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The Most Colorful Holiday in the World

It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, old or young. On Holi, everyone gets messy. 

March 2022
by Tod Olson

Bartosz Hadyniak/Getty Images

    Have you ever wished you could spend a whole day in a giant water gun fight? 

    Now, suppose you get to color the water with dye. And you can fire at anyone you meet. Your parents, your teachers, that kid who always fouls you on the soccer field—they’re  all fair game. By the end of the day, everyone is stained in bright blues, yellows, and reds.

    Each spring, this color war happens all over India. It’s part of a festival called Holi [HOH-lee]. People come together to mark the end of winter and celebrate the harvest season. 

    During Holi, you apologize for bad things you’ve done. You tell your friends you love them. You forgive your enemies. And you wear old clothes—because it always gets messy.

    Have you ever wished you could be part of a giant water gun fight? 

    Now, suppose you get to color the water with dye. And you can fire at anyone. You can soak your parents. You can soak your teachers. You can soak that kid who always fouls you on the soccer field. By the end of the day, everyone is stained blue, yellow, and red.

    Every spring, this color war takes place in India. It’s part of a festival called Holi [HOH-lee]. People gather to mark the end of winter and kick off the harvest season.

    During Holi, you say you’re sorry for bad things you’ve done. You tell your friends you love them. You forgive your enemies. And you wear old clothes. After all, it gets messy.

    Have you ever wished you could spend an entire day in a massive water gun fight?

    Now, imagine that you get to color the water with dye—and fire at anyone you meet, from your parents to your teachers to that kid who always fouls you on the soccer field. By the end of the day, everyone is stained in vibrant blues, yellows, and reds.

    Each spring, this color war happens all over India. It’s part of a festival called Holi [HOH-lee], in which people come together to mark the end of winter and celebrate the harvest season.

    During Holi, you apologize for bad things you’ve done. You tell your friends you love them. You forgive your enemies. And you wear old clothes—because it always gets messy.

Color War

Jim McMahon/Mapman ® 

    Holi is an ancient festival that goes back at least 1,700 years. It has its roots in Hinduism, the most common religion in India. 

    The Holi festival starts the night before the color war. People collect wood and build bonfires. They circle the fire, hoping for evil to be burned away.

    The next day, the fun begins. Everyone crowds into the streets. Adults smear each other with bright powders called gulal [goo-LAHL]. Young people cruise around on motorbikes armed with water guns. Kids bomb each other with balloons filled with colored water.

    Where does this joyous tradition come from? One legend claims it started with the Hindu god Krishna. He drank poison milk as a baby, which turned his skin blue. When he grew up, Krishna fell in love with a woman named Radha. He worried that she wouldn’t like his blue skin—so Radha let him color her skin too.

    Holi has been around for at least 1,700 years. It has its roots in Hinduism. That’s the most common religion in India.

    Holi starts the night before the color war. People build bonfires. They want evil to be burned away.

    The next day, the fun starts. Crowds fill the streets. Adults rub bright powders on each other. Young people carry water guns. Kids throw balloons filled with colored water.

    Why do people do this? Some say it started with the Hindu god Krishna. He drank poison milk as a baby. The milk turned his skin blue. When he grew up, Krishna fell in love with a woman named Radha. He worried that she wouldn’t like his blue skin. So she let him color her skin too.

    Holi is an ancient festival that goes back at least 1,700 years. It has its roots in Hinduism, the most common religion in India.

    Holi starts the night before the color war. People collect wood and build bonfires. They circle the fire, hoping for evil to be burned away.

    The following day, the fun begins. Everyone crowds into the streets. Adults smear each other with bright powders called gulal [goo-LAHL]. Young people cruise around on motorbikes, armed with water guns. Kids bomb each other with balloons filled with colored water.

    Where does this joyous tradition come from? According to one legend, it started with the Hindu god Krishna. He drank poison milk as a baby, which turned his skin blue. When he grew up, Krishna fell in love with a woman named Radha. He worried that she wouldn’t like his blue skin—so Radha let him color her skin too.

Anything Goes

    Today, Holi is a time to celebrate love by spreading color. It’s also a time to break down barriers between people. For one day, it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, old or young. By the end, everyone is covered with colored dye. 

    In India, there’s a saying: Bura na mano, Holi hai. It means Don’t be offended, it’s Holi.

    This year, Holi happens on March 18. If you’re going to join in, be ready for anything. 

    And leave your favorite shirt at home.

    Today, Holi is a time to celebrate love. And it’s a time when people are all the same. You can be rich or poor. You can be old or young. You still get covered with dye.

    In India, there’s a saying: Bura na mano, Holi hai. It means Don’t be offended, it’s Holi.

    This year, Holi is on March 18. Want to join in? Then be ready for anything.

    And leave your favorite shirt at home. 

    Today, Holi is a time to celebrate love by spreading color. It’s also a time to break down barriers between people. For one day, it doesn’t matter whether you’re rich or poor, old or young—everyone gets covered with colorful dye.

    In India, there’s a saying: Bura na mano, Holi hai. It means Don’t be offended, it’s Holi.

    This year, Holi happens on March 18. If you’re going to join in, be ready for anything.

    And leave your favorite shirt at home. 

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Where in the World
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Social Studies, Culture
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Nonfiction
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