The Complete Guide To Capture Holi For Photographers

Holi, or the Hindu Festival of colours, is one of the most popular Indian holidays, and it is both incredibly joyful and vibrant, as well as deeply entrenched in old customs and mythology. This is unquestionably a must-see event at least once in a lifetime. As such, the purpose of this essay is to inform you on the why, what, where, when, and how to just enjoy the experience or photograph this beautiful festival.

- Sanchit Mishra

As many people have ended up fully painted, barefoot, without a bag, papers, or money, with only a camera in hand, in the middle of a human tide of very engaged devotees playing with coloured water, the purpose of this post is to share ten tips so that you see the beautiful Holi colours but not inside your fancy camera gears!

What is Holi and why should you go capture it?

Holi is deeply rooted in the amazing Hindu mythology, with several legends associated with this festival.

The major one is about Prahlada, a devotee of the Hindu god Vishnu. His father, Hiranyakashipu, and his aunt, Holika (his father’s sister, kindly take note), both told him to quit worshipping Vishnu, but Prahlada resisted. As a result, his kind aunt and father decided to murder him for it. To cut a long (but lovely) story short, Holika wrapped herself in a special shawl and carried Prahlada into a fire, believing she’d come out unscathed. Prahlada escaped the flames unscathed because of his devotion to Vishnu, however Holika died when her shawl flew away from her.

The symbolic lighting of bonfires the night before Holi signifies the burning of Holika and the triumph of good over evil. Aside from that, Holi celebrates the coming of a healthy spring crop season as well as the flowering of love. This practise, which has now expanded far beyond India, has its origins in northern India during the 4th century CE. It is a beautiful, celebratory day in our time, with devotees throwing coloured powder and water balloons, using water cannons, or coming up with inventive solutions.

Whether you are a photographer or simply a traveller interested in the world’s cultural variety, Holi is a mustsee event.