Holi 2024: Hindus worldwide celebrate Festival of Colours

The auspicious Hindu Festival of Colours, also known as Dhulandi and Rangowali Holi, is being celebrated today (25 March).

The festival is observed over two days, namely Rangwali Holi, also known as Dhulandi, and Chhoti Holi, also known as Holika Dahan. 

This year, Hindus celebrated Holika Dahan on 24 March night by igniting bonfires to symbolise the triumph of good over evil.

The festival falls annually during the full moon or Purnima tithi on the evening of the Hindu month of the Phalguna. Traditionally celebrated in late February or early March according to the Gregorian calendar, Holi marks the arrival of Spring and the end of Winter.

On this day, young and old alike play with colours and water, and the celebrations can last for the better part of the day. People visit their friends and family, smear each other's faces with Gulaal (colours), play with water balloons, use toy water guns on each other, eat Gujiya, drink Thandai, and prepare delectable Holi special meals during the day.

Holi holds great significance for Hindus.

It is the second biggest festival for Hindus after Diwali.

The day celebrates the love and devotion between Lord Krishna and Radha. It also marks the victory of good over evil, which is commemorated during Holika Dahan.

According to Hindu mythology, Radha was extremely fair, and Lord Krishna had a dark complexion. Krishna often worried about whether Radha would accept him and complained to his mother, Yashoda, about their different skin tones. Yashoda once jokingly suggested that Krishna paint Radha's face with a different colour to hide any differences. Krishna did as his mother advised, using Gulaal to smear Radha's face. And that's how the celebration of Holi began.

Another legend associated with Holi tells the story of King Hiranyakashipu, his son Prahalad, who was a follower of Lord Vishnu, and his aunt Holika, the demon.

According to Indian mythology, Hiranyakashipu was given a boon that prevented both humans and animals from killing him. So he made them worship him. But Hiranyakashipu asked his sister Holika to have his son killed by sitting on a funeral pyre and covering himself with a garment to protect himself from the flames after the boy became a follower of Lord Vishnu and refused to worship him. But to protect him, Prahlad prayed to Lord Vishnu, who responded by sending a gust of wind that carried the cloth from Holika to him. Holika Dahan is therefore celebrated the day before Holi to commemorate the triumph of good over evil.