1. Holi is one of the greatest festival of Hindus.
2. It is a festival of colours.
3. This festival falls on a full moon day in Phalgun Month of Hindu Calender.
4. Holi has its origin in India being a spring festival.
5. The story behind the Holi festival is that there was a king named Hiranyakashyap, he had a son, Prahlad, a holy spirit and highly devoted to God but Prahlad's devotion enraged Hiranyakashyap and he planned to kill his own son.
6. He asked her sister Holika, who was immune to fire, to sit in fire taking Prahlad in her lap. Fortunately Prahlad, who was blessed by Lord, was saved and Holika was burnt to ashes.
7. The name Holi comes from 'Holika', the sister of demon King 'Hiranyakashyap'.
8. It is a two-day festival. The first day is the bonfire night which is known as ‘Holika Dahan’ which is also known as ‘Choti Holi’ and the second day is when the main celebration with colours takes place.
9. Before smearing colours on one another people usually put a vertical line on each other’s forehead known as ‘Tilak’.
10. The festival of colours is also popular for a saying 'Bura na mano, Holi hai'. which means 'do not mind, it’s holi'.
11. After a fun filled and exciting day, the evenings are spent in sobriety when people meet friends and relatives and exchange sweets and festive greetings.
12. On the festival of Holi, people make sweet delicacy known as ‘Gujhiya’ which is basically a sweet dumpling. These dumplings are stuffed with the dry-fruits, Khoyas and much more.
13. In Mathura and Vrindavan a different type of Holi is played known as ‘Lathmar Holi’, in which women and men dress in traditional costumes and play Holi with the stick and a shield.
14. Holi is also a festival of love and unity and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The festival is celebrated with lot of pomp in north India.
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