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What is Holi and How Do You Celebrate?

Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival which is celebrated yearly. Find out more about this important festival and how to celebrate yourself.

Beds SU

By Beds SU

Tuesday, 15 March 2022

A warm welcome to the “Festival of Love, Festival of colours and Festival of spring”.

Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival which is celebrated yearly. Holi received the name “festival of colours” from Lord Krishan, who is a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. His role is to return to the earth in troubled times and restore the balance of good and evil.

Holi takes place according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The festival begins with Holika Dahan on the night of the full moon (purnima) in March each year and concludes with the throwing of colours the following day. 

In 2022, Holika Dahan is on March 17, and Holi is on March 18. The festival happens a day earlier in West Bengal and Odisha, where it is celebrated on the same day as Holika Dahan.

How is it celebrated?

During Holi, People spend the day smearing coloured powder all over each other's faces, throwing coloured water at each other, having parties, and dancing under water sprinklers.

When looking at the festival of colours, each colour paint represents something different.

  • Yellow for knowledge 
  • Blue for determination 
  • Green for happiness 
  • Red for sensuality 

Celebrate with Beds SU

Beds SU is holding a Holi Festival of Colour on the Luton Campus. Find out more on our Events pages.

Find out more

If you wish to read more about the history and celebration of Holi, you can find lots of information on the Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India website.