When: March, night before Holika Bonfire
2014 date Monday, March 17
2015 date Friday, March 6
2016 date Wednesday, March 23
Where: Usually in India, Nepal
Tips: Sources of colors used
Here are some tips how you can make your color powder and colored water.
Orange and red: The flowers of palash or tesu tree, also called the flame of the forest
Green: Mehendi and dried leaves of gulmohur tree
Yellow: Haldi (tumeric) powder sometimes mixed with chickpeas, gram or other flour to get the right shade
Blue: Indigo, Indian berries, species of grapes, blue hibiscus and jacaranda flowers
Magenta and purple: Beetroot
Brown: Dried tea leaves
Black: Species of grapes, fruits of alma (gooseberry) and vegetable carbon (charcoal)