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Phagu Purnima
Holi the Festival of colours is also known as Phagu Purnima. Phagu means the red powder that is used at the culmination of the fiesta.
In Bihar, Holi is identified as Phagwa as it is held in the later part of the month of Phalgun and the beginning of the month of Chaitra in the

Hindu calendar. In Bihar and UP 'Holika dahan' is also named as 'Samvatsar Dahan'. On this day all the resentment and wicked reminiscences of the past year are destroyed in the fire and the New Year is welcomed with a festival.

Holika Dahan Celebrations
The day prior to Holi, young boys and girls collect wood to build a stack naming it after Holika. Later at night it set to fire. Model of Holika, the mischievous sprite sister of demon King Hiranyakashyap is placed in the firewood and scorched. Holika had attempted to take the life of Hiranyakashyap's

son, Prahlad, a passionate devotee of Lord Narayana. The custom indicates the conquest of good over malevolence and also the victory of the good.

Playing with Colors
On the day of Holi, people leave their homes to play colours with friends and neighbours. It is a spectacle to watch children filling coloured water in pichkaris to drain it on friends while the young and the old enjoy applying colours to each other. Many dance to the rhytmn of dholaks and relish the sweet balls served at friends'. Sweet dishes such as gujiya, mathri, malpuas are customary Holi sweets that are enjoyed with immense delight.

Drinks, especially thandai with bhang are also essential elements of the Holi. Bhang facilitates to boost the spirit of the event.

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