Holi
BOOK OF DAYS · SPRING · HINDUISM
* This is a living tradition. What follows is an introduction for UU nonpractitioners — the Hindu community's own voices and teachers remain the authority on Holi.
The Story
Holi began as a spring festival of fertility and harvest and is referenced in 7th-century Sanskrit drama. Over centuries it absorbed several Hindu legends — most prominently the story of Prahlad and Holika, in which a devoted child is saved from a fire set by his aunt, an evil demoness who is burned in his place. The bonfires lit on Holi's eve recall this victory of devotion and goodness over cruelty.
The following morning people of every age and caste flood into the streets to throw colored powders and water, turning social boundaries temporarily inside out.
One of the main legends associated with Holi is the story of Prahlad and Holika, though most of the Holi focus on a joyous start of spring and the end of winter gloom.
This video tells the story of Holika. It is adapted for young children and removes the violence found in the myth.
How It's Observed
On the evening of the full moon, bonfires are lit in streets and courtyards to purify the air and mark the Holika story. The next day is for play — friends, strangers, and neighbors cover one another in brilliant powders called gulal, share sweets, sing, and dance. Traditional foods include gujiya (stuffed pastries) and thandai.
One of the main legends associated with Holi is the story of Prahlad and Holika, though most of the Holi focus on a joyous start of spring and the end of winter gloom.
This video tells the story of Holika. It is adapted for young children and removes the violence found in the myth.
Themes + Focus
A UU Lens
On the evening of the full moon, bonfires are lit in streets and courtyards to purify the air and mark the Holika story. The next day is for play — friends, strangers, and neighbors cover one another in brilliant powders called gulal, share sweets, sing, and dance. Traditional foods include gujiya (stuffed pastries) and thandai.
Resonant UU Principles
3) Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth
Shared Values
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Pluralism
Sources
1) Direct experience of transcending awe
3) Spiritual and ethical wisdom from the world’s religions
Connections + Further Reading
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