The festival of Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every year. This is one of the most exuberant Hindu festivals, with people marking the end of winter by cleaning their homes and the surroundings of dirt and evil. The tender green leaves on the trees, the blossomed flowers in the gardens and the sweet calls of the cuckoo mark the advent of the new season. Trees smile with their sprouts of tender leaves and fruits hang joyously to decorate the blushing tree.

The festival of Holi actually starts the night before with a bonfire made up of all the dried leaves and branches left through the winter. It is a way of clearing these and making way for spring. Metaphorically though, the fire is meant to signify the destruction of evil -- the burning of the 'Holika' -- a mythological character. The heat from the fire is also a reminder that winter is behind and that hot summer days are ahead.

Origin:- There are many stories of the origin of Holi. The most widely held belief is that Holi marks the day when the devotee of lord Vishnu, Bakt Prahlad, seated on the lap of demons Holika, was saved from the effect of the fire by God and the demons got burnt instead. Other stories relate to the death of demon Putana at the hands of lord Krishna and to the burning of demons Hoda by children. Some link the festival with the worship of Karma, God of pleasure and destiny. 

Tradition:- Holi is a spring festival. Holi is a harvest celebration marking the climax of spring. Bonfires are lit, marking both the end of winter and the death of evil, and proceeds from the seasonal harvest- grains, coconuts etc- offered to the flames. The next day, dhuleti involves plenty of color throwing, prayer, fasting and feasting. People have fun throwing colored powder and colorful water at each other, dancing and gambling over cards. Though originated in the northern part of India, Holi has assumed a national flavor over the ages. Despite being a Hindu festival, it is now regarded as a secular event. For, the entire nation takes the day off, as people, irrespective of race, culture and ethnic background, enjoy the spirit of Holi. Cities and suburbs, towns and villages all come alive to catch the frenzy of the March - madness in a range of colors. This is where the celebration with colors comes in. Holi is supposed to be an exuberant show of goodwill and cheer. The riot of colors follows the revelry of color play -- quite unmatched in its boisterousness -- and takes place amidst the sprinkling or shower of coloured powder. When water is added to color it is anything but a damp squib. Everybody is welcome and everybody is pardoned for his or her revelry, jealousy, errors or mistakes committed. One starts a New Leaf of Life thereafter and previous deeds and actions are forgotten once and for all.