Holi (also called Phagwa in Bhojpuri) is an annual festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March). It celebrates spring, commemorates various events in Hindu mythology and is time of disregarding social norms and indulging in general merrymaking.

Holi is probably the least religious of Hindu holidays. During Holi, Hindus attend a public bonfire, spray friends and family with colored powders and water, and generally go a bit wild in the streets.

Holi has been celebrated all over India since ancient times. Originally, Holi was an agricultural festival celebrating the arrival of spring. This aspect still plays a significant part in the festival in the form of the colored powders. Holi is a time when man and nature end the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colors and liveliness of spring. There are various legends regarding Holi. It provides a temporary opportunity for Hindus to disregard social norms and to indulge in fun and frolic. It is also a time to forgive and forget our enmity. A time when we indulge in merry making with our friends and neighbors.

Holi is one of the oldest Hindu festivals. Various references are found in the sculptures on walls of old temples. A 16th century panel sculpted in a temple at Hampi, capital of Vijayanagar, shows a joyous scene depicting Holi where a prince and his princess are standing with maids waiting with syringes to drench the royal couple in colored water. A 16th century Ahmednagar painting is on the theme of Vasanta Ragini - spring song or music. It shows a royal couple sitting on a grand swing, while maidens are playing music and spraying colors with pichkaris (hand-pumps). A Mewar painting (circa 1755) shows the Maharana with his courtiers. While the ruler is bestowing gifts on some people, a merry dance is on, and in the center is a tank filled with colored water. A Bundi miniature shows a king seated on a tusker, and from a balcony above some damsels are showering gulal (colored powders) on him.

Usually people burn the Holika in the evening of Holi. The next day people have fun with colored water. On the day of Holi, everyone dresses in old clothes and go play with the colors. People are suddenly caught unawares with colors being poured from the terraces and roofs of houses, bursting balloons, or pichkaris (long pistons) squirting colored water. People in small groups are seen singing, dancing and throwing colors on each other. Some also eat food laced with bhang, an aphrodisiac that leaves one feeling light, happy, and reckless. Men, women and children all participate in this merry making. In the evening, people dress in their new clothes and visit friends and relatives. It is traditional to put dry abeer (colored powder) on peoples forehead and cheeks but carefully so the clothes are not ruined, embrace friends and seek elders' blessings. People share sweets and happiness with each other. This is a festival full of fun, frolic and joy.

The colors of Holi, called 'gulaal', in the old times were made at home, from the flowers of the 'tesu' or 'palash' tree, also called 'the flame of the forest'. These flowers, bright red or deep orange in color, were collected from the forest and spread out on mats, to dry in the sun, and then ground to fine dust. The powder when mixed with water made a beautiful saffron-red dye. This pigment and also 'aabir', made from natural colored talc, which were extensively used as Holi colors, are good for the skin, unlike the chemical colors of our days.