Holi 2022 - Date, History and Significance Everything You Need to Know

With the aroma of Spring in the air, a time of warm celebration knocks our doors with Holi 2022! Not only it has been one of the most boisterous celebrations of all festivals, but it also has been treated as an excuse to bring vibrancy in our peaky lives with a splash of bright hues, delicious sweets, and divinely intoxicating Bhang!

Holi, the celebration of the triumph of good over bad, bids adieu to winter and embraces spring with a rainbow of bright colors. Color plays a pivotal role in this ancient Hindu festival, and probably this is the reason why it’s termed as the Festival of Colors across the world.

Just like any other major festival of India such as Diwali, Dussehra, Janmashtmi, Raksha Bandhan, Vasant Panchami, etc., Holi, too, has a very interesting historical account and religious account. In the following excerpt, we have tried to dig up some intriguing details related to Holi, which include its history, religious significance, date (for 2022), puja timing (for 2022), and more!

If you’re already fascinated and looking forward to pushing the envelope, then here you go with our very detailed chronicling on Holi.

The Popular Story Behind Holi

Did you know that the Festival of Color has its roots etched in ancient Hindu mythology? It stems from a very old and popular tale of the demon king Hiranyakashyap and his devoted son Prahlad. King Hiranyakashyap, also popularly known as Hiranyakashipu was extremely cruel, and earned a lot of hatred for his unfathomable evilness.

This father-son duo actually represents evil and good, the two traits of every human being. This power-hungry king used to consider himself as the God. He wanted every subject of his kingdom to worship him. However, Prahlad, his own son, used to be the worshipper of Lord Vishnu.

He refused to be a devotee of his evil father. Irate and irked with his disobedience, Hiranyakashyap decided to kill Prahlad. Upon being failed multiple times, Hiranyakashyap assigned the responsibility of slaughtering Prahlad to Holika. Holika, the sister of Prahlad, was immune to fire. To kill her brother Prahlad, she cleverly managed to trick him into sitting along with her on a pyre.

However, owing to her ulterior motifs, her power turned out ineffective. And, upon losing her power, she got burned to ashes. Whereas Prahlad was saved, and he gained immunity! This is the reason why; Holi’s first day is celebrated as Holika Dahan. This celebration signifies the triumph of positive over negative, good over evil!

Let’s Take A Look at Holi 2022 Date

In India, the celebration of Holi mainly marks the arrival of the season of Spring, as well as, the harvesting season. According to the ancient customs, Holi commemorates the bright and serene evening of Purnima. The Holi 2022 date in the Indian calendar is on March 18.

Just like any other year, the Holika Dahan time 2022 falls a day prior to the actual festival. To be more precise, the very first day of Holi is celebrated as Chhoti Holi, also known as, Holika Dahan. People gather around a pyre post-sunset, perform certain religious rituals, do a bit of prayer, and subsequently light it with fire. There are some places in India, where the locals even dance and sing around the pious pyre, which symbolizes celebrating the victory of good over evil.

Significance of Holi

Read below to understand and unearth the significance of the great Festival of Color –

• Holi and Its Cultural Significance

The cultural significance of this Indian festival could be gauged from its reference stemming from different ancient myths. It’s led to a strong belief in the celebration of Holi, as most of the Indians tend to rely on mythology. The moral behind such ancient tales refer to the triumph of good over bad. The celebration is organized when the harvest is in full bloom.

• Holi and Its Social Significance

According to the ancient Indian traditions and rituals, people visit their family and friends to greet them and strengthen their bonds. This boisterous celebration brings the entire nation together. India is a melting pot of multiple cultures, castes, religions, political beliefs, and economic strata.  But regardless of their cultural or religious differences, everyone partakes in this Festival of Colour. And, it signifies unity beyond cultural disparity!

• Holi and Its Biological Significance

Holi takes place during a seasonal transition – from the cold-dry winter to the scorching summer. It’s that time of the year when a strange feeling of drowsiness and lethargy tends to envelope most of us. The Festival of Colour brings us an excuse to soak us into vibrant colors, gorge on mouth-watering delectable, mix and mingle with our friends and family members. It brings us an excuse to raise a toast to life, to have a ball.

The colors, especially, abeer plays a pivotal role, too. Penetrating our body, it strengthens the ions and boosts our physical and emotional health. Plus, dance and music, and food reinvigorate our soul, mind, and body. During Holika Dahan, everyone circles around a pyre of the holy fire. This custom can kill the harmful germs and bacteria of our body.

Hope, you had a wonderful read!

Happy Holi 2022 in advance, folks!