Facts about Holi: When is Holi, what is Holi, and why it’s celebrated

Millions of people worldwide celebrate Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours.

Holi is an important Hindu festival for many people around the world, especially in Southeast Asia. The festival welcomes spring, as well as giving people the opportunity to express themselves, renew relationships and put old grudges to rest.

If you’re not familiar with the festival, we’ve put together a handy guide about Holi, including some interesting facts about Holi festival. We’ll cover:

· What is Holi?

· When is Holi?

· How is Holi celebrated?

· 10 facts about Holi

What is Holi?

Let’s start with the essentials. Holi is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in India, Nepal, and other countries with large Hindu populations. The spring festival marks the end of winter and is best known for the brightly coloured powders people throw over each other.

Dancing, singing, and food are also big parts of the joyous festival.

When is Holi?

Holi is generally celebrated the day after the full moon in February or March each year. The date of Holi changes each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2024, Holi festival will be celebrated on 24 and 25 March.

What is the history of Holi?

Why is Holi celebrated? Holi festival was originally identified as a celebration of agriculture, fertile land and fruitful spring harvests. Its religious origins start with the story of Holika, which signifies the victory of good over evil.

Other origin stories of Holi reference Krishna, who was the king of the ancient city of Dwarka. He used to play games by throwing water and colours, and the cultural tradition spread throughout the years.

How is Holi celebrated?

Holi begins the night before with what is called the Holika bonfire, where people sing and dance to drums, or dholaks.

Holi celebrations typically last for two full days and, unsurprisingly, are full of colour! Adults and children alike will carry and throw powders and liquid colours all over family and friends in the streets. Don’t worry, the Holi powder is completely safe. It’s made of non-toxic and allergy-free ingredients, so it’s not harmful to people or the environment.

Each colour means something different. For example, red symbolises love and fertility, blue represents Krishna, the Hindu god, and yellow represents happiness and peace.

After the fun and excitement, it’s time to eat and drink some delicious delicacies of the festival. A popular Holi treat is Puran Poli, a sweet flatbread made with a tasty dal stuffing.

10 facts about Holi

1) One of the best-known Holi delicacies is Ghujiya, a deep-fried, dumpling-like pastry filled with sweet khoa, dried fruit and nuts.

2) Thandai is a traditional drink to enjoy during Holi. It’s made from almonds, poppy seeds, fennel seeds, melon seeds, rose petals, peppercorns, cardamon, milk, and saffron.

3) Bhangra is a traditional Punjabi dance often performed during Holi to the beat of a drum.

4) Holi is named after Holika in Hindu mythology, the demon sister of evil King Hiranyakashyap who was defeated and burned in the bonfire.

5) The colourful powders thrown during Holi are usually made from natural ingredients like corn flour and rice flour.

6) In Nepal, Holi is known as Fagu Purnima.

7) Holi isn’t just based on one story – there are several mythical stories behind the origins of Holi festival.

8) Holi celebrations can last up to two weeks, with cities hosting processions and musical showcases.

9) To prevent staining from coloured powders, some people apply oil or moisturiser to their skin and hair to make it easier to remove later.

10) Bhang is a traditional milk-based drink during Holi festival infused with cannabis leaves.

Send money for Holi

Want to celebrate Holi festival with loved ones across the world? Even if you can’t be together in person this year, you can make their celebrations a little brighter with a gift of money. Send money to India from the UK or to other parts of the world with Western Union. Make convenient and reliable money transfers online, using our app, or in-store at an agent location. To get started, you just need to sign in or register for a free account.

You can even track your transfer using your 10-digit MTCN, so you’ll know when your gift has reached your loved ones. Send money for Holi.