Holi - 20th March, 2011
Holi, named for the destruction of the evil Demoness Holika, is a festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and others. On the day before Holi (known as Holika Dahan), bonfires are lit, symbolic of the one that destroyed Holika and from which Prahlad (a devotee of the Hindu God Vishnu) was miraculously saved.
It is a very joyous festival. People greet each other by applying coloured powder on their faces and embracing them.
The date for Holi is set by the lunar Hindu calendar. It falls on the last full moon day of the month Phalguna, and signifies the end of winter and the coming of the spring. This year, Holi falls on 20th March, 2011.
On the occasion of Holi, you might greet your Hindu and Sikh neighbours with ‘A Happy and Blessed Holi’.