Science behind Holi Festival

India is a colourful country and Holi is the festival if colours celebrated in India with pomp and gaiety on full day moon in month of Phalgun (March). Festival has symbolic legend of demon king Hiranyakashyap and his son Prahlad and sister Holika. The word ‘Holi’ actually derived from Holika. Have you ever thought that there could be scientific reason behind the Holi to celebrate?






Holi is celebrated in the spring, Between end of winter and advent of summer. This period induces the growth of bacteria in atmosphere as well as in the body When Holika (bonfire for holi) is burnt, temperature of nearby area raises by 50-60 degree Celsius. Following the tradition of parikrama (going around the bonfire), heat coming from bonfire kill the bacteria in body and cleanses it.

During this transition period of environment from winter to summer body experiences some tardiness and is quite natural. To counter this laziness on the next morning of burning Holika, people plays with colours (Dulivandan). Sings songs, dances with dhol and other traditional instruments. This helps in rejuvenating the human body.

Colours (made from natural sources) plays vital role in fitness of human body. Colours were made from natural sources in ancient times has healing effect on body skin. It has effect of strengthening the ions in body. Nowadays the market is flooded with synthetic colours cause health issues like asthma, skin and eye irritation also leads to water pollution.