The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships, and is also celebrated as a thanks giving for a good harvest.
It lasts for two days starting on thePurnima(Full Moon day) falling in theBikram Sambat Hindu Calendar month ofFalgun, which falls somewhere between the end of February and the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar.
The first day is known asHolika Dahan(हॊलिका दहन) orChhoti Holiand the second asRangwali Holi,Dhuleti,DhulandiorDhulivandan.
Holi is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities outside Asia.
It is celebrated at the approach of the spring equinox, on the Phalguna Purnima(Full Moon). The festival date, which is determined by theHindu calendar, varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar, typically coming in March, sometimes in February.
It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, and their diaspora in other regions of the world. In recent years the festival has spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love, frolic, and colours.
Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with aHolika bonfirewhere people gather, do religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil should be destroyed as the bonfire starts.
The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi - a free-for-all carnival of colours, where participants play, chase and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water, with some carrying water guns and coloured water-filled balloons for their water fight.