Mumbai: Holi, the festival of spring, colour, and joy will be celebrated on Friday, March 14. On Thursday night, people will burn bonfires symbolising the triumph of good over evil.

The festival held on the full-moon day is observed in the month of Phalguna. The colours that revellers daub on each other symbolises the hues of spring. There are several mythological stories associated with the festival.

One legend tells the story of the demon Hiranyakashipu who was angry with his son, Prahlad, for worshipping Vishnu. He asked his sister Holika to kill his son. Holika tried to kill Prahlad in a pyre but was burnt to death herself. Later that night Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu. The bonfires symbolises this triumph.

In other places, especially in the region of Braj, the story is linked to Lord Krishna and Radha. Some of the biggest Holiday celebrations are held in the Braj region centred around Mathura.

In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar which have cultural ties, there are songs called 'Phag' that are recited in Phagun. Groups called 'Holi Tolis' go from door to door singing songs like 'Holi khele Raghuveera Avadh mein'. Women, boys, girls, seniors, have their own groups, with the young teams being the most boisterous. "In Bihar, people from all religions take part in Holiday," said Manoj Singh Rajput, spokesperson for the Bihar Foundation.

Special foods like gujiya, malpua, pudi, and bhajiyas are a feature of the celebrations. And the festival is not complete without servings of bhang - sweetened milk or salted buttermilk mixed with cannabis extract. The tradition is that the sweet version is taken by vegetarians while the salted bhang is the favourite of those who have a meal with meat," said Singh.

Meanwhile, Mumbai police have issued a public advisory for Holi to maintain public peace and safety during Holi, Dhulivandan, and Rang Panchami. The order will be effective from March 12 to March 18. The prohibitory rules will be enforced especially because the festival coincides with Ramzan.

The prohibitory orders issued by Akbar Pathan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, include:

Spraying coloured water on pedestrians.

Throwing water-filled balloons, whether coloured or plain on those not participating in the festivities.

Pictures, symbols, gestures, slogans, songs, placards, or any other objects or things that may offend dignity, decency, or morality.

Violators or collaborators will face legal action under prohibitory sections of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951.