Essay on Holi - Holi is known for the festivals of colours, joy, and new beginnings. India is known for its festivals which are a mix of several religions. Holi is one of the prominent festivals celebrated in India, not only in India but across the world. Everyone waits for the festival of colours eagerly. It is a festival of colours where people drench themselves in colours as part of the celebration. It’s a day filled with all fun, colours, and celebrations. Holi is also known as the Festival of colours or Festival of Spring. Holi is celebrated in March. As per the Hindu Calendar, it is celebrated on the full-moon night of the Hindu month of Phalgun (March). Read this Essay on holi with introduction and conclusion Essay to write a perfect essay. 

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Essay on Holi the Festival of Colors

Holi is one of the most lively and colorful festivals celebrated in India. Falling in the month of March every year, Holi commemorates the victory of good over evil. At its core, Holi symbolizes the arrival of spring, the end of winter, and the blessings of another harvest season.

The festivities usually last for 2 days, starting with a Holika Dahan on the Eve of Holi where people gather and light a bonfire to signify the burning of the demoness Holika. The following day is celebrated as Rangwali Holi or Dhuleti, which is the main day of festivities and colors. People of all ages dress in their best white or bright colored clothes and smear each other with powdered colors called 'gulal' while singing, dancing and enjoying sweets. The colored powder not only adds beautiful colors on faces but also symbolizes the acceptance of all people beyond the barriers of caste, race or skin color.

The air is filled with excitement, joy, music and sounds of laughter as people move from house to house, street to street sprinkling colors on each other. Water filled balloons and water guns are also used to drench others. By the end of Holi, the whole place wears a colorful look! As night falls, people light up sparklers and fireworks, adding to the revelry. The following day or in some places, the spirit of Holi continues where people meet, greet and enjoy tasty Holi specialties.

For Hindus, Holi signifies the arrival of spring and the end of winter. But beyond religion, it serves as a great festival to strengthen bonds of love, friendship and unity among people. The true spirit of Holi lies in forgetting past differences and celebrating life together in a spirit of brotherhood.

Essay on History of Holi

Holi is celebrated in remembrance of the victory of good over evil. It is the victory of Lord Vishnu devotee Prahalad over cruel king Hiranyakashyap. Prahalad is the son of king Hiranyakasyap, the chief of evils. Hiranyakasyap never had faith in God and is against all the Gods. But his son Prahalad is a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Prahalad is always in chanting and prayers of God. This act of Prahalad disgusted his father, Hiranyakasyap. He decided to kill his child. And made arrangements to burn him down with his sister Holika. She has a boon from Lord Brahma not to get burnt in the fire. She and her brother conspired to kill Prahalad by setting fire to Holika and Prahalad. Prahalad was chanting lord Vishnu shlokas in the blazing fire. Lord Vishnu saved little Prahalad, killing the demon king's sister Holika in the blazing fire. This day is celebrated as a good winning over evil.

The festival of Holi also marks the eternal and divine love of Radha Krishna. There’s also a story of Kama and Rati, where the love god Kamadeva was killed in bringing lord Shiva back to this world. Kamadeva’s wife, Rati, devastated by this, performs meditation for lord shiva. Shiva understands and restores the god of love. Some Hindu traditions believe in this story. But people across the country celebrate this day with colours to bring colours into their lives.

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Essay on Holi and Holika Dahan

Holi is celebrated at the arrival of spring and the end of winter. People come together, play and laugh, forget and forgive. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of Purnima in the month of ‘Phalgun’. The first evening is known as Holika Dahan. The following day is called Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dol Purnima, Dhuleti, Dhulandi, Ukuli, Manjal Kuli, Yaosang, Shigmo or Phagwah, Jajiri. Holi is also celebrated in other regions of Asia and parts of the Western world through the South Asian diaspora.

On the day of Holika Dahan, people gather and perform rituals in front of a bonfire and pray to god to destroy inner evil like the demon king's sister Holika is burnt. The next day, Holi, people celebrate in colours with fun. People smear each other with colours and play with colours. Coloured water guns and water-filled balloons are used to play and colour each other. People play irrespective of caste, creed, religion, and gender. People visit their families and relatives and celebrate together.

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Essay on Holi Rituals

Holi is an ancient festival with cultural rituals. It was also mentioned in Purana and Vedas. It was found explicitly in Puranas, Dasakumara Chaitra, and by the poet Kalidasa during the 4th-century reign of Chandragupta. It was also found in history archives of 7th century Sanskrit drama Ratnavali and many other books written by European traders who visited India. Rituals are performed as follows:

Preparation

Before the day of the festival, people gather wood and combustible materials for a bonfire in parks, temples, and at their homes. People perform this ritual to pray to god to kill inner evils by remembering the killing of the demon sister Holika. People in their homes fill up with pigments, food, drinks and festive seasonal dishes such as gujiya, mathri, malpuas and other regional delicacies.

Bonfire

On the day of Holika Dahan, typically at or after sunset, the pyre is lit, signifying Holika Dahan. People stand in front of the bonfire and observe it as part of tradition. Some people even throw useless things and materials into the bonfire for a good and fresh start in their lives.

Playing with Colours

Playing with colours is a crucial part in Holi. People enjoy playing with colours. Holi celebrations start the morning after the Holika Dahan. People use different colours to smear each other. People carry different tools like water guns (pichkaris), and water balloons filled with colours and dry colours and throw at each other. Children and young people celebrate this festival very passionately and have lots of fun. People use traditionally made colours out of turmeric, neem, dhak, and Kumkum. Nowadays, commercial colour usage has grown. It is like a water fight with coloured water. People have delicious foods and cold drinks; they eat and get drunk with traditional drinks such as Thandai, which is very famous in the Holi festivity.

Later in the day

After much joy and enjoyment on Holi, people greet each other the next day and exchange sweets. Holi is also believed to be a festival of forgiveness, where people forgive each other and start a new life. In some parts of Uttar Pradesh, people organize Kavi Sammelan in the evening after Holi.

Essay on Holi Conclusion

Holi is one of those festivals that no one wants to miss out on. Because it is the day all families, relatives and friends come together and enjoy. Holi is a favourite for everyone, especially children. It is one of the festivals which involves lots of fun and plays.

10 Points to Include in Holi Essay

Writing an essay with the help of some points becomes an easy task. Students can use the Holi essay in English 10 lines given below to write an essay on Holi with ease. Check out the outline for writing an essay on Holi. 

1. India is known for its festivals which are a mix of several religions. 
2. Holi is one of the prominent festivals celebrated in India, not only in India but across the world. 
3. It is a festival of colours where people drench themselves in colours as part of the celebration. 
4. Holi is also known as the Festival of colours or Festival of Spring.
5. Holi is celebrated in March. As per the Hindu Calendar, it is celebrated on the full-moon night of the Hindu month of Phalgun (March). 
6. Holi is celebrated at the arrival of spring and the end of winter.
7. People come together, play and laugh, forget and forgive. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of Purnima in the month of ‘Phalgun’.
8. The first evening is known as Holika Dahan. The following day is called Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dol Purnima, Dhuleti, Dhulandi, Ukuli, Manjal Kuli, Yaosang, Shigmo or Phagwah, Jajiri.
9. Before the day of the festival, people gather wood and combustible materials for a bonfire in parks, temples, and at their homes.
10. After much joy and enjoyment on Holi, people greet each other the next day and exchange sweets

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