Holi: A Festival of Colours

Holi festival will be celebrated on March 4 in 2026.

Holika Dahan is to be done on March 3, in the evening, from 6:29 to 8:54 PM as per Drik Panchang calculations. But, due to a lunar eclipse on that day, many people are celebrating the Holika Dahan on the evening of 2nd March.

Holi is known as the 'Festival of Colours'. It is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated all over the world today. It is mostly celebrated by Hindus in India and Nepal through large-scale social gatherings, playing with colors, distributing and eating lots of sweets, and spending the occasion with friends and relatives in great joy and happiness.

Colors for Holi

Holi marks the arrival of the spring season, which is full of freshly blossoming flowers and shades of nature. Holi literally means "it has stepped in". So, it refers to the process of stepping into the pleasant Spring season.

The Holi festival begins with the burning of Holika on the eve of Phalgun Purnima each year, which is treated as the last day of the year in the solar-based Hindu calendar, followed mostly by North Indians. The New Year begins for them the next day (the day following Purnima). So it is celebrated as a festival of spring and colors to mark the end of the gloomy winter and the beginning of a new year with new hopes and joy.

According to the English Gregorian calendar, this festival normally falls in the first half of March every year.  

The Stories Behind Holi Festival

There are many stories associated with the celebration of this festival.

The Story of Female Demon Holika

It was a belief that Holika was the sister of a great demon king, Hiranyakashipu, the father of Prahlada. Prahlada was a devotee of Lord Narayana. Hiranyakashipu did not like this. He had conquered the whole world with his strength and forced all to worship him, destroyed all temples, and beheaded those not follow his orders. Prahlada was not afraid of him and continued his devotion to Lord Narayana. So after trying all kinds of punishments to change his mind, the king orders his sister Holika to burn him in the fire by sitting herself in a pyre of fire holding him on her lap. Holika had a gift that fire would not destroy her. But due to Prahlad's devotion towards God, when she sits on the pyre holding him, he gets saved, and Holika dies as her magical power gets lost. 

The demon king, Hiranyakashyap, is also killed after some time by God in the form of Narasimha (a half-lion, half-human God). To celebrate this victory of good over evil, the festival of Holi began to be celebrated by all people.

It was believed that Holika got burnt on the Purnima day of the Phalgun month. So people began celebrating the Holika dahan on Purnima evening and the next day as the arrival of the New Year.

The Story of Putana, Another Female Demon 

It is believed that Lord Krishna's maternal uncle, Kansa, was a demon, and Krishna took birth to kill him and other demons. So Kansa tried all his means to kill Krishna, even when he was a child. He sent the demoness Putana to feed poisonous milk to Krishna, who was growing in Gokul under the care of Yashoda and Nandgopan, to kill him. But Lord Krishna knew her intention, and when she came in a human form to breastfeed him, he sucked out all her blood along with the milk and killed her. So, to mark the death of evil demons, Holi came to be celebrated.

The Story of Kamadeva or Manmatha (The Cupid or Love God)

It is said that once Kamadeva tried to unite Lord Shiva and Parvati using his Cupid arrows when Lord Shiva was depressed and had abandoned all his duties after being ill-treated at the Daksha Yagna by his consort Sati's father. As the whole world was in danger, the celestial angels sent Kamadeva to use his Cupid arrows and thus instil love in Shiva's heart towards Parvati (who was the reborn Sati). But Shiva became very angry and burned him to ashes. Thereafter, he cooled down when Kamadeva's wife informed him of the reason behind Kamadeva's actions. and gave him rebirth with the condition that he would be visible only to her. 

Later, Shiva married Parvati (who was Sati in a previous life) at the request of Brahma, Vishnu, and the angels. So Holi is celebrated as a Cupid festival.

The Story of (Fair) Radha and (Black) Krishna 

According to another story, Lord Krishna turned black after drinking poisonous milk. Because he was a naughty child, he repeatedly questioned his mother, Yashoda, about why he was black while Radha was so soft and fair. Frustrated by his repeated questions, she told him to go to Radha, and if he was so worried about her beauty, to apply any color to her face to satisfy himself. Accordingly, Krishna went to her and played with colors on her. This incident also gave rise to the celebration of Holi with colors for many days by young women and couples.

How to Celebrate Holi

Burning the Holika Bonfire

The previous night celebration is known as "Holika Dahan". 
Dry leaves and branches from trees and bushes are collected at empty road centers and in colonies, and a replica of the demon Holika is placed on them. These huge pyres are normally prepared by starting the collection of material 15 days before Holi itself, so the pyre becomes large by the day of the Bonfire. They may even add dry shrubs and branches to make a big fire with high flames visible all around. The pyre is lit on the evening before midnight of Purnima, which falls just before the actual day of the Holi festival. People experience the joy of burning the demon Holika and shout the slogans of "Ra..Ra..Ra... Holi Hi..." and some of them may dance to erotic songs around the fire. They also eat sweets to mark the end of bad days and evil.

Playing With the Colors

The next day, the actual day of Holi, people get ready early in the morning to play with colors. Women are also free to enjoy this day without any restrictions and to play with colors alongside men. By 8 o'clock or even earlier in the morning, they leave their homes to play colors on the streets and in their neighborhood houses.

Most people go around in groups and mobs, carrying buckets of colors mixed with water and using spray pumps to sprinkle the colored water over people's bodies.

People wear old clothes for the purpose of playing with colors. 

Some women and children keep buckets of colored water at their doorsteps or on terraces and balconies, and sprinkle water on passers-by and enjoy the occasion. Some people avoid colors and stay within their homes. But, most of them play with dry colors by applying the colors (mostly called avir or abir) on the foreheads and sprinkling dry gulal powder slightly on their bodies as a custom. (The red powder is "avir," and the rose one is "gulal," which can be spotted in both of the above images.) The play with colors continues normally up to noon. Then they return home and take a full bath, washing those colors from their bodies. Some people used to play with paints, oils, and grease previously. But they have become civilized nowadays and stopped doing so, even though some close acquaintances take pleasure in playing with paint even nowadays.

Celebrating the Festival

A famous sweet, "Gujiya."

People wear new clothes after taking a bath and take food along with sweets. Many special dishes are prepared on this occasion. The most important of them being gujiya, matari, potato chips, papads, ordinary salt puri and sweet puri, kheer, and many other dishes of veg and non-veg as per their liking.

Many people attend temples along with children and family, and the temples will be overcrowded with devotees, mostly in the evening, wearing colorful, dazzling clothes. Then they pay visits to their neighbors' and friends' houses, and those people also come to their homes and meet each other with love and joy, eat sweets and savories at each other's house, and enjoy the occasion fully up to midnight. When they go for visits, they take the avir also with them and apply it to the foreheads of family members there. In return, they also do the same thing.

The "Holi Milan," as it is called, the visiting of each other's houses, continues for many days after the festive day is over, as it will not be possible to pay visits to all the homes in one single day. So they pay visits as per their convenience and exchange greetings.

Maha Shivaratri | A Most Popular Hindu Festival of Religious Faith

Maha Shivaratri is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Hindus and, especially by the Shaivites in particular, which displays their utter religious faith and spirituality.

This auspicious occasion falls every year on the fourteenth day or Chaturdashi day of New Moon fortnight during the Hindu month of Magha ( it is Phalguna or Phaagun for north Indians). It is generally in the middle of February or the beginning of March month as per the English calendar.




The Stories Behind Maha Shivaratri

It is believed that Lord Shiva is very much fond of this night and he appeared in the linga form (just like a pillar with no form) during this auspicious night. So people began worshipping him in this form from that day every year to celebrate this great occasion.

Another story is that when the milky ocean was being churned to obtain nectar by the angels and devils so as to attain immortality, poison got produced from the ocean before the nectar, and Lord Shiva came to the rescue by swallowing the poison on this night and saved the people of earth from poison. So to celebrate this occasion, they started celebrating this Maha Shivaratri on this day.



There are many more stories regarding the reasons for observing this festival on this day like Goddess Parvati observing penance on this day to please and cool Lord Shiva who was performing pralaya tandava (dance) for the destruction of the whole world and another story narrating that the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati took place on this day.


Whatever, the story behind this, this Maha Shivaratri is considered as an auspicious day and whoever keeps penance or performs puja on this night with true devotion to God is said to attain moksha by getting relieved from all sins and with no further birth.


How to Do Shivaratri Puja

On this day, people get up early before morning and bathe in the holy waters before sunrise wherever they are in reach of holy rivers like Ganga, Jamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, etc. and other holy lakes and ponds of temples. A dip in holy waters is regarded as most important on all Hindu festivals for purifying the body and soul. Wherever there is no access to such places, they may bathe in their homes and purify themselves.

• After taking the bath, they wear clean clothes and most of the devotees flock to the temples taking holy water, milk or green coconuts.
• They apply the holy ash or vermillion to their foreheads before going to temples or on reaching the temples (if the same is not kept at their homes).  
• In the temple, the devotees perform abhisheka (the act of bathing a divine being) to the Shiva Linga by pouring the water, milk, and coconut water.

• Abhisheka is done with curd and ghee also. 
• After bathing the Shiva Linga with all these holy waters, Vermillion, sandalwood powder, turmeric, and kumkum are applied to the Shiva Linga and worship with flowers and bel leaves.
• After worship, some special puddings, sweets, fruits, and honey are also offered to God as Naivedya.

Most devotees keep fast on this whole day. They may take fruits and milk, etc. But some keep severe fast taking only water.

Worship is done by chanting the panchakshara mantra " Namah Shivaya" throughout the day.

During the night, they perform the Abhishek (pouring holy waters) either one time or four times with equal gaps.

Throughout the whole night, they keep waking and listening to or chanting the Shiva Purana and other hymns in praise of Lord Shiva. They may watch movies also based on the stories of Lord Shiva.


The Panchakshara Mantra and Slokas of Lord Shiva

The Shiva Panchakshara Mantra is made up of five Sanskrit vernaculars of 'na' ma' shi' va' ya'. When it is pronounced in a combined form it is spelled as "Namah: Shivaayah" by adding 'h' in spelling ma with shi and adding another h at the end.

It is believed to increase the effect of the panchakshara mantra by adding "om" in the beginning and "namaha" at the end, so the full mantra is chanted as follows:

"Om Namah Shivaya Namah" by adding the 'Omkaarnaada'  which is the essence of creation and, 'Namah' as offering reverence to God.

For Hindi and Telugu versions of Shiva Panchakshari lyrics and their meanings in English text, view at this link.

The panchakshara slokas are based on each of the five letters in the mantra "Namah Shivaya"

Shiva Panchakshara Stotram  ( slokas)

1) Nagendra haaraaya trilochanaaya
    bhasmangaragaya maheshwaraya
    nityaya suddhaya digambaraya
    tasmai nakaraya namah shivaya
2) mandakini salila chandana charchitaya
    nandishwara pramatha natha maheshwaraya
    mandara mukhya bahu pushpa supujitaya
    tasmai makaraya namah shivaya
3) Shivaya gauri vadan aravindaya
    suryaya dakshadhwara nashakaya
    shri neelakantaya vrishdhwajaya
    tasmai shikaraya namah shivaya
4) vashishta kumbha udbhava gautam adi
    munindra dev archita shekharaya
    chandra arka vaishvanara lochanaya
    tasmai vakaraya namah shivaya
5) yaksha swaroopaya jata dharaya
    pinaka hastaya sanaatanaya
    sudivya dehaya digambaraya
    tasmai yakaraya namah shivaya

It is the belief and confidence of the devotees that chanting of the Shiva Panchakshara mantra and the slokas with full faith and devotion leads them to self-realization and Moksha.

The sound "om" is considered as the original sound vibrating all over the universe controlling the creation, protection, and destruction of the whole universe. "Namaha" means 'not me' or 'not I'. It tells the fact that ' I ' or 'WE' are not the performers of actions or the enjoyers of results. It signifies that God is the performer and enjoyer of each act and its result.

For more details regarding stories of Shivratri and celebrations in various places of India and other countries, you may refer to other website clicking this link

"Om Namashshivaaya"             

Magical Words for Development of Good Personality

Pongal | Makar Sankranthi - A Festival of Hindu Culture and Traditions

Makar Sankranti is one of the most important festivals of Hindus celebrated all over India. It marks the beginning of Uttarayana or traveling of Sun towards the north.

Sun enters in the Makar Rashi on this auspicious day.  So, it is named as Makar Sankranti.

"Makar" means the zodiac sign of Capricorn and "Sankranthi" means the act of entrance.

Uttarayana is considered as a very auspicious period by the Hindus. This first day of Uttarayana is celebrated as Makar Sankranti. This festival falls on 14th January of each year as it is based on the solar calendar.

Makar Sankranti is celebrated traditionally by taking dips in holy Ganges water or other rivers and offering prayers to Sun and Shiva or Vishnu.

It is a belief that all sins get washed out by taking a bath in the holy rivers on this auspicious day and our soul directly reaches heaven after death.

On this festive occasion, people wear new clothes, cook Khichdi or Pongal with new rice adding some green gram dal or black gram dal. Some North Indians mix vegetables also in it.

They offer it to God and then consume it. All temples will be overcrowded this day with devotees offering special pujas.

Pongal Festival in Southern India

In Southern India, this festival is celebrated mainly for full four days as Bhogi, Thai Pongal or Sankranthi, Mattu Pongal or Kanuma, and Mukkanuma or kanum Pongal.


Bhogi and Bhogipallu Festival

The first day is celebrated as Bhogi. On this day people wake up early in the morning and take oil bath. They lit a fire in front of their houses dropping all waste clothes and other waste materials into it. It is a kind of shredding the old and beginning a new life. It makes the surroundings also neat and clean. Homes are washed neat and clean and door entrances are decorated by applying turmeric and kumkum at the bottom side of door frames. Rangolis (kolam or muggu) are drawn with colorful rice powder and lime mixed powders or chalk pieces or paints. Competitions also take place between neighbors in drawing the most beautiful attractive designs of rangoli.

In the center and corners of Rangoli, they place big pumpkin flowers over cow dung balls and dance around the rangoli singing Sankranthi songs. 

Houses with children celebrate this day by showering a mixture of Bhogi pallu or gooseberries(local berries), flowers, coins, rice, etc. on children's head to protect them from evil eyes or sights.

The whole scene looks very beautiful. These decorations of rangoli are done on all four days.


Sankranthi (Big Festival) or Thai Pongal

The second day is celebrated as Sankranthi big festival also known as Thai Pongal or Pongal. The Pongal dish is prepared on this day and offered to God. The temples are thronged by devotees. This is actually regarded as a harvest festival. Harvesting is over by this time and all homes are full of new grains. The Pongal is prepared with these new rice. The daughters and sons-in-law come home and get treated with love and affection and receive gifts from parents and brothers.



Mattu Pongal or Kanuma

The third day is celebrated as Kanuma or Mattu Pongal. Mattu Pongal is a Tamil word. 

This day is for worshipping the cattle. Cattle are of major help in agriculture. So as a thanksgiving, they are especially worshipped on this day by bathing them and decorating with love and respect. It is considered on Kanuma day by some traditions, especially in Andhra, that eating something prepared of black gram dal is a must on this day. Generally, people prepare vada (or 'Garelu' in Telugu) and eat them after offering to God. It is also thought by some that one who does not bathe on this day and does not eat vada will take birth as a crow in his next birth.


Mukkanuma or Kanum Pongal

The last day is Mukkanuma. On this day people enjoy picnics or eating special dishes in homes along with relatives or friends.

A sambar type preparation that is known as 'kolambu' in Tamil and 'pulusu' in Telugu languages is prepared which contains season's fresh vegetables and a bit of jaggery also besides toor dal and tamarind.

Due to this dish, this day is known as Mukkanuma.

Mukka means a piece of vegetable in the Telugu language. Some say mukka is a bit of Vada which is bitten on this day that has been prepared the previous day and so the name Mukkanuma.


On the whole, Sankranthi is a festival of mainly four days for most Hindus celebrated to mark the completion of harvesting season and thereby thanksgiving to God and cattle. Sons-in-law have their prominence during this festivity.


Vaishnava Sampradayam: Dhanurmasam

But, for the Vaishnava sampradaya people.this festival of Sankranthi is for one full month. They celebrate this occasion as Dhanurmasa.

Dhanurmasa is the period starting from the day of Sun entering the constellation of Dhanur Rasi or Sagittarius and ending on the day when Sun enters the constellation of Makar Rashi or Capricorn.

This is the period from 16th December to 14th January on most occasions.

During this one month, they wake up early mornings and after bathing, prepare the Pongal which is the dish of rice and green gram dal. After cooking, it is flavored with Ghee, black pepper, jeera(cumin), cashew nuts, etc. by burning slightly in Ghee on a light flame and mixing in the Pongal.

Puja is done to Vishnu Bhagwan by rendering Thiruppavai stanzas or 'pasurams'.

Thiruppavai is the creation of Goda Devi also known as 'Andal', 'Nachiyar' or "Chudi Kodutha Nachiyar".

She is one of the 12 Alwars or saints of Vaishnava sampradayam who lived at the start of Kaliyuga. She is the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi coming to earth to preach people how to attain happiness and supreme bliss through true worship and devotion. She worshipped Lord Vishnu in the shape of Ranganathaswamy and Sri Krishna. She used to offer flower garlands to God after testing them by wearing and looking into the mirror to ascertain that they are good. She rendered 30 pasurams or stanzas by reciting one on each day for thirty days during this dhanurmasam. In the end, she pleased Lord and married Him.

So, Vaishnava followers in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, celebrate this Dhanurmasam very traditionally. Pongal is prepared by wearing sacred clothes(washed and dried separately without touching them) or silken clothes. The dish also is prepared without touching other things. Pooja is performed and this Pongal is offered to God with true love and devotion. Then it is taken as prasadam. There are some special days during this month on which days sweet Pongal is prepared (with rice, green gram dal, and jaggery) in place of hot Pongal including the last day of Sankranthi. In the sweet Pongal, kismis(raisin) and elaichi(cardamom) are added in place of black pepper and cumin as topper mixing.


Many social events also take place on these days like kite flying, cockfights, bullock cart races, and bullfights or Jallikattu.

People bet on these events and earn money even though such gamblings are prohibited at many places. Cultural programmes and music concerts are also held at temples and public places and people enjoy the season very much in a holiday mood.

Wish You A Happy New Year

Each year, we start it with the greetings "Wish You A Happy New Year".


We want to be the first one to greet our friends, neighbor or the boss as we want to show up ourselves to be very smart.

We try to influence people by doing so, especially, if we are in need of some favors.


The second thing is, we try to celebrate our best by organizing bash new year parties or by attending them. We do not care about spending lavishly on such parties by drinking and merrymaking whatever might be the financial condition throughout the year.


But, I do not understand the lavish spending of money on New Year parties or on Deepavali crackers or on marriage parties.

Why all this extravaganza? Why so much is wasted to show up yourselves?


This lavishness of spending can be more usefully and generously spent for social causes and public welfare works.

There is so much of poverty all around you and so many people deprived of their bare necessities of life like food, clothing, shelter, education, and health.

Why can't we spend this money for such purposes of providing them food, education, and health?


I think that by generously contributing to such public welfare causes, we can get more satisfaction and a greater feeling of happiness than by spending unnecessarily on such bash parties and celebrations.


So, from this year on, let us try to save on parties and celebrations and spend a portion of that money for generous causes.

Let us wish for "A Happy New Year to the WHOLE HUMANITY".