How it is played
In the morning the family first offers a pinch of colour to the deities, especially Krishna and Radha, and to the elders, touching their feet. Then everyone goes out to play. Friends and neighbours, young and old, smear each other with dry gulal, spray coloured water from pichkaris and throw water balloons, shouting "Holi hai!". Groups go from house to house singing Holi songs (phag) to the beat of the dholak.
By noon the playing ends. People bathe, change into new clothes, and in the afternoon visit relatives and friends to exchange sweets and greetings. Differences of age, class and caste are set aside for the day, and quarrels are forgiven with an embrace.
Its meaning
The colours are linked to Krishna playing Holi with Radha and the gopis in Vraja, and to the colours of spring flowers. Traditional colours were made from flowers and herbs: palash (tesu) for orange, turmeric for yellow, henna for green and beetroot for pink, which were also thought to protect against the illnesses of the changing season.
Playing safely
Use natural or skin-safe colours, oil the skin and hair before playing, protect the eyes, and do not force colour on anyone unwilling or on animals. Save water where it is scarce.
The day in Braj
In Mathura and Vrindavan colours are played for days before the main Holi: flowers are thrown in the Banke Bihari temple on Phoolon wali Holi, the widows of Vrindavan now play colours together, and the temple priests at Dwarkadhish shower devotees with gulal.