Holi is one of the biggest Hindu festivals in India, celebrated all across the country. This festival is so popular that people around the world also love to play Holi. Holi is the festival of colours when people give colours to their friends and loved ones. Holi symbolizes the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil.
This festival lasts for two days – ‘Holika Dahan’, the first day and ‘Dhulandi’ is observed the following day. People, on this day, visit their loved ones, construct bonfires, engage in colorful activities, exchange sweets, and enjoy a pleasant day.
Holi 2025 Date
Holi in 2025 will be celebrated on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
The festival of Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan) will be observed on the evening of Saturday, March 15, 2025.
The historical significance of Holi: Why is Holi celebrated?
Hindu culture is very vast and old, it is rooted to ancient history. According to the numerous mythological concepts, Holi has different legends related to it.
One famous story is about Hiranyakashipu, a demon who considered himself as a god and demanded that everyone in his kingdom worship him. But his son, Prahlad, was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu. King Hiranyakashipu asks his sister Holika for help in killing his son Prahlad. Holika was lucky to be unharmed by the fire.
To kill Prahlad, Holika wore a cloak and sat in the fire with him in her lap. But instead of Prahlad, Holika burned to ashes. King Hiranyakashipu was deposed by Lord Vishnu, who then appointed Prahlad as the new King of the place. Since then, people have celebrated the day by starting a fire, known as Holika. On the eve of the Holi festival, people lit big fires, customary to represent the victory of good over evil.
Holi is zealfully celebrated in the regions of Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana. Here, Holi is referred to as the festival of colors because of the legend of Lord Krishna, who once colorfully painted his beloved Radha to make her more like himself.
Another tale is related to Lord Kamadeva, the god of love and affection. Once Kamdeva diverted Lord Shiva’s attention with arrows shaped like flowers. This infuriated Lord Shiva and he turned Kamadeva into ashes. Rati, Kamadeva’s wife, was enraged by this and had to perform forty days of penance before Lord Shiva allowed Kamadeva to live. Thus, Holi is celebrated 40 days after Vasant Panchmi.
How to celebrate Holi:
Holi is celebrated for two days. On the first day i.e, Holika Dahan, people perform rituals like burning fire and all. On the second day, they play with color. Holika Dahan reminds the unending and unadulterated love between Radha and Lord Krishna and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil in the story of the god Vishnu as Narasimha.
People come together on this day and play with colours. Holi has some general rules of steps to enjoy the festival in the utmost way.
First, pray to your god: Start by giving your isht Devata or gods some color. Offer some food and put colour before their feet.
Put on shabby clothing: Since Holi entails playing with color, wear something you don’t mind getting dirty.
Buy natural colors or create your own: Celebrate Holi using eco-friendly and natural colors. You can make them yourself with turmeric, flowers, or other natural ingredients, or buy them from your neighborhood market.
Apply colors on others: It’s time to experiment with color, they can be wet or dry color. You can put colors on each other’s faces and clothing.
Play music: You can play upbeat music and keep up with the beats of classic Holi songs while you sing and dance. Celebrate the happy occasion with gusto and sing.
Arrange Holi dishes: Try some soft drinks and desserts in addition to the delicious Holi dishes like gujiya and thandai.
Spread love: Holi is also a time to heal strained relationships and provide forgiveness to those who have wronged you in the past. Give up resentment and accept forgiveness and love.
Be careful: Throughout the festivities, make sure you take the appropriate safety measures. Stay away from dangerous chemicals and shield your skin and eyes from too much color exposure.
Holi celebrations across India in different states
Holi is celebrated in numerous states across the country. Some famous places of them are:
Braj
Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, and Barsana are all part of Braj. Braj region is famous for its Holi celebrations in honor of Lord Krishna. Braj is believed to be the birth place of Lord Krishna. According to the legend, Lord Krishna used to be angry with his mother Yashoda for being dark and Radha for being fair. His mother, Yasodha then suggested him to paint Radha on his colours. From here, Brajbasis celebrate Holi in one of the most beautiful ways in India. Here, people use sticks and dance to celebrate Lathmar Holi. It is believed that Lord Krishna himself plays Holi in Banke Bihari temple of Braj.
Uttarakhand
Holi is celebrated as Kumaoni Holi in the Kumaon area of Uttarakhand. People of Uttarakhand celebrate Holi for two months. Two-month long Holi celebrations include Baithki Holi, Khari Holi, and Mahila Holi, beginning on Basant Panchmi. People gather, sing hymns, and play the harmonium and tabla.
Goa
Goa celebrates the Holi with great fervor. This festival is more famous in Goa as Shigmotsav. During the day, Konkani Hindus dress in their finest attire and fly flags as they visit Konkani temples. Avoiding meat, drink, and other forms of intoxication is the focus of the day. The festival lasts for nine days and includes Holika Pujan & Dahan, Dhulvad, Halduni, and other celebrations.
Happy Holi Wishes
- May your Holi be filled with vibrant colors, joy, and endless happiness. Happy Holi!
- Wishing you a Holi full of fun, laughter, and beautiful memories with your loved ones.
- Let the colors of Holi brighten your life with positivity and happiness. Happy Holi!
- May this Holi bring you peace, prosperity, and success. Enjoy the festival to the fullest!
- Celebrate this Holi with love, colors, and cheer. Have a colorful and safe Holi!
- May the festival of colors bring endless joy and positivity to your life. Happy Holi!
- Let’s make this Holi memorable by celebrating it with kindness and love. Have a wonderful Holi!
- May your life be as colorful and vibrant as the Holi celebrations. Wishing you a Happy Holi!
- This Holi, may your dreams come true and your days be filled with joy and laughter.
- Celebrate this Holi with the brightness of colors and the warmth of love. Happy Holi!
- Wishing you and your family a Holi filled with happiness, health, and prosperity.
- May the festival of Holi fill your heart with endless joy and your days with vibrant colors.
- Let’s spread love, unity, and happiness this Holi. Have a safe and colorful celebration!
- May the splash of colors bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart. Happy Holi!
- Celebrate the spirit of Holi with positivity and gratitude. Have a delightful Holi!
- May the colors of Holi brighten every corner of your life with happiness. Enjoy the festival!
- On this Holi, let’s promise to spread kindness and bring colors into everyone’s life.
- Wishing you a Holi that’s as sweet as gujiyas and as vibrant as the colors of spring.
- This Holi, let the colors of love and happiness fill your life with endless joy.
- May your Holi be as beautiful and colorful as your heart. Wishing you a Happy Holi!
Holi wishes in Hindi
- रंगों का त्योहार आपके जीवन को खुशियों से भर दे। होली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं!
- होली के रंगों से आपके जीवन में नई खुशियों का आगमन हो। शुभ होली!
- प्यार और रंगों से भरा हो आपका जीवन। होली मुबारक हो!
- इस होली पर आपकी सभी मनोकामनाएँ पूरी हों। होली की शुभकामनाएं!
- रंगों के इस त्योहार पर आपके जीवन में सुख-समृद्धि और आनंद आए। हैप्पी होली!
- आपका जीवन रंगीन और खुशहाल हो। होली के पावन पर्व पर ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएं!
- इस होली पर जीवन में उमंग, उत्साह और आनंद का संचार हो। शुभ होली!
- प्यार और रंगों के इस त्योहार पर अपनों के साथ ढेर सारी खुशियाँ मनाएँ। होली मुबारक!
- होली का हर रंग आपके जीवन को नई ऊर्जा और खुशियों से भर दे। होली की शुभकामनाएं!
- गिले-शिकवे भूलकर प्यार और दोस्ती के रंग में रंग जाएं। होली मुबारक हो!
- रंगों से भरा जीवन हो और खुशियों की बहार हो। आपको होली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं!
- इस होली पर आपके जीवन का हर पल रंगीन और सुखमय हो। शुभ होली!
- रंगों का यह त्योहार आपके जीवन में नई खुशियाँ और उमंग लेकर आए। होली की शुभकामनाएं!
- जीवन के हर कोने में रंग और हर दिल में प्यार हो। होली मुबारक हो!
- होली का हर रंग आपके जीवन को नई रोशनी और खुशियों से भर दे। शुभ होली!
- आपके जीवन में प्रेम, स्नेह और रंगों की मिठास घुल जाए। होली की शुभकामनाएं!
- होली का यह त्योहार आपके जीवन में सुख-समृद्धि और स्वास्थ्य लेकर आए। होली मुबारक!
- रंगों का यह त्योहार आपके दिल को खुशियों से रंग दे। होली की शुभकामनाएं!
- होली पर सबके जीवन में रंगीन सपने और हँसी-खुशी का माहौल हो। होली मुबारक!
- इस होली पर आपके जीवन में रंगों का जादू और खुशियों की मिठास बनी रहे। शुभ होली!
