Holi is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. The most celebrated Holi is in the Braj region, in locations connected to the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon, and Barsana. These places have become tourist destinations during the festive season of Holi.

Holi Pooja catches a day before the Holi Festival. This day is called as ‘Holika Dahan’. There is no special Pooja performed on the Holi day. Holi festival day is only meant for celebrations and plays with colors.

Holika Dahan is the major ceremony performed at the time of Holi which is also considered an important Holi Puja. People light bonfires on the eve of Holi festival to celebrate the victory of ‘good’ over ‘bad’ which is called Holika Dahan.

A Holika Dahan arrangement starts almost 40 days before the festival. People starts assemble woods on the important junction of the city. Holi Pooja or Holika takes place on an auspicious time in the evening a day before the Holi festival.

Holi Pooja can be performed at any place. A log of wood is kept at a prominent public place on the Vasant Panchami day. People extend the log centre with brushwood, dried leaves, branches of trees and other burnable material. On the day of Holika Dahan, an image or statute of Holika and Prahlad is placed on the huge mound of woods.

Statue of Holika is made of burnable material while Prahlad’s statue is made of non- burnable material. On the eve of Holi, the mound is set on fire and the people chant Rakshoghna Mantras of the Rig Veda to cast away the evil spirits. Left over ashes is collected by people next morning. These ashes are considered holy and are applied on the limbs of the body as Holi Prasad is an act of purification.

Holi Pooja is performed in a different manner in some communities. Marwari community women offer Holi Puja in the afternoon and evening i.e. before setting fire to ‘Holika’. It is called ‘Thandi Holi’. The whole Puja process is considered very auspicious for the married women. It ensures well-being and healthy life of their husband.