Every Spring many people across the world celebrate the festival of Holi. It is a "Festival of Colours," synonymous with renewed joy and a mental reset. The day of Holi or Phagwah is on the full moon day of the Vedic Calendar month of Phalguna. As it marks the end of winter and the beginning of Spring, it is an important annual festival which holds spiritual and societal significance for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and various other groups. This year, Holi or Phagwah is celebrated on March 14, 2025.
For Hindus, Holi is a unifying festival of the eternal love of Shri Krishna and Radha who are known to be the incarnations of Divine love. It is a reminder of the shared humanity of all despite our differences. For many, Holi is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, devotion over ambition and the fertility of the earth.
For Sikhs, Hola Mohalla is a vibrant Sikh festival that celebrates martial arts, music, and community, typically observed a day after the Hindu festival of Holi. This annual event was initiated by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, in 1701 in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, to promote physical and spiritual strength among the Sikh warriors.
Holi is traditionally known as the "festival of colour" because the sprinkling of coloured powder (gulal) , scented coloured water (abeer), flower petals, and water balloons containing gulal are tossed at friends and neighbours in the spirit of fun. Indian drums (dhola) and songs often accompany the festivities
Holi is considered a religious, cultural and spring festival of colour that is widely observed throughout the Indian Diaspora. It is usually celebrated with a great deal of zest and verve, as it is a time to remember the brightness and splendour of living, and a time to spread joy, colour and love.