Carrying colours and celebration of holi festival in schools across the country has sparked a nationwide debate after some schools issued notices ahead of the festival warning students not to celebrate the festival on campus.

Holi will be celebrated on March 14 across the country with some states celebrating the festival for three days starting on Friday. In Rajasthan, schools issued notices to students warning them not to celebrate the festival on campus which did not go well with a section of parents as it hurt sentiments.

Some schools including St Angela Sophia School in Jaipur sent a message asking students to refrain from bringing Holi colours to school and said that if any student was found carrying colours, they “may not be allowed to appear for the examination.” The school, however, said that this was not a restriction against celebrating Holi but for prohibition of using synthetic colours during the celebration.

In response to this, Rajasthan’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar on Tuesday said the state government will write to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to act against schools for allegedly hurting sentiments associated with the Holi festival.

In a similar incident in Bengaluru, Bishop Cottons Boys school has prohibited celebrations in the school. Alistair R A Freese, principal of the school, in a letter to parents said, “As a precautionary measure, students are advised not to bring colors to school on 13^th March 2025. Strict disciplinary action will be taken against any student breaking this policy. We appreciate your support in ensuring a safe and clean environment for all our students.”

Some schools, however, said that they supported the festival and encouraged students to celebrate it in a disciplined manner. D Shashi Kumar, general secretary, Associated Managements of Private Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) said, “Most of us see Holi as an event for celebration in school. Some schools also give students skin safe colours on campus and encourage them to celebrate the festival in a disciplined fashion in schools. If schools want to celebrate it, no restriction must be imposed. Similarly, if there are some schools which do not want to permit it, it must be left to the discretion of the management.”   

Lokesh T, president, Karnataka Registered Unaided Private Schools Association (KRUPA) “Holi is a festival of colors. Such festivals observed all over the country are a good opportunity to introduce children to the festivals we celebrate. There is no harm in spreading awareness. Even if not full-fledged, atleast a symbolic celebration will do no harm. We are proud to say that Christmas is also celebrated in our schools, and we tell children about Muslim festivals. Focus should be on teaching children about all festivals rather than involving religious or political aspects to this. If we don’t encourage children, in a way, we are robbing the child off an opportunity to learn as well.