HOLI

14th – 15th March 2025

Hindu

A spring festival lasting one to five days. Bonfires are lit and revellers throw coloured powders and dyes over each other. Various stories and customs are associated with the festival: the throwing of coloured dyes is linked with Krishna and his antics with Radha and the gopis (milkmaids); another story associated with Holi is that of Prahlada and Holika: Prahlada worshipped Vishnu in defiance of his father, King Hiranyakashipu’s wishes. Prahlada survived when his aunt, Holika, who was supposedly immune to fire, held him while, as instructed by the king, she sat on a bonfire intended to kill him.

During Holi, practices, which at other times could be offensive, are allowed. Squirting coloured water on passers-by, dunking friends in mud pool amidst teasing and laughter, getting intoxicated on bhaang and revelling with companions is perfectly acceptable. In fact, on the days of Holi, you can get away with almost anything by saying, “Don’t mind, it’s Holi!”

Women, especially, enjoy the freedom of relaxed rules and sometimes join in the merriment rather aggressively. There is also much vulgar behaviour, often connected with phallic themes. It is a time when pollution is not important, a time for license and obscenity in place of the usual societal and caste restrictions.

It is said the spirit of Holi encourages the feeling of brotherhood in society and even enemies turn friends on this day. People of all communities and even differing religions participate in this joyous and colourful festival and in doing so strengthen the secular fabric of the nation.

Mythology of this nature, when re-enacted by the crowds of excited Hindus today, is essentially an act of praise and devotion, and particularly so for those who seek to honour Vishnu, seen as the Lord and Preserver of all life.