Holi 2018: When is Hindu festival of colour and love? What is Holi 2018?
HOLI is a vibrant Hindu festival celebrated annually with a brilliant display of neon colours. But when is Holi 2018 and how is it celebrated?
Holi is a joyous celebration os spring where people gather in the streets to throw colourful powder at each other in a vibrant display of love and affection.
Although Holi is a Hindu religious festival, the event is now celebrated around the world each year.
What is Holi festival?
Holi is an ancient Hindu festival that takes places over the course of two days.
Holi 2018: 10 facts about the Hindu festival of colour
Primarily celebrated in India, in recent years the event has become more open to people of all faiths with millions all around the world celebrating the festival.
The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring and the end of winter.
Also referred to as the Festival of Colour, Holi is also used to celebrate love, fertility and colour - which is why it is mostly known for the throwing of coloured powder, called gulal.
When is Holi 2018?
The Holi festival usually falls during a full moon between the end of February and the middle of March.
This year, Holi festival will be celebrated on March 1 - marking the start of Spring.
The first day of the festival, known as the Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi, begins on a full moon and sees people gather around a bonfire and pray for all evil to be destroyed by good.
This is in reference to Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who was killed in a fire according to ancient Hindu scriptures.
On the second day of Holi, called Rangwali Holi or Dhuleti, people celebrate the festival of colours.
Revellers dress in white and go out into the streets, smearing coloured powered on one another in a celebration of love and goodness.