How One Strange Tradition Transformed Holi Phagwah This Year

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:53:43 +0000

How One Strange Tradition Transformed Holi and Phagwah: A Surprising Shift This Year Every year, Holi and Phagwah bring color, joy, and cultural celebration to millions across South Asia and beyond. While both festivals root themselves in ancient traditions of spring, renewal, and divine love, one unusual custom this year has sparked widespread conversation—and reshaped how communities experience the festivities: the rise of ’Holiggins’ during Phagwah in rural Punjab and parts of Bangladesh. What happened? Instead of the traditional powder-flinging (Holi) or leaf-flinging (Phagwah), young revelers began creating hybrid celebrations blending both rituals with modern twists—colorants mixed with organic dyes, shield-like ‘Holiggins’ decorated to ward off mischief, and live music infusing Phagwah’s energy into Holi’s vibrancy. ## The Birth of a New Tradition