Dhūleṭī (Raṅgavālī Holī) 2009

Dhuleti (Dhulandi, Dhulivandan, Rangwali Holi) is the day of colours. It comes the morning after Holika Dahan, the bonfire of Phalguna Purnima, and together the two days make Holi.

The ash of the Holika fire is touched to the forehead in the morning as a blessing, and then the colours begin: gulal and abir, coloured water and pichkaris, music and dancing in the streets. Friends, neighbours and relatives visit one another, old quarrels are set aside, and sweets such as gujiya, malpua and thandai are shared.

The colours recall the play of Sri Krishna with Radha and the gopis in Vraja, where Holi is kept for many days, and the joy of Prahlada's deliverance the night before. In the spring of Phalguna, when the new crop is in, the whole community celebrates together.