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Holi ( /ˈhoʊliː/), also known as the Festival of Colours, the Festival of Spring, and the Festival of Love, is an ancient Hindu religious festival and one of the most popular festivals in Hinduism. It celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha Krishna. The day also signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it commemorates the victory of Lord Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu. It originated and is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent but has also spread to other regions of Asia and parts of the Western world through the Indian diaspora.

Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and for many, it is a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival is also an invocation for a good spring harvest season. 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 Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. The first evening is known as “Holika Dahan” or “Chhoti Holi” and the following day as “Holi”, “Rangwali Holi”, “Dol Purnima”, “Dhuleti”, “Dhulandi”, “Ukuli”, “Manjal Kuli”, “Yaosang”, “Shigmo”, “Phagwah”, or “Jajiri”.

Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika Dahan where people gather, perform religious rituals in front of a bonfire, and pray that their internal evil be destroyed the way Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, was killed in the fire. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi (Dhuleti) where people smear and drench each other with colours. Water guns and water-filled balloons are often used to play and colour each other, with anyone and anyplace being considered fair game to color. Groups often carry drums and other musical instruments going from place-to-place singing and dancing. Throughout the day people visit family, and friends and foes come together to chat, enjoy food and drink, and partake in Holi delicacies.

According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Brahma started the creation of the world from the month of Chaitra, which is regarded as the first month of the Hindu calendar. It marks the beginning of the new season when new flowers and fruits start to blossom. Chaitra month fall in March- April, when the Sun starts its journey through the Zodiac cycle. Some people believe that Goddess Durga descended on the first day of Chaitra Navratri and Brahma started the work of creation of the universe at the behest of Mother Durga. Another belief is that Lord Shiva allowed his wife Durga to visit her parent’s house for nine days (Chaitra Navratri). During these nine days, it is said that the Goddess killed demon Mahishasura. This signifies the victory of good over evil. It is customary for Hindu women to visit their parents’ home during this auspicious time.

Maharashtran Hindus refer to the festival, observed on the same day, as Gudi Padwa (Marathi: गुढी पाडवा).

The Sindhis celebrate the same day as Cheti Chand, which is the beginning of their calendar year.

Manipuris also celebrate their New Year as Sajibu Nongma Panba on the same day.

The Hindus of Bali in Indonesia also celebrate their new year on the same day as Nyepi.

Ugadi is one of the five Hindu national public holidays in Mauritius

Vaisakhi is a harvest festival for people of the Punjab region. In the Punjab, Vaisakhi marks the ripening of the rabi harvest. Vaisakhi also marks the Punjabi new year. This day is observed as a thanksgiving day by farmers whereby farmers pay their tribute, thanking God for the abundant harvest and also praying for future prosperity.

Vaisakhi is traditionally observed on 13 or 14 April, every year. For many Hindus, it marks the solar new year.

Ram Navami Rituals: Hindu Culture & Traditions

This festival is observed in order to celebrate the birth of Marayada Purshottam Ram, considered to be a form of Lord Vishnu, one of the prime deities of Hindu trio. It is said that, Lord Rama is not only god but also the ideal figure for a human being. He is considered to be an ideal son, a doting husband, a mighty king, a wonderful brother and a great father. On the occasion of Rama Navami, mot only the people in India but also the Hindu community living in the other parts of the world celebrate this great day with immense joy and fervor.

Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Lord Hanuman. Hanuman was the son of Anjana, a female spirit of the clouds and waters, and Desari, the chief of the vanara, a group of powerful monkey people who lived in the forests. The wind god Vayu also played a role in the conception and birth of Hanuman. Some texts identify Hanuman as an incarnation of Shiva, but Hanuman is best known for his role in the epic poem and sacred text the Ramayana.

Hanuman is worshipped as a deity with the ability to attain victory against evil and provide protection. On this festival, devotees of Hanuman celebrate him and seek his protection and blessings.

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi (The Thread of Sibling Love) is a special occasion to celebrate this “Sibling Love” bonding by tying a holy thread around the wrist. This thread, which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the Rakhi since it means “a bond of protection,” and Raksha Bandhan signifies that the strong must protect the weak from all that’s evil.

The ritual is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan, on which sisters tie the sacred Rakhi string on their brothers’ right wrists, and pray for their long lives. Rakhis are ideally made of silk with gold and silver threads, beautifully crafted embroidered sequins, and studded with semi-precious stones.