The Holi Festival will be on 14 March 2025! Discover family-friendly celebrations in Singapore packed with colour and fun
Holi is a traditional Hindu festival that has gained ground for its fun factor and merry chaos. It involves throwing colourful powder at each other! This year, it will take place on 14 March 2025.
You and the kiddos can expect many colourful, family-friendly celebrations around Singapore. This festival is full of colour and fun. Whether you fancy diving into some serious powder-throwing fun or want to check out a beautiful temple or tour Little India, we’ve been discovering what the Holi festival is all about and where the colourful events for kids are.
The legend of Holi
Springtime in India heralds the vibrant celebration of Holi, a Hindu festival where people joyfully splash coloured water and powders on each other. Holi’s customs vary across the country and are rooted in ancient mythology. Some regions honour the tale of Hiranyakashipu, a demon king defeated by Vishnu, while others focus on the playful love story of Krishna and Radha.
As with many of the best legends, the story of Holi begins with a demon king. This demon king, Hiranyakashyap, conquered the earth but had a few parenting issues to deal with: his son, Prahlad, refused to worship his father and became a devotee of Lord Vishna. While they could have tried some family counselling, instead, the king tried to kill his errant son but was thankfully foiled each time.
Hiranyakashyap resorted to playing the sibling rivalry card and persuaded his daughter, Holika, to trick her brother into entering a blazing fire (knowing that Holika was handily immune to the flames). It turns out that the immunity only applied if she entered a fire on her own: Holika paid the price of her sinister plot by perishing in the flames, while her brother escaped unscathed thanks to his devotion to Lord Vishnu.
Holi is derived from Holika, and the festival celebrates good triumphing over evil. Bonfires are traditionally lit to represent Holika’s downfall and sticky end, while coloured powder is thrown to represent freedom and the colours of life.
Legend also has it that Krishna, with his mischievous spirit, coloured Radha’s face to match his own during a playful game, sparking the tradition of colourful revelry. From lighting pyres to symbolize triumph over evil to dousing each other in vibrant hues, Holi is a time for laughter, love, and boundless fun.
Catch Jimmy Fallon getting a lesson in all things Holi thanks to Indian actress Priyanka Chopra…
Holi Festival celebrations with the family in Singapore
You can expect some cool, family-friendly events to usher in this colourful festival on local shores.
Rakhee Shah, founder of Maisha Concept, shares a little about how she celebrates Holi with her family in Singapore:
“So I’m Jain, and my husband is Hindu. Growing up, I didn’t celebrate Holi, but after marrying my husband, we celebrate Holi with friends and family. Generally, our condo has a big Holi party.
It’s a festival where we all get together, have a big water fight, laugh and have fun! Wear colourful clothes and eat lots of delicious food. Everyone contributes to help out and pay for the caterer. It’s nice as all the kids know each other. It’s a yearly celebration.”
Family-friendly Holi Festival events in Singapore 2025
1. Rang de Holi 2025
Rang de Holi 2025 offers everyone a unique opportunity to celebrate and explore India’s diverse culture and traditions. Head on over to explore the Holi festivities. This event will feature live DJ music, eco-friendly, non-toxic colours, dance performances, and deelish Indian foods. Book your tickets here.
When: 14 March 2025, 6pm to 12am, 15 -16 March 2025 11am to 8pm
Where: Sapphire Pavilion, 10 Siloso Beach Walk, Singapore 098995
2. Holi Mela 2025
A big open field with performances, music, delicious food on sale, and of course – colour powder! Holi Mela 2025 is free for anyone to come down and enjoy the festivities. You don’t have to worry about the weather either, it’ll happen rain or shine.
When: 15 March 2025, 9.30am to 2.30pm
Where: Open Field at Tanjong Rhu View, 136 Tanjong Rhu Rd, Singapore 436921
3. Holi celebrations organised by OnePA
People’s Association is amping up the fun with various Holi-themed celebrations across the island. Festivities include the colour-throwing extravaganza, competitions and more. Check them all out here.
When: Various dates
Where: Various locations
Have a wonderful Holi-day!