Which ancient texts mention Holi?

The Puranas are ancient Hindu texts that mention Holi. These texts preserve religious stories, ritual traditions and festival references that help document the celebration’s long history.

The Holi tradition appears in more than one type of early Sanskrit literature. The Narada Purana and Bhavishya Purana contain descriptions associated with the festival, while the Bhagavata Purana is important for the Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu story commonly connected with Holika Dahan. The Garga Samhita also describes Radha and Krishna playing Holi.

Holi is not defined by one single origin story. Its meanings combine the arrival of spring, fertility and harvest associations, the victory of good over evil, and devotional traditions centred on Krishna and Radha. Later literary works, including the seventh-century Sanskrit drama Ratnavali, also refer to Holi-like celebrations.

A common mistake is to say that only the Vedas mention Holi. The festival’s clearest named references in the supplied choices are in the Puranic literature, which developed after the earliest Vedic texts.