder called Gulal.

In the News and Trending in the US for Holi

Top things to do in the US for Holi

• Decorate your home with colorful ribbons and adornments to recognize the Holi festival. Marigold flowers are traditionally hung over balconies, railings and staircases. Sofa cushions are often covered with bold, bright colors. Walls are traditionally covered with colorful fabric patchwork.
• Eat at an Indian restaurant on this day to enjoy some Holi specialty sweet dishes such as shakarpara (sweet crispy bread), gujjias (sweet fried dumplings), kheer (rice pudding) and malpua (pancakes).
• Light a Holika bonfire the night before Holi. Read the legend associated with it about Holika, the demoness in Hindu Vedic scriptures that was burnt with the help of God Vishnu.
• Attend a Holi Festival. Festivals are held across cities in the United States, especially where there is a large Hindu or Yoga community. Festivals often includes yoga demonstrations, Bollywood music, color dye toss, and Indian Food.
• Watch the Bollywood movie Mohabbatein (2000). It includes scenes where a song called Soni Soni is played during a Holi festival celebration in India.