Holi quiz questions: the festival of colours

Holi is one of the most vibrant festivals on the planet. Celebrated by millions of Hindus each spring, it's a riot of colour, bonfires and sweet treats that marks the triumph of good over evil. Whether you're putting together a themed quiz round or just want to test your own knowledge, here are ten questions about the festival of colours.

The questions

1What is the name of the coloured powder that people throw at each other during Holi?

Answer:Gulal(click to reveal)

Traditionally, these powders were made from natural ingredients like turmeric, neem leaves and flower extracts from trees such as the flame of the forest. Modern versions are typically cornstarch mixed with food-safe dyes. More on gulal and its origins.

2How many days does the main Holi celebration traditionally last?

Answer:Two(click to reveal)

The first evening is the bonfire night (Holika Dahan), when communities gather to burn an effigy and celebrate the defeat of the demoness Holika. The second day is Rangwali Holi, when the colour-throwing kicks off and the streets turn into a multicoloured free-for-all. In some regions the celebrations stretch out over a week, but the core festival is a two-day affair.

3The night before the main colour celebrations, bonfires are lit in a ritual known by what name?

Answer:Holika Dahan(click to reveal)

Communities gather around the fire, walk around it, and make offerings of grains and coconut. The bonfire symbolises the burning away of evil and the protection of the devoted. Read about the ritual.

4In Hindu mythology, which young devotee of Vishnu survived being placed on a burning pyre by his aunt Holika?

Answer:Prahlada(click to reveal)

His father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu, wanted him dead for worshipping Vishnu. Holika had a boon that made her immune to fire, so she sat on the pyre with the boy on her lap. But because of his devotion, Vishnu protected him and the flames consumed her instead. The full legend.

5Which Hindu god is closely associated with Holi through the legend of colouring the face of his beloved Radha?

Answer:Krishna(click to reveal)

According to the story, he was self-conscious about his blue skin and worried that Radha wouldn't love him. His mother playfully suggested he colour Radha's face to match. That playful act of colouring became the inspiration for the festival's colour-throwing tradition. Krishna and Holi on Britannica.

6Holi is a major public holiday in India, but which neighbouring country also celebrates it as a national holiday with equal enthusiasm?

Answer:Nepal(click to reveal)

Holi is deeply rooted in Nepali culture and is one of the country's biggest festivals. Celebrations centre on Kathmandu's Durbar Square, where thousands gather to throw colours and dance. The dates and traditions are almost identical to India's, though each region adds its own local spin. Holi celebrations around the world.

7What colour clothing do people traditionally wear on the main day of Holi, before the colour-throwing begins?

Answer:White(click to reveal)

Wearing white gives the coloured powders and water a blank canvas to work with, which makes the whole spectacle far more vivid. Of course, whatever you wear to Holi is essentially a write-off by the end of the day. Most people treat it as a chance to sacrifice an old white t-shirt to the cause. Tips for celebrating Holi.

8Thandai, a cold spiced milk drink traditionally served at Holi, is sometimes infused with a paste made from cannabis leaves. What is this paste called?

Answer:Bhang(click to reveal)

It has a long history in Hindu tradition and is associated with the worship of Lord Shiva. The paste is mixed into milk along with almonds, pistachios, saffron and cardamom. Consumption during Holi is especially common across North India. Bhang on Wikipedia.

9After the colour celebrations wind down, people wash up, change into fresh clothes and visit friends and family. What do they traditionally bring with them on these visits?

Answer:Sweets (mithai)(click to reveal)

Exchanging sweets is a central part of Holi across India. Families spend the days beforehand preparing trays of treats, and refusing a sweet offered during a Holi visit is considered rude. The tradition reinforces the social side of the festival: old grudges are meant to be set aside, and the visits are a chance to start the new season fresh.

10Each colour thrown during Holi has a symbolic meaning. Red represents love, green represents spring, and yellow represents turmeric and new beginnings. What does the colour blue traditionally symbolise?

Answer:Krishna (or the divine)(click to reveal)

Blue is the colour of his skin in Hindu iconography. The association runs deep through the festival's mythology, tying the playful colour-throwing back to the story of Krishna and Radha. Colour symbolism of Holi.

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Happy Holi! These questions work well as a standalone themed round, or you can scatter a few into a general knowledge quiz for some seasonal colour. If you're building a full quiz, the quizquiz.co quiz creator makes it easy to put one together in minutes.