Holi, the festival of colours, and how to celebrate it in Poland

Holi is the Indian festival of colours that welcomes spring. People throw coloured powder (gulal) at each other, splash water and visit friends. Holi falls on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Phalgun, which is in March; in 2027 it falls on about 22 March.

Where Holi comes from

Holi usually lasts two days. On the first evening, Holika Dahan, people light bonfires. Hindus link them to the story of Prahlad, a young devotee of Vishnu, and the demoness Holika, who tried to burn him but died in the fire herself. The bonfire stands for the victory of good over evil.

The second day, called Rangwali Holi or Dhulandi, is the day of colours. Playing with colours goes back to the stories of young Krishna throwing colours at Radha and the cowherd girls. The most colourful celebrations are in the Braj region, around Mathura and Vrindavan, where they can last several days.

Holi is also celebrated in Nepal and wherever there are large Indian communities. For one day, differences of age and position fade, and anyone can put colour on anyone.

What happens on the day of colours

In the morning people go out into the streets and courtyards in old clothes, usually white. They bring:

• gulal, the dry coloured powder that is rubbed on cheeks and foreheads,
• pichkari, water pistols, plus buckets and water balloons,
• sweets, above all gujiya, fried dumplings filled with khoa and dried fruit,
• thandai, a cold drink of milk, almonds and spices.

By the afternoon the play is over. Everyone washes, changes and visits family and friends with "Happy Holi" wishes and sweets.

Holi colour powder: what it is and how to use it

Holi colour powder is a fine coloured powder for throwing during the celebration. It is sold in bags, one colour per bag: red, pink, yellow, green, blue or orange. In Polish shops it is labelled "proszek holi" or "proszek kolorowy holi", and Poles often call it "piasek holi" (Holi sand). Many labels say "organic"; always check the ingredients on the pack.

A few rules for safe play:

1. Do not throw powder into someone's face from close up. Rub it on cheeks and foreheads.
2. Protect eyes and mouth. If powder gets into an eye, rinse it with clean water.
3. Do not breathe the powder in, and do not play with it in a small closed room. Outdoors is best.
4. Small children play only with an adult watching.
5. Wear clothes you do not mind losing. The colour can stay in fabric for good.
6. Many people rub oil into their hair and cream onto their skin before playing, so the colour washes off more easily.

The powder washes off with soap and water. Strong colours can stay on skin and hair for a while.

Holi in Poland

Outdoor colour festivals inspired by Holi have been held in Poland for years. They are concerts and parties rather than a religious festival. Indian families and students also celebrate Holi their own way: in a park, on an allotment or in a courtyard, with colours, music and sweets. Remember that March in Poland can be cold. Water play is then for the brave, and dry gulal works better.

To hold your own Holi, you need a few colours of powder, some water pistols, old clothes and something sweet. Our guide to Indian sweets covers the classics. For the other big festival of the year, see Diwali 2026 in Poland.

Where to buy Holi colours in Poland

Little India has a Holi category with coloured powders. It includes red Holi powder by Lakshmi, green and yellow. Little India has shops in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Gdańsk (addresses) and ships orders across Poland.