Essay on Holi

Holi is the festival of colours. It is celebrated in March, on the full moon day of the month of Phalguna, when winter ends and spring begins. On the evening before Holi, people light a bonfire called Holika Dahan. It reminds us of the story of the young devotee Prahlad, who was saved from the fire while the wicked Holika was burnt. The next morning everyone comes out to play. People put gulal on one another, splash coloured water, sing, dance and eat sweets such as gujiya. On this day nobody is rich or poor, old or young; all faces carry the same colours. We should play Holi with safe, natural colours, save water and never force colour on anyone.

Holi is one of the most cheerful festivals of India. It is called the festival of colours, and it arrives in March with the spring season. The fields are green, the weather is pleasant, and people are ready to celebrate after the long winter.

The festival begins on the night of the full moon with Holika Dahan. People collect wood and light a bonfire. The fire recalls an old story. King Hiranyakashipu wanted everyone to worship him, but his own son Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. The king's sister Holika sat in a fire with Prahlad on her lap, believing that the fire could not harm her. Prahlad came out safe, and Holika was burnt. The bonfire tells us that truth and faith win in the end.

The next day is the day of colours. From the morning, children run about with pichkaris and packets of gulal. Friends and neighbours visit one another, apply colour, hug and say "Happy Holi". Drums are played and folk songs are sung. In every home there are special foods: gujiya, dahi vada, malpua and cool thandai. By afternoon everyone bathes, wears clean clothes and rests, and in the evening people meet again to exchange sweets.

The Holi of Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana, the land linked with Lord Krishna and Radha, is famous, and people come from far away to see it.

Holi must be played with care. Cheap chemical colours can harm the skin and eyes, so we should use herbal gulal or flower colours. Water is precious; a dry Holi with gulal is just as much fun. We must not throw colour on people who do not want it, or on animals.

Holi washes away differences. For one day, everyone looks alike under the colours. If we carry that feeling of friendship through the year, the festival has done its work.