Festival of colors. Color play day.
Holi, the festival of colours, follows the night of Holika Dahan and turns the streets into a riot of joy. In Gujarat the colour-playing day is lovingly called Dhuleti. Beyond the bonfire’s message of good over evil, Holi carries the warmth of Lord Krishna, who, the stories say, playfully smeared colour on Radha and the gopis of Braj. From that play grew a festival where colour dissolves every difference of age, wealth and status, and everyone meets as equals, friends and family.
On Dhuleti the morning belongs to colour. People play with dry gulal and coloured water, fill the air with songs and the beat of the dhol, and many neighbourhoods come alive with folk dance and music. Homes prepare festive sweets like gughra and dahi vada, and friends call out "Happy Holi" as they smear each other in red, pink, green and yellow. Towns such as Dakor hold lively fairs, and the day ends with everyone, pink-faced and laughing, sitting down to share food and good cheer.
Holi 2027, the festival of colours called Dhuleti in Gujarat, is on Monday, 22 March 2027. It is played the day after Holika Dahan, which is on the evening of 21 March.
Holika Dahan is the bonfire on the eve of the festival (21 March 2027). The next day is the day of colours, which most of India calls Rangwali Holi and which Gujarat calls Dhuleti (22 March 2027).
The play of colours is linked to Lord Krishna, who lovingly coloured Radha and the gopis of Braj. The colours celebrate joy, the arrival of spring, and a day when every difference dissolves and all are equal.
Use natural, herbal colours, oil your skin and hair beforehand, protect your eyes, play gently and only with willing people, save water, and keep pets and birds away from the colours.