Holi 2023: Why do people choose to wear white clothes on the occasion of Rangowali Holi

Holi 2023: Holi falls on March 8 this year. People play with colours on this day while wearing white clothes. Find out the significance of wearing this colour during the Rangowali Holi inside.

Published on: Mar 7, 2023, 14:02:34 IST

By Krishna Priya Pallavi, Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Holi is the festival of joy and colours. This year, it falls on March 8, Wednesday. It is the time when friends and families come together to celebrate and rejoice by playing with colours or Gulal, water balloons and water guns, and flowers. During Holi, people also decorate their homes, prepare delicious savoury dishes, sweets and drinks like Gujiya, Thandai, Malpua, Dahi Bhalla and more, exchange gifts, and visit near and dear ones. However, one of the most common practices in every home is the tradition of wearing white clothes to play Rangowali Holi. If you have ever wondered why people choose this colour on the occasion of Holi, we have answers for you.

Why do people choose to wear white clothes on the occasion of Rangowali Holi (Unsplash)

(Also Read | Happy Holi 2023: Best wishes, images, WhatsApp status, messages and greetings to celebrate Holi the festival of colours)

There are several reasons why people wear white clothes on Holi. One is the various colours used to play Holi - including green, red, yellow, pink, orange, violet, blue and more - stand out on white clothes. Additionally, the advent of the summer season begins around Holi. Thus, wearing white clothes reduces the chances of a person feeling too hot. Additionally, white clothes are a comfortable choice during hotter weather.

White is a symbol of truth and peace. Hindus believe that Holi and Holika Dahan are the celebrations of the victory of good over evil and brotherhood. The story of demon king Hiranyakashipu, his son Prahlada, sister Holika, and Lord Vishnu's avatar Narasimha are related to Holi. Indian mythology says that Hiranyakashipu, blessed with the boon that no man or animal could kill him -forced people to worship him. However, when Prahlad - a devotee of Lord Vishnu, refused - he asked Holika to kill him. Holika, with Prahlad on her lap, sat on fire while wearing the cloth that protected her from fire. Prahlad prayed to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu's Narasimha avatar saved him and killed Hiranyakashipu. Thus, wearing white signifies these sentiments of purity, goodness, peace and harmony. People celebrate the day by forgetting all the bad memories and embracing the good in people.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Krishna Pallavi Priya
Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News, Merry Christmas 2025 on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.