Holi Festival rituals, traditions, puja, food

As per mythology, the festival of Holi has got its name from Holika, the sister of King Hiranyakashyap. The King wanted everyone to worship him, but his own son Prahlad only revered Lord Vishnu. Hence the King wanted his sister to take Prahlad into a fire and burn him...Know more about the legend of Holi.

Chhota Holi traditions

In keeping with the above-mentioned legend, a traditional fire is burnt on the night of the Holi festival to indicate a destruction of all evil by all that is good. This ritual is known as Holika Dahan and involves burning an effigy of Holika. The day is also popularly called Chhota Holi (small Holi). Sometimes an official priest presides over the traditional fire, chanting the specific Rig Veda mantras. A coconut is thrown into the fire as an offering. Some people also smear the ashes left from the fire the next day, as a kind of purification of the body since the ashes are considered to be holy.

A stack of dry hay and twigs built in preparation for the traditional Holi bonfire (though could not understand the reason for decorating it with roses!)

Closeup of the coconuts at the very top

Radha-Krishna Holi: Festival of Colours

The main festival of Holi is an evening festival and involves the rituals mentioned above. It is the next day that Dhulibandhan, the throwing of colours, is celebrated. This playing with colours is also rooted in the Hindu legend of Lord Krishna playing with colours, playfully throwing colour on his friends and his sweetheart Radha & her friends (gopis). 

Enjoy a safe Holi by using natural organic colours:

How to make natural colours for Holi at home

There are many traditional Holi bhajans, such as:

नंदी  केसे  खेले  अनोखी  होली  शाम  के

या  हरी  में  खो  गयी  रे  मेरे  पायल  पाव  के
अवही  ने i गडाही मेने  बहुतक  दाम  के 

नंदी  केसे  खेले  अनोखी  होली  शाम  के
धुम सही  न  जाये  सखी  रे  आदो  शाम  के
हरमत  लाग  जाये  इससे  होली  क्या  काम  के

नंदी  केसे  खेले  अनोखी  होली  शाम  के
रसे  बहुत  है  बुरी  सखी  रे , गोकुल  गावो  के
राग  डाले  चाप  लगाये, अपने  नाम  के

नंदी  केसे  खेले  अनोखी  होली  शाम  के
यह  हरी  है  अजर  अमर , गोवार्दन  धाम  के
मित्रे  मंडले खुश  रही , सब  हर  नए  साल  के

नंदी  केसे  खेले  अनोखी  होली  शाम  के

The day of throwing colours and water balloons also has an unusual aspect to it. Known as शिमगा in Marathi, on this day you can curse anybody! Whatever cuss words are said are said in a spirit of fun and no genuine hurt is meant. Hence the Hindi words “Bura na mano, Holi hai!” (don’t feel bad, it is Holi!) are often said after throwing colour or a water balloon!

Holi Festival Cuisine 

Stacks of Puranpolis for sale in a shop

Every festival has a special sweetmeat or sweet dish. Thus we have tilgul for maker sankranti, modaks for Ganesh Chaturthi, karanjis for Diwali, etc. So also, the unique sweet item for the festival of Holi is puranpoli. In southern States, this is known as Holige or Obbattu.

The stuffing is known as puran and the outer cover is known as poli. Ingredients for puran poli are: (i) channa dal (yellow gram); (ii) jaggery; (iii) cardamom powder; (iv) plain flour; (v) ghee; (vi) warm water.

In South India, there are 2 versions of the stuffing. In one, known as Kaayi Holige, grated coconut is used as a stuffing with the jaggery. In another version, known as Hoorna Holige the coconut is substituted with boiled chickpeas lentil. 

Puran poli is generally served with a big dollop of homemade ghee on it. 

Holi Festival Drinks

Bhang: this is a drink unique to the festival of Holi. Made from a mixture of milk and the leaves & flowers of the cannabis plant, it is generally flavoured slightly with cardamom, nutmeg and cloves and a bit of rosewater. Many people, though, drink the brew as it is, without any flavoured add-ons. It gives a crazy high and people who drink excess bhang totally go down under. In northern States, the bhang is mixed with a variety of ingredients, such as watermelon seeds, almonds, sugar, saunf, etc. and the drink is known as Thandai. 

Please do not drink bhang / thandai in excess and please do not drink and drive

Holi pichkaris


Holi SMS greetings in Hindi


Holi SMS greetings in English