Holi is known as "The Festival of Color". The main rituals include throwing and applying colored water and powders on friends and family. People use the color fights to celebrate happiness and love.
Various colors are used during the festival to express love, happiness, other emotions, and best wishes. The most popular colors used in Holi are red (gulal), yellow, blue, green, pink, orange or saffron, and purple. All of them have significant meanings.
1. Red — Color of Love and Passion
Red symbolizes love and passion and is the most beloved color during Holi.
Red is the color of love. The use of this color during Holi is rooted in the romantic love story of two Hindu gods: Krishna and Radha. Therefore, during Holi, people smear the faces of their loved ones with red paste or gulal (plant-based powder) to express their love.
Married Hindu women often wear red or put a red tika on their foreheads as a symbol of their marital status.
Red also has the meaning of bravery and strength in Indian culture. Local families dress their deities in red items to symbolize their charitable, brave, and protective qualities during Holi, aiming to invoke the blessing of their divine qualities.
2. Yellow — Color of Happiness and Peace
Yellow is the sacred color of India. It carries the meanings of sunshine and happiness. Holi is to celebrate victory over evil and is a joyful event. Therefore, people throw the color yellow during Holi to express their happiness.
Yellow is also considered to be a color with healing powers. Many gods in India are dressed in yellow, such as Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, and Ganesha. What's more, yellow is synonymous with turmeric in India, which has been used as a medicine for centuries in India. Turmeric is also an auspicious spice used in weddings and puja (worship rituals).
3. Blue — Color of Calm and Courage
Blue is a symbol of courage, love, calm, and serenity.
This color is closely tied to Lord Krishna in Hinduism, a protective god who is depicted with striking blue skin and a blue face. Krishna embodies love, wisdom, and the ability to conquer.
Given that blue mirrors the color of the vast sky and deep ocean, it's naturally associated with feelings of calm and tranquility.
The profound meanings of blue make it a favorite color during Holi. Splash some blue powder on your friends and family to express your best wishes.
4. Green — Color of Spring and a Fresh Start
Green holds the essence of energy, new beginnings, harvest, and hope in Hindu culture. This vibrant color is closely linked to the lively season of spring, coinciding with the joyful celebration of Holi.
During Holi, the revelry marks the arrival of spring, and the color green is seen as something divine. It's no surprise that green is a go-to hue during the playful splashes of color in Holi festivities.
5. Pink — Color of Youth and Playfulness
Pink is a favorite color for girls and women, and it is seen as the most attractive and energetic color.
Pink fits the playful atmosphere of Holi the most. Feminine pink is an innocent, cheerful color that symbolizes youth, good health, and playfulness. It is believed to bring more joy, fun, and energy to Holi celebrations.
6. Orange or Saffron — Color of Courage and Sacrifice
Dark saffron, commonly referred to as orange, holds significant sacred value in India. Yogis, gurus, and revered individuals often don saffron robes paired with vibrant saffron turbans.
In Hinduism, the color orange symbolizes the sacral chakra, the energy center related to sexuality and self-awareness.
On the Indian flag, the orange (dark saffron) color signifies the strength and courage of the Indian people.
7. Purple — Color of Supreme Peace and Wisdom
Purple is always connected to royalty, wealth, and power in India.
In Hinduism, it is the color of the crown chakra — serving as the gateway to the cosmos
Colors Not to Use for Holi
White and black are not used in Holi's joyous celebrations.
Black is often associated with sorrow and bad luck and is connected with dark desires, evil, negativity, and inertia in India. Therefore, it is not fit for the joyful spirit of Holi.
White is mainly used for funerals and ceremonies that mark death in the family, and it is the color that widows must wear.
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