Aptly named “Festival of Colours”, it involves covering everyone in brightly coloured powder and water.
![](/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Barsana_Holi_Festival-200px.jpg) Holi is one of the most anticipated celebrations in the Hindu calendar, most widely recognised as being India’s (if not the world’s) most colourful festival. Aptly named “Festival of Colours”, it involves covering everyone in brightly coloured powder and water. Celebrated annually on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalunga, it usually falls during March or sometimes late February, and has many purposes: to celebrate the victory of good over evil, the beginning of spring with all its beautiful colours and vibrant life, the beginning of the new year, as well as new beginnings with relationships and conflicts. The colourful ritual is said to be based on the story of Lord Khrishna, a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who liked to play pranks by splashing maids with water and colours.