THE MEANING OF HOLI
Holi is celebrated in the month of Phalguna. It lasts for two days and marks the arrival of spring. It is the final farewell to winter. Spring brings warmth, color, and new life. It is also seen as the season of love.
Holi reminds us to let go of the past. To forgive. To heal. To begin again. At its core, Holi celebrates the victory of good over evil.
Holi is not just about colour. It carries layers of story and symbolism. It speaks of devotion. Of love. Of playfulness. Of courage.
Above all, it reminds us that joy returns, love survives, and light defeats darkness.
Holi is more than colors and celebration. It carries a timeless truth. Faith survives. Truth stands firm. Good always triumphs over evil.
TWO DAYS OF HOLI.
In most places, Holi is observed over two days.
The first evening is called Holika Dahan, or Choti Holi. It falls on the full moon night of Phalguna. The next day is Badi Holi. It is also known as Dhuleti, Dhulandi, Phagwah, or Rangwali Holi. This is the day of colours, joy, and community celebration.
HOLIKA DAHAN.
Holika Dahan- The story centres on Prahalad and his father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who had a boon that he could not be killed in day or night, not by man or animal, neither indoors nor outdoors.
Many believe that Holika Dahan was a later-day addition to the festival of Holi. But whatever, it is a great symbolic act and celebration.
Prahalad was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu. His father, however, wanted every citizen to worship him as God. He demanded complete obedience. Prahalad refused. He remained firm in his faith.
Hiranyakashipu tried many ways to change his son’s mind. When persuasion failed, anger took over. The king decided to kill Prahalad to set an example for others.
His sister, Holika, had a boon that fire could not harm her. The king ordered her to sit in a blazing pyre with Prahalad in her lap. The plan was simple. Prahalad would burn. Holika would survive.
As the fire was lit, Hiranyakashipu mocked his son and challenged his faith. But events did not go as planned. Holika burned in the flames. Prahalad remained unharmed. Faith protected him. Pride destroyed Hiranyakashipu, and Holika was burnt to ashes.
Even today, this moment is remembered. In many places, an image of Holika holding Prahalad is placed on wooden logs. Before the fire is lit, Prahalad’s image is removed. People gather around the flames. They sing. They pray. They celebrate devotion and truth. The next day, Holi is celebrated with colours.
LORD VISHNU NARSIMHA AVATAR.
Later, Lord Vishnu took the form of Narasimha to end Hiranyakashipu’s tyranny. This form was half man and half lion. Neither fully human nor fully animal. He appeared at dusk. Neither day nor night. He killed the king at the doorway. Neither indoors nor outdoors. He placed him on his lap. Neither land, sky, nor water. He used his claws. Not a weapon.
Every condition of the king’s boon was honoured.
Yet he was defeated. No blessing can protect injustice forever.
THE PRAHLADPURI HOLI MANDIR.
It is believed that Holi began in ancient Multan, once part of Bharat and now in Pakistan. The ruins of the Prahladpuri Temple still exist there. The temple was destroyed in 1992.
Tradition says Prahalad built this temple in honour of Narasimha, who emerged from a pillar to save him. The region’s older name is said to have Sanskrit roots, meaning “original place.” It is also linked to Kashyap, the father of Hiranyakashipu.
The story of Holi lives on through these memories, rituals, and sacred spaces.
Prahladpuri temple details contributed bt R Sahai- a cousin to my dear friend Ajay K Lal- who forwarded the contribution.
HOLI- THE FESTIVAL OF COLOURS.
In earlier times, people played with both wet and dry colours. Gulal, the bright coloured powder, was the most common. Water was used freely. Buckets were poured. Streets were soaked.
Today, there is more awareness. Water is precious. Pollution is real. Many people now prefer to play with dry colours only. Children still use water guns, called pichkaris, and water balloons. But their use is slowly decreasing.
Holi is played by smearing gulal on family and friends. Faces turn red, pink, yellow, and green. Differences fade. Laughter grows.
In many places, Holi is also linked with bhang, a drink made from cannabis leaves. It is often mixed into thandai, a sweet milk drink. In some towns, people even enjoy bhang-flavoured kulfi. For some, it adds to the festive mood.
KRISHNA AND FESTIVAL OF COLOURS.
In the region of Mathura, Vrindavan, and Braj, Holi is not just one day. It is a five-day celebration. In parts of central India, especially Malwa, the fifth day, called Rang Panchami, is even grander than Holi itself.
Many colour traditions are linked to Lord Krishna.
Krishna is often shown with blue skin. Legend says this colour came from a childhood event. The demon king Kansa feared a prophecy that his sister Devaki’s eighth son would kill him. When he learned the child was alive, he sent the demoness Putana to kill infants in Gokul.
Putana poisoned her breast milk and fed it to babies. When she tried to kill Krishna, he sucked the life out of her instead. The poison did not kill him, but it left his skin dark blue.
Krishna later worried about his dark complexion. Radha was fair. He wondered if she would accept him. His mother, Yashoda, playfully suggested that he ask Radha to colour his face the way she liked.
This playful act became a tradition. Today, people smear colours on each other in the spirit of Krishna and Radha. Holi became a celebration of love and playful devotion.
Kamadev and Rati. The Shiva and Parvati story.
Another legend connects Holi with love and longing.
Lord Shiva was once deep in meditation. Goddess Parvati wished to marry him. But Shiva remained detached from the world. She sought help from Kamadeva, the god of love.
On Vasant Panchami, Kamadeva shot his arrow of desire at Shiva. The meditation broke. Shiva opened his third eye in anger. The fire from it burned Kamadeva to ashes.
Parvati and Rati, Kamadeva’s wife, were heartbroken.
Rati performed deep penance for forty days. She prayed to Shiva for forgiveness. In time, Shiva relented. Kamadeva was restored to life, though in a formless state.
Because of this legend, Holi is also called the festival of love. It falls about forty days after Vasant Panchami.
BHANG. SHIVA & HOLI.
Holi is also linked to Lord Shiva through the story of the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean.
When deadly poison emerged from the ocean, Shiva drank it to save creation. He held the poison in his throat, which turned blue. The heat of the poison troubled him greatly.
Legend says that from the same churning came nectar. A drop of it fell to earth and gave birth to the cannabis plant. To cool Shiva’s burning throat, the gods offered him a drink made from its leaves. This drink became known as bhang.
Over time, bhang became associated with Shiva and later with Holi celebrations.
In modern India, cannabis is largely restricted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985. The law bans the cultivation and sale of certain parts of the plant, such as its resin and flowering tops. However, the leaves used to prepare bhang are not specifically listed in the same way. Court rulings have clarified that while growing the plant is illegal, the use of leaves in traditional preparations has been treated differently in some cases.
This legal nuance explains why bhang remains part of Holi in several regions.
LATHMAAR BARSANA HOLI.
One of the most famous Holi traditions is the Lathmar Holi of Barsana.
According to legend, Krishna once visited Barsana, Radha’s hometown. He came from Nandgaon with his friends. They teased Radha and her companions during Holi.
Radha and her friends responded boldly. They chased Krishna and his friends away, beating them playfully with sticks, called lath.
Today, this moment is recreated every year. Men from Nandgaon visit Barsana. The women greet them with sticks. The men protect themselves with shields. The event is festive, dramatic, and full of laughter.
Masane Ki Holi – The Holi of Ashes
In Varanasi, Holi takes a rare and powerful form. It is called Masane Ki Holi.
It is played not with colours, but with ashes from funeral pyres at the cremation ground. The air echoes with the chant, Har Har Mahadev. It may be the only place in the world where Holi is played with sacred ash from burning pyres.
On Ekadashi, devotees of Shiva gather to play Gulal Holi. The next day, at Manikarnika Ghat, Masane Ki Holi is celebrated after worshipping Baba Mashannath.
Local belief says that Baba Vishwanath, Lord Shiva of Kashi, allows his ganas — spirits, ghosts, unseen beings — to join the living in the festival of colours. These are the intangible forces that move between worlds. The visible and the invisible meet.
After celebrating with the people, it is believed that Shiva goes to the cremation ground to celebrate with his own companions. There, Holi is played with ash. Life and death stand side by side. Joy and detachment become one.
Masane Ki Holi reminds us of a deeper truth. All colour fades to ash. Yet celebration continues.
BANKE BIHARI MANDIR HOLI. VRIDHANVAN
In Vrindavan, Holi at the Banke Bihari Temple is legendary.
Here, Holi is played in its pure devotional form. Gulal fills the air. Water sprays across the courtyard. Temple priests sprinkle colours on devotees as bhajans fill the space.
The atmosphere feels timeless. Devotees sing. They dance. Many describe it as trance-like. For a few moments, the world outside disappears. Only Krishna remains.
Indore’s Rang Panchami – A Grand Finale
In Indore, Holi reaches its peak on Rang Panchami.
The Phag Yatra begins at Bada Ganpati and moves toward Rajwada through Malharganj. Thousands gather. People sing, dance, and throw gulal into the sky. The streets turn into waves of colour.
It is a massive public celebration. Yet what stands out even more is what happens after. The entire area is cleaned with remarkable efficiency. Within hours, the streets return to normal.
Indore has repeatedly been ranked among the cleanest cities in India. Rang Panchami shows how celebration and civic discipline can go hand in hand.
Holi in Indore is grand. It is joyful. And it is responsible.
( see more pictures from the Government of India, district Indore site. )
Rang Pashi – The Kayastha and Mathur Pre-Holi Celebration
Before the colours of Holi fill the streets, some families begin the celebration in a quieter, more intimate way. This tradition is called Rang Pashi.
Rang Pashi marks the formal beginning of Holi festivities. It is especially celebrated in Kayastha families and among Mathurs in particular. It is not loud or public. It is warm and family-centred.
On this day, relatives and close friends gather at home. Thalis filled with fragrant gulal are prepared. Small vessels of coloured water are placed nearby. Everything is arranged with care.
The family priest, or the eldest male member present, begins the ritual. He sprinkles coloured water and gently applies gulal on each person’s face. The younger members follow. They return the gesture with smiles. Hugs are exchanged. Laughter fills the room.
The younger ones then seek blessings. They touch the feet of elders as a mark of respect. This simple act binds affection with tradition.
There is also a beautiful exchange of gifts. Married daughters receive dress material, usually a sari, from their maternal home. This gift is often called Dandiya. Husbands receive a token gift or some money, known as Pyala, from their wife’s family. It strengthens family ties and keeps relationships alive.
Food is an important part of Rang Pashi. Traditional dishes are prepared with love. Gujiya, papri, kanji vade, dahi bhale, and other savoury snacks are served. The gathering usually ends with a generous lunch or dinner.
In earlier times, offering a drink was common. Sometimes a single glass was passed around, each person taking a sip in turn. Today, this is optional. The spirit of the celebration no longer depends on it.
Rang Pashi is more than a ritual. It is a reunion. Women and young girls sing traditional Holi songs, often in a playful, teasing tone. There is music. There is a dance. Talent finds its space in the warmth of family.
When there is a newly married couple in the family, Rang Pashi becomes even more special. The celebration is larger. The joy is greater.
Rang Pashi reminds us that before Holi colours the world outside, it first colours the heart at home.
Acknowledgment
The section on Rang Pashi includes valuable inputs contributed by R. Sahai, cousin of my dear friend Ajay K. Lal, who kindly forwarded the details.
The segment on Kashi’s Masane Ki Holi has been enriched with insights shared by Praful Mishra.
My sincere thanks to both for helping preserve and share these living traditions.
Blog/020/2021/#IgnorantHindu/016 updated 20260301
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PROJECT IGNORANT HINDU
#IgnorantHindu is a project where I collate and share information on Hindu festivals, practices, and rituals about Hindu Gods, episodes and incidents. Some of the festivals and episodes covered are RakshaBandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Antim Sanskar, Yama- the lord of death, Baishakhi and Bihu, Holi, Makar Sankranti, Ashtamangal Prasanam- the way of predicting future, Rahu-Ketu– the shadow planets, the 12 houses of horoscope, MaaNarmadaParikrama, Mahashivratri, BhaiDooj, Navratri, Diwali, Dhanteras, Karva Chauth, Dussehra or Vijyadashmi, Ram Navami, Adhik Mass– the Hindu leap year and Shradh And Pitra Shradh.
