United News of Bangladesh

Holi, often called the Hindu festival of colors, is a vibrant annual celebration marking the arrival of spring. Observed mainly in India, Nepal and other South Asian nations, as well as among the global Indian diaspora, the festival blends cultural joy with deep religious meaning. It symbolizes love, renewal and the triumph of positivity over negativity. The celebration usually takes place in March, on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar month of Falgun. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the exact date changes each year. In 2026, Holi will be observed on March 4. One of the festival’s most recognizable traditions sees participants dressed in white gathering outdoors to toss bright colored powders at one another, transforming streets into a mosaic of hues. Music, dancing and festive foods add to the lively atmosphere. Mythological Roots Holi’s origins lie in Hindu mythology, and many communities light bonfires on the eve of the festival to represent the victory of good over evil. A popular legend tells of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who demanded to be worshipped as a god. When his son Prahlada remained devoted to Vishnu instead, the king plotted to kill him. He enlisted his sister Holika, believed to be immune to fire, to sit with the boy in a blazing pyre. However, Prahlada’s devotion saved him, while Holika perished — a story that underscores faith and righteousness prevailing over evil. In parts of southern India, the festival is linked to the tale of Shiva burning Kamadeva, the god of love, with his third eye. Known as Kama Dahanam, the event signifies overcoming earthly desires in pursuit of spiritual growth. Holi is also associated with Krishna and his playful love for Radha, along with his interactions with the gopikas, who symbolize devotion and unconditional love. Celebrations and Traditions On Holi, towns and neighborhoods come alive as people splash colored powders and water on friends and strangers alike. Water balloons and squirt guns add to the fun, and celebrants often greet one another with shouts of “Holi hai!” meaning “It’s Holi!” Over time, Bollywood films have further popularized the festival’s exuberant spirit. Each color used during Holi carries symbolism: blue reflects Krishna’s complexion, green represents spring and new beginnings, red is linked to marriage and fertility, and red and yellow together denote auspiciousness in Hindu rituals. Special dishes are central to the festivities. A favorite treat is “gujia,” a deep-fried pastry filled with sweetened milk solids, nuts and dried fruits. Another staple is “thandai,” a chilled drink made with milk, sugar, almonds, fennel seeds, rose petals, poppy seeds and saffron. Holi in the Diaspora Beyond South Asia, Holi is celebrated with religious observances and community events. In North America and other regions with significant Hindu populations, festivities range from temple ceremonies and Holika Dahan bonfires to cultural programs, parades and Bollywood-themed gatherings. Hindu temples and community centers abroad often organize cricket matches and other social activities around the holiday, helping preserve tradition while bringing communities together in celebration.

The five-day Durga Puja, the biggest Hindu festival, will come to an end Friday with solemn immersion of the Goddess Durga across the country. Devotees will throng Puja mandaps to celebrate Bijoya Dashami, the last day of the festival, recite the mantras, offer flowers to the goddess Durga (pushpanjali) and pray for her blessings. The mandaps across the country have been decorated with beautiful idols, showcasing the goddess in all her glory. BijoyaDashami is the special ceremony of reaffirming peace and good relations among people. Read: Hasina calls for hunting down culprits of Cumilla incident On this day, families visit each other to share sweetmeats. Married Hindu women put vermilion on each other's forehead on the occasion. This year, the religious festival is being celebrated at some 32,118 puja mandaps throughout the country, including the capital. In the capital, thousands of people are set to throng the Buriganga tomorrow to observe the final phase of the festival -- the immersion of the goddess Durga. Devotees in their tearful eyes will bid farewell to the mother deity and her children – Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh – through the immersion of their idols in the water wishing Durga’s return next year. Also read: Cumilla incident: DIG says offenders to be hunted down Meanwhile, there will be strict security measures in place so that Durga Puja ends peacefully.The five-day festival started on October 11 with the incarnation (Bodhon) of the Goddess Durga marking Sashthi. Durga Puja, the annual Hindu festival also known as Sharadiya (autumnal) DurgaUtsab, is the worship of "Shakti" [divine force] embodied in goddess Durga. It symbolises the battle between good and evil where the dark forces eventually succumb to the divine.

With the fragrance of Shiuli ( the flowering night jasmine) in the air, autumn has spread the word - goddess Durga is coming among the mortals once again, sparking the celebrations unique to the biggest Hindu festival - Sharadiya Durga Puja. But in Bagerhat this year, the puja will be a bit bland without the famous Shikdar Bari’r Puja celebration, that is always a grand affair full of hundreds of idols gathered on a single stage. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the elaborate puja celebrations organised by the Shikdar family have been suspended for a consecutive second year. Instead a 'Ghot Puja' (worshipping an urn symbolising the goddess) will be held to maintain the religious traditions and formalities. Tarun Dash said, “This news broke the hearts of local worshippers like me, as for a year we were waiting in hope for the spectacular Shikdar Bari’s puja.” “The scene on the mandap used to be so surreal. It almost felt like all the deities had really landed among human beings,” said Nikhil Chandra, another local. The legend of Shikdar Bari’s Durga Puja In 2011, Dr Dulal Krishna Shikdar in his ancestral home at Hakimpur village in Bagerhat Sadar upazila started a grand celebration of Durga puja garnishing 251 idols. His motive for the grand puja was to make society aware of the significance of worshipping deities according to sanatana dharma (traditional religion, or Hinduism). Read: Security beefed up for Durga puja celebration: DMP Commissioner