Holi

[ hoh-lee ]

noun

1. the Hindu spring festival.

Holi

/ ˈhɒˌliː /

noun

1. a Hindu spring festival, celebrated for two to five days, commemorating Krishna's dalliance with the cowgirls. Bonfires are lit and coloured powder and water thrown over celebrants

Word History and Origins

Origin of Holi¹

1905–10; < Hindi holī < Prakrit holiyā < Skt holikā

Word History and Origins

Origin of Holi¹

named after Holika , legendary female demon

Example Sentences

The attendees throw colored powder around, not unlike the Hindu festival of Holi.

From The Daily Beast

More mihte do ure helende enne e holi word e he urh his mu spec.

From Project Gutenberg

Qui manducat corpus domini bibit c. Ech e understande holi husel 180 unwurliche he understant him seluen eche pine.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as the Holi festival is over the cultivators issue forth in thousands, armed with sickles, and begin to reap.

From Project Gutenberg

On this trip we came to the home of Holi, a rich and prominent native.

From Project Gutenberg

Here we were very kindly received and Holi presented Elder Steigerwald with a fine fat sheep.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Holi

What is Holi?

Holi is a two-day Hindu spring festival that’s primarily celebrated in India. It’s especially known for festive street celebrations in which people cover each other with colored powder.

Holi is pronounced the same as the word holy.

It’s sometimes known as the Festival of Colors.

When is Holi?

In 2024, Holi takes place on March 24 and March 25. In 2025, Holi takes place on March 13 and 14.

Holi begins on the day of the full moon in the month of Phalgun on the Hindu calendar. This means that it can fall in February or March.

Where does Holi come from?

The first records of the word Holi in English come from the early 1900s. It comes from the Sanskrit word Holikā, the name of a demon whose story is important to the festival.

Holi is an ancient festival whose traditions have been shaped by many stories from Hindu scriptures. The bonfires that are lit on the first night of Holi are often associated with the story of the victory of the god Vishnu over the demon Hiranyakashipu and his sister Holika, which is seen as a triumph of good over evil.

The Holi tradition of festivalgoers merrily covering each other with colored powder is thought to be based on the story of the god Krishna painting the skin of Radha, the milkmaid who becomes his consort.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing Holi?

• India
• Hinduism
• festival
• color
• powder
• celebrate
• Radha
• Krishna
• Vishnu

How is Holi discussed in real life?

Holi is popularly associated with the colorful street celebrations involving the festive throwing of colored powder.

Celebrated Holi with my family and friends! #HappyHoli pic.twitter.com/a7QHquUt97

— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) March 10, 2020

Throwback to the time when @ZacksJerryRig and I celebrated Holi together. pic.twitter.com/D9FS77dTFb

— Sheik Yerbouti (@samosa__mimosa) February 6, 2021

Karyakartas of @ABVPMumbai celebrated Holi with National Organising Secretary Shri @SunilAmbekarM ji at ABVP Central Office in Mumbai today. pic.twitter.com/r1WDdzC6mO

— ABVP (@ABVPVoice) March 21, 2019

Try using Holi!

True or False?

Holi takes place in the Hindu month of Phalgun.