Author: Arijit Bose

Defence Personnel Embrace Holi Spirit While Steadfastly Guarding the Nation

Arijit Bose

New Delhi — As India prepares to celebrate Holi, with Holika Dahan illuminating the night of March 2–3 and colours set to fill the air on March 4, thousands of Indian defence personnel are marking the festival in their own distinctive way — on duty, at the nation’s frontiers, far from home yet bound together by camaraderie and purpose. While families across the country gather to apply gulal, exchange sweets, and revel in festive music, soldiers of the Indian Army, the Border Security Force (BSF), and other security forces remain deployed…

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The Story of Prahlad, Hiranyakashyap and the Triumph of Faith

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Long ago, in ancient times described in the Puranas, there ruled a powerful demon king named Hiranyakashipu. He was not an ordinary ruler. Through severe penance and intense meditation, he had pleased Brahma, the creator of the universe, and obtained a remarkable boon. Hiranyakashyap asked for near immortality. He could not be killed by man or beast, inside or outside, during day or night, on earth or in the sky, by any weapon, or by any god, demon, or animal. Believing himself invincible, he declared that he was greater…

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Holi 2026 Shopping Boom: Markets Burst with Colour, Offers and Record-Breaking Sales

Arijit Bose

Luknow: As the vibrant festival of Holi approaches in early March 2026 — with Rangwali Holi falling on March 3 or 4 depending on regional calendars and lunar calculations — markets across India have transformed into dazzling hubs of colour, commerce and celebration. From traditional bazaars overflowing with gulal to sprawling hypermarkets rolling out “Holi Dhamaka” sales, the festive economy is in full swing. This year, festive trade is projected to cross an impressive ₹80,000 crore nationwide, marking an estimated 25% jump from last year’s ₹60,000 crore, according to the…

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Holi Diplomacy: Can India’s Festival of Colours Inspire Peace in a Fractured World?

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: In an era defined by escalating geopolitical turbulence — from the grinding war between Russia and Ukraine to the devastating conflict between Israel and Gaza Strip, alongside broader Middle East tensions involving Iran — the search for creative pathways to peace has taken on renewed urgency. Amid military offensives, sanctions regimes, and hardened rhetoric, the idea of “Holi diplomacy” emerges as an intriguing proposition. Could India’s ancient Festival of Colours — rooted in renewal, forgiveness, and the triumph of good over evil — serve as a subtle yet meaningful…

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India’s sport icons unleash their colourful spirit

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: As India gears up to celebrate Holi on March 4, with Holika Dahan illuminating the night of March 2–3, the country’s sporting fraternity is adding its own vibrant touch to the Festival of Colours. From nostalgic throwbacks in cricket circles to heartfelt family celebrations by Olympic champions, Holi 2026 is blending tradition, camaraderie, and social responsibility in a uniquely sporting way. Cricket’s Colourful Camaraderie No festival in India feels complete without the cricket fraternity leading the celebrations, and Holi is no exception. Over the years, Indian cricketers have…

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Lucknow Police tightens security arrangements during Holi

Arijit Bose

Lucknow — As Lucknow prepares to immerse itself in the vibrant celebrations of Holi from March 2 to March 4, the Lucknow Police Commissionerate has unveiled one of its most comprehensive security blueprints in recent years. With Holika Dahan scheduled for March 2 and Rangwali Holi to follow on March 3 and 4 — with festivities traditionally spilling into subsequent days in several neighbourhoods — authorities have activated a multi-tiered law enforcement strategy aimed at ensuring safety, communal harmony, and seamless traffic movement across the city. The scale of preparation reflects…

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Bollywood and its inextricable Holi affair

Arijit Bose

Mumbai: Few festivals in India have inspired filmmakers quite like Holi. Beyond its riot of colours and cultural symbolism, Holi has long served as Bollywood’s most expressive canvas for romance — a moment where longing glances turn into confessions, where social barriers dissolve in clouds of Gulaal, and where love stories find their most visually poetic expression. From the golden era of Hindi cinema to contemporary blockbusters, Holi songs and sequences have been carefully crafted to heighten emotional tension, celebrate desire, and often change the course of a film’s narrative.…

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Global Holi Dhoom adds to a riot of colours

Arijit Bose

New Delhi— From temple towns in South Asia to public parks in Europe and beach fronts in Australia, preparations for Holi — the Festival of Colours — are in full swing across the globe. What began as a deeply rooted Hindu spring festival symbolising the triumph of good over evil has evolved into an international celebration of joy, unity, and cultural exchange. In India, where Holi originates, markets have been bustling for weeks. Cities such as Mathura and Vrindavan are preparing for week-long festivities linked to the legends of Lord…

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United Colours of Holi paint India in varied hues

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: As spring sweeps across the subcontinent, India prepares for one of its most exuberant and culturally layered festivals — Holi. From temple towns steeped in mythology to royal courtyards, university campuses, and snow-clad Himalayan settlements, the festival of colours transforms cities and villages alike into vibrant arenas of devotion, music, and joyous abandon. In Uttar Pradesh’s twin temple towns of Mathura and Vrindavan, Holi unfolds as both a spiritual and theatrical spectacle. Revered as the birthplace and playground of Lord Krishna, the region hosts week-long celebrations drawing pilgrims and…

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Colourful revelry unfolds as Holi season kicks in

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: As spring sunlight softens the skyline of Lucknow, the City of Nawabs is awash in a kaleidoscope of colour, fragrance, and festivity. With Holi set to be celebrated on March 4, the run-up to the festival has transformed the city’s iconic marketplaces into vibrant theatres of commerce and community spirit. From the bustling lanes of Aminabad and the old-world charm of Chowk to the graceful promenades of Hazratganj, shoppers are pouring in, eager to soak up both the colours of Holi and the unmistakable nawabi energy that defines Lucknow.…

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