Holi assumes an entirely new color in Haryana and gets its new name, 'Dulandi Holi'.

Fire marks the beginning of Holi. Earlier it was celebrated all over India for five days. Holi is just not about light, colors and sweets; it is also about wishes, love, friendship. The customs and traditions to lit Holika and the celebration of Holi vary slightly in some parts of the country. One can call Holi by any name he wants but the spirit of Holi can never change. It is called Latthmar holi in Barsana, Nandgaon, Mathura; Dulandi holi in Haryana; Ranpanchami or Shimga or Shimgo in Maharashtra and Goa; Basanti Poornima or Vasant Poornima in Shantiniketan; Dol Poornima, Dol Jatra in West Bengal and Orissa; Hola Mohalla in Punjab; Phagu Poornima or Phagwa in Bihar; Kaman Pandigai in Tamil Nadu.

There is no end to fun and frolic here too. People apply colors on each other and greet each other. Any hard feeling of animosity is forgotten on the day and a general feeling harmony and happiness prevail.

Bhabhi, the brother's wife, gets an upper hand on the day of Holi in Haryana. Devars need to watchout. The bhabhi's here get a social sanction on Holi to beat their devars and make them pay the price of all the pranks they played on them for the entire year. Bhabhi's roll up their saris in the form of a rope in a mock rage, and give a good run to their devars- all in the spirit of Holi, i.e. fun. In the evening, devars are supposed to bring sweets for their dear bhabhi.

Break the pot
As in several other states the tradition of breaking the pot is celebrated with gusto in Haryana. A human pyramid is formed to break the pot of buttermilk hung high up in the street much like Lord Krishna did as a child. It is a pleasure to watch the ritual as womenfolk pour buckets of color water at men trying to break the pot.