Key takeaways
- Holi is the Hindu festival of colours. It marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil.
- Its best-known story is about Prahlad, a boy whose faith stayed strong against his cruel father, King Hiranyakashipu, and his aunt Holika.
- On the night before Holi, families light a bonfire called Holika Dahan to remember how goodness survived the fire.
- The next day, people throw coloured powder, share sweets and make up old quarrels.
- Holi falls on the full moon (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which usually comes in March. In 2027, Holika Dahan is on Sunday 21 March and the colours are played on Monday 22 March.
What is the story of Holi?
The story of Holi is the story of Prahlad, a young prince who would not give up what he believed was right. It comes from the Hindu scriptures known as the Puranas and is told to children across India and around the world every spring.
A king who wanted to be worshipped
Long ago there lived a demon king called Hiranyakashipu. He had been granted a special blessing, or boon, that made him very hard to kill: no man or animal could harm him, by day or by night, indoors or outdoors, on the ground or in the sky. The boon made him proud. He decided he was greater than the gods and ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him alone.
Prahlad’s faith
Hiranyakashipu’s own son, Prahlad, refused. Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and prayed to him every day. His father tried persuasion, then threats, then punishment. Each time, Prahlad stayed calm, kept his faith and came to no harm. The more he was tested, the more the people around him saw that his courage came from something stronger than fear.
Holika and the fire
The king turned to his sister, Holika. She had a gift of her own: a cloak, or in some tellings a blessing, that kept her safe from fire. Their plan was cruel. Holika would sit in a great fire with Prahlad on her lap, and the flames would burn the boy while she stayed unharmed.
Prahlad sat in the fire and kept repeating Vishnu’s name. As the flames rose, the protection left Holika and covered Prahlad instead. Holika was burned, and Prahlad walked out of the fire unhurt.
How the story ends
Hiranyakashipu’s anger grew until Vishnu appeared as Narasimha, half man and half lion. He came at dusk, which is neither day nor night, on the threshold of the palace, which is neither indoors nor outdoors, and held the king on his lap, which is neither the ground nor the sky. Every condition of the boon was met, and the king’s reign of fear was over. Prahlad went on to become a wise and gentle ruler.
What is Holika Dahan?
Holika Dahan is the bonfire lit on the evening before Holi. It remembers the night Holika burned and Prahlad was saved. Families gather round the fire, say prayers, walk around it and offer grains, coconut or sweets. For many people it is also a moment to let go of anger, jealousy or anything else they want to leave behind as the new season begins. The fire stands for a simple idea that children understand straight away: what is false and harmful does not last, and what is true comes through.
Why do people throw colours at Holi?
The colours come from a second, playful Holi story about Lord Krishna. As a boy, Krishna worried that his dark blue skin made him look different from Radha, who was fair. His mother, Yashoda, laughed and told him to colour Radha’s face any shade he liked. Krishna did, and the game of colouring each other became part of the festival.
On Holi morning, people of every age run through the streets with gulal (coloured powder) and water. Friends, neighbours and strangers are all fair game. For one day, differences of age, wealth and background matter less than sharing the fun.
What do the colours mean?
| Colour | What it stands for |
|---|---|
| Red | Love and joy. Red is also used at weddings and other happy occasions. |
| Yellow | Health and new beginnings. Traditional yellow comes from turmeric. |
| Blue | Lord Krishna, whose skin is shown as blue. |
| Green | Spring, growth and fresh starts. |
| Pink | Friendship and kindness. |
Why is Holi celebrated in spring?
Holi falls on the full moon of Phalguna, the last month of the Hindu calendar, which usually comes in March. In much of India this is when winter ends and the spring harvest is gathered. That is why Holi is also a festival of thanks for the food the land provides, and why it feels like a fresh start: the cold months are over, the fields are full and the year is turning.
What does Holi teach children?
At Sai School we explore five human values every Saturday: truth, right conduct, peace, love and non-violence. The Holi stories give families an easy way to talk about them at home.
- Truth: Prahlad would not pretend to believe something he did not believe, even when it put him in danger.
- Right conduct: he kept doing what was right without becoming cruel himself.
- Peace: he stayed calm under pressure. Ask your child how they stay calm when things feel unfair.
- Love: the colours of Holi are shared with everyone, friends and strangers alike.
- Non-violence: Holi is a time to forgive, make up after arguments and start again.
How can families celebrate Holi at home?
- Tell the story. Read the story of Prahlad aloud and ask your child which part they found bravest.
- Make natural colours. Turmeric mixed with a little flour makes yellow, beetroot juice makes pink and dried spinach or mint powder makes green. They are gentle on skin and easy to wash out.
- Play safely. Choose skin-safe colours, rub a little oil into hair and skin beforehand and keep powder away from eyes.
- Share something sweet. Gujiya, a sweet dumpling filled with milk solids and nuts, and thandai, a spiced milk drink, are traditional Holi treats.
- Make up. Holi is the day to say sorry and start afresh. Ask everyone at home to name one thing they want to leave behind with the bonfire.
Frequently asked questions
What is the story of Holi about?
The story of Holi is about Prahlad, a boy who stayed loyal to Lord Vishnu even though his father, King Hiranyakashipu, demanded to be worshipped instead. When the king’s sister Holika tried to burn Prahlad in a fire, she was burned and Prahlad survived. The story celebrates the victory of good over evil.
Who was Holika?
Holika was Hiranyakashipu’s sister. She was protected from fire and tried to use that protection to kill Prahlad. The protection passed to Prahlad instead, and Holika died in the flames. The bonfire on the night before Holi, Holika Dahan, is named after her.
When is Holi?
Holi falls on the full moon (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Phalguna, usually in March. Holika Dahan takes place the evening before, and the colours are played the next morning. In 2027, Holika Dahan is on Sunday 21 March and Holi is on Monday 22 March. The date changes each year with the lunar calendar, and local temples sometimes mark it a day apart, so check with yours.
Why are colours thrown at Holi?
The colours come from the story of young Krishna playfully colouring Radha’s face. Today they stand for joy, friendship and the arrival of spring, and for one day they bring people of every age and background together.
What does Holi teach us?
Holi teaches that truth and goodness last, that courage can be quiet and that it is always possible to forgive and begin again. These are the same values children explore at Sai School every Saturday.