Holi is celebrated on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna, the twelfth month of the year according to the Hindu calendar, India's national civil calendar. Phalguna runs from February 20 to March 20. Holi in 2010 starts February 28 to March 1 and can run until the fifth day of the full moon.

Celebrations usually begin with bonfires being lit the day before Holi, known as the burning of Holika, Holia Dahan or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires commemorate the escape of a young man, Prahlada, a staunch worshipper of Vishnu, from injury because of his devotion. The story goes like this...

According to Vaishnava Theology, the king of demons, Hiranyakashipu, had performed a penance for the god of creation, Brahma, in order to gain special powers. Brahma did grant Hiranyakashipu that he could not be killed "during day or night; inside the home or outside, not on earth or on sky; neither by a man nor an animal; neither by astra nor by shastra". Hiranyakashipu, feeling almost immortal, grew up to be arrogant. He demanded that people worship him instead of the gods. However, his own son, Prahlada, chose Lord Vishnu over his demonic father. In anger, Hiranyakashipu attempted to kill his own son several different ways. He tried to poison Prahlada, but the poison turned to nectar; he ordered his son to be trampled by elephants, but the boy remained safe from injury; he ordered his son be put in a room with poisonous snakes, but his son was protected by Vishnu and  survived.

Finally Hiranyakashipu ordered his son to sit on a pyre on the lap of his sister, Holika. Holika had a shawl that would protect her from fire. Prahlada had only his protection from Vishnu and he prayed to Vishnu for his safety. Once the fire was started, Holika's shawl flew off of her and covered Prahlada. Holika was burnt to death. The bonfires of Holi commemorate this as the burning of evil and demons. Later, Lord Vishnu appeared as half-man, half-lion, and killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk, (which was neither day or night), on the steps of the porch of his house (which was neither inside or outside of the house) by holding him on his lap (which was neither in the sky nor on the earth) and mauling Hiranyakashipu with his claws (which are neither astra nor shastra).

Lord Krishna, a deity worshipped by many Hindus, is believed to have made Holi a popular celebration by playing pranks on the cow herd girls who were devoted to him. Chief among these girls was Radha, one of the most important reincarnations of the Goddess Lakshmi. Lord Krishna had a dark skin complexion, and complained that Radha had a light skin complexion. Krishna's mother applied color to Radha's face to appease her son, and this officially ushered in spring, the season of love. (Pictured above).

Traditionally, it was believed that the change in season brought with it viral fevers and colds. Colors made of Neem, KumKum, Haldi, Bilva and other medicinal herbs, were thrown at each other in hopes to protect everyone from illness.

The main day, Holi, also known as Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other. A special drink called thandai is prepared  from almonds, pistachios, rose petals and sometimes bhang (Cannabis indica). Music is played as people dance, welcoming love and light into their lives and chasing out evil.

Unfortunately, the modern day celebration of Holi, is reported to have led to the use of synthetic colors that are toxic, in some parts of the world.  Campaigns have been launched to help children learn to make their own colors for Holi from safer, natural ingredients as they do in the more rural parts of the world, and some commercial companies have begun to market "herbal" dyes. The bonfires are also said to contribute to deforestation in many areas, so communities are looking at having one big bonfire for all to attend, as opposed to many smaller bonfires. Suggestions to burn waste materials instead of trees have been looked upon as interference by Western cultures by many.

The video selection shows Happy Holi celebrations in different parts of the world.