Holi begins on the previous evening with a bonfire, and carries on to the next day till about mid-afternoon when there is a real riot of colors, which involves splashing of colored powder (gulal) and colored water and finally people return to their houses awash in colors. The most interesting ritual is perhaps the practice of gallivanting around the neighborhood with a group of friends playing pranks like throwing everyone who comes to play Holi into the big tub of water and color kept just for that purpose in the yard. It is also a popular prank to be doped on Bhaang mixed in thandaai (a drink made of pepper, milk, saffron, khus-khus and almonds) and even being beaten up with sticks. The bonhomie ends with visiting people’s houses to share the sweets specially made for the occasion.

Like any other Indian festival, each state in India has its own rituals of celebrating Holi.In Bengal, there is the ritual of placing the child-god Krishna in a cradle in front of the bonfire and worshipping him. On the day of the festival, known as Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima, the idol of Mahaprabhu Chaitanya (a saint of Bengal) is taken round the main streets of the city. Effigies of Holika are burnt in huge bonfires in North India and Uttar Pradesh, a tradition even followed in Gujarat and Orissa. In some places gram and stalks from the harvest are also offered to Agni (the Fire God). In Haryana, the sister-in-law beats her brother-in-law with her sari rolled up into a rope all in jest. In Maharashtra, Holi, which is known by the name of Shimga and Rangpanchami, is celebrated by the fisher folk with hilarious singing, dancing and merrymaking.



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