Beyond Colors: The Many Stories of Holi and Phagwah

Between Tradition and Transformation

Holi, known as Phagwah in many parts of the Indian diaspora, bursts onto the calendar each year as a festival of color, joy, and renewal. As we reflect on this vibrant celebration, it is essential to engage with its multifaceted history—embracing its cultural richness while acknowledging its complexities, including critiques on caste, gender, safety, and environmental impact. Our video serves as a prompt for discussion, exploring both the festival’s syncretic nature and critical perspectives from Dalit, Adivasi, and other marginalized communities.

For many, Holi symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, community bonding, and a spirit of revelry that transcends barriers. However, a closer examination reveals deep-seated concerns related to caste, gender, and environmental sustainability that call for thoughtful engagement. Recognizing these critiques is not about diminishing the festival’s significance but about fostering a more inclusive and conscious approach to its celebration. Non-participation or reclamation of Holi can be valid responses, and acknowledging this plurality of perspectives enriches our understanding of the festival.

Legends, Power, and the Politics of Myth

Holi’s origins are rooted in Hindu mythology, with stories such as the destruction of the tyrant Hiranyakashipu and the playful, love-filled celebrations of Krishna and Radha shaping its traditions. These narratives hold layered meanings—depicting struggles of power, devotion, and social cohesion. The act of playing with colors echoes Krishna’s joyful defiance of societal norms, offering a historical lens on issues of social hierarchy. However, these stories are also open to reinterpretation, particularly in contemporary discourses on caste, power, and justice.

Discussion Question:

• How does the story of Hiranyakashipu and Prahlad reflect power dynamics in today’s world? Can it be read as a critique of authoritarianism?

Holi Across Borders: Tradition and Transformation

Holi’s celebration varies significantly across regions and cultures, adapting to local traditions and histories. In North India, the festival is grand and exuberant, while in South India, it is often more subdued. In the Caribbean, Phagwah serves as a cultural anchor for Indo-Caribbean communities, blending Hindu traditions with Creole influences. Meanwhile, in the Indian diaspora, Holi’s growing popularity among non-Hindu communities reflects its evolving role as a global festival.

Discussion Question:

• How do Holi’s celebrations in the diaspora differ from those in India? What does this tell us about cultural identity and adaptation?

Syncretism and Selective Inclusion

Holi has historically transcended religious and social boundaries, fostering an inclusive spirit that was embraced even by Mughal rulers. In contemporary times, this syncretic nature can be a reminder of India’s pluralistic heritage, yet it also raises questions about exclusion and appropriation. Holi’s joyous breaking of barriers can be a force for unity, but it is essential to ask: unity for whom, and at whose expense?

Discussion Question:

• In what ways does Holi act as both a unifying and divisive force across religious and social lines?

Dalit and Adivasi Critiques: Caste, Consent, and Mythological Symbolism

For many Dalit and Adivasi communities, Holi has long been a site of exclusion and violence rather than celebration. Accounts of forced participation, caste-based discrimination, and ritualized exploitation surface each year, challenging the dominant narrative of unity and joy. Many Dalit activists reject the festival outright, citing its historical association with caste hierarchy, while others have reclaimed it through counter-celebrations that affirm dignity and resistance. Additionally, critiques of Holi extend to its mythological narratives, where figures like Holika are interpreted as representations of indigenous or non-Brahminical communities, demonized within dominant Hindu texts. This reading challenges the simplistic good-versus-evil framing and highlights how dominant castes have historically used religious narratives to justify oppression.

Discussion Question:

• How do caste-based critiques of Holi challenge mainstream perceptions of the festival? What does it mean to reclaim or reject cultural traditions in the face of oppression?

Gender and Safety - Environmental Consequences and Ethical Celebrations

While Holi is often depicted as a festival of uninhibited joy, it also raises serious concerns about gendered violence. The notion of ‘bura na mano, Holi hai’ (Don’t be offended, it’s Holi) has been used to justify harassment, unwanted physical contact, and public disorder under the guise of festivity. Women and marginalized genders often bear the brunt of this, making safety an essential consideration in any discussion of Holi’s impact.

Environmental Consequences and Ethical Celebrations

Despite its celebratory essence, Holi is not without critique. Environmental concerns surrounding water wastage and synthetic dyes highlight the need for sustainable practices. With the commercialization of Holi, mass-produced colors often contain harmful chemicals that damage ecosystems and pose health risks. Rethinking Holi’s environmental impact means re-evaluating how we participate in traditions and whether alternative, eco-friendly approaches can preserve the festival’s spirit without its destructive elements.

Discussion Questions:

• How can Holi be adapted to better align with contemporary values of sustainability and social justice?

• How can communities create safer, more accountable Holi celebrations that do not excuse gender-based violence?

Rethinking Holi: Towards a More Just Celebration

In some traditions, Holi temporarily upends social hierarchies, offering a space where conventional roles are reversed. While this may serve as a symbolic challenge to entrenched power structures, it is also worth questioning whether these reversals have a lasting impact or merely reinforce the status quo. The subversive potential of Holi is intriguing—can it be a space for genuine resistance, or does it merely provide a temporary illusion of equality?

Engaging with Holi in 2025 means embracing its beauty and joy while remaining mindful of its complexities. By fostering dialogue, respecting diverse perspectives, and advocating for ethical celebrations, we can ensure that Holi remains a festival of true inclusion. Whether through participation, critique, or reclamation, every approach to Holi holds meaning—and that multiplicity is worth honoring.

Watch our video exploring Holi and Phagwa its histories, overlapping and cross-pollinating celebrations and traditions.