Holi Hunnime is the full moon of Phalguna. In Karnataka it is Kamana Habba, the festival of Kama: an image of the god of desire is burned on the night of the full moon, and colour is played afterwards. It is a festival of the north of the state far more than the south. Bagalkot keeps it for five days, Hubballi and Belagavi for nearly as long, to the sound of the halage drum.
The story
Kama disturbed Shiva's meditation and was burned by the fire of his third eye. Boys collect firewood, sometimes by cheerful theft, for the Kama Dahana.
At Sirsi, in alternate years, the nights before Holi belong to Bedara Vesha: men dressed as hunters, with peacock feathers and painted faces, dance through the town.
How it is kept
- Kama DahanaThe bonfire on the full-moon night.
- HalageThe frame drum, beaten in the streets for days.
- BannaColour, played for one to five days after the fire.
- HoligeThe sweet stuffed flatbread of every Kannada festival.
Why this date
Holi Hunnime is the full-moon tithi of Phalguna, on the day it is present at sunrise.
Holi in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday | |
| 2027 | Monday | |
| 2028 | Saturday | |
| 2029 | Wednesday | |
| 2030 | Tuesday | |
| 2031 | Sunday |
More Kannada festivals
6 MarchMaha Shivaratriಮಹಾ ಶಿವರಾತ್ರಿ
7 AprilYugadiಯುಗಾದಿ
15 AprilSri Rama Navamiಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮ ನವಮಿ
13 FebruaryRatha Saptamiರಥಸಪ್ತಮಿ
15 JanuaryMakara Sankrantiಮಕರ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತಿ
20 AprilHanuma Jayantiಹನುಮ ಜಯಂತಿ
Where to see Holi
In Karnataka
- BagalkotKarnatakaFive days of colour, the most famous Holi in the state.
- HubballiKarnatakaRangapanchami, on the fifth day, is the main event here.
- SirsiKarnatakaThe Bedara Vesha, the hunter dance, in alternate years.
- HampiKarnatakaColour and drums among the ruins of Vijayanagara.
Across India
- BarsanaUttar PradeshLathmar Holi in Radha's village.
- PanajiGoaShigmo, with float parades, across the border.
- SantiniketanWest BengalBasanta Utsav, Tagore's festival of spring.