Days before Holi, women report rising cases of sexual harassment

Safety concerns turn celebrations into nightmares

Holi, one of India's most vibrant and joyous festivals, is marked by colours, music, and celebrations. However, for many women, it has become a time of fear and discomfort due to the increasing incidents of sexual harassment on the streets.

“It was last year, Holi celebrations had just gotten over. I was at my friend’s place at Vikaspuri, in western Delhi. I was going to a shop with my friend, and we were about to reach the place when out of nowhere this guy on his cycle, stopped in front of me and threw colour on my shirt, that too in front of the shirt. I had already taken bath before and I was definitely not playing Holi. It was very uncomfortable,” Mahima Sharma, a student, tells Media India Group.

Sharma is, unfortunately, not an isolated case. Sexual harassment of women on the streets is not confined to any specific period or time in India.

Whether it is catcalling, groping, or other forms of assault, sexual harassment remains one of the most pervasive types of violence against women globally. In India, the situation is even more alarming, as a report published last year by ActionAid revealed that 79 pc of women in the most populous country in the world have experienced sexual harassment.

Holi, one of the most cherished and vibrant festivals in India, is marked by a vibrant celebration of enthusiasm, colours, and excitement. However, every year, this celebration becomes a source of concern for a significant section of society: women.

During Holi, the incidence of sexual harassment on the streets increases dramatically. Men, sometimes even teens, drunk or sober, ride bikes and scooters, throw water balloons or colours aimed at women’s private parts.

The harassment does not end there, many men also use the tradition of applying colours on each other as an excuse to grope women, all under the pretext of the saying “bura na maano, Holi hai” (do not mind, it is Holi).

“I was playing Holi with my friends in our society premises, I was just 15 years old. A group of older boys, from my school only surrounded me and started applying gulaal, holi colours on my face and body. They started groping me shouting “bura na mano holi hai” I was stunned and could not react. I do not like playing Holi anymore,” a teacher living in Delhi, who did not wish to be named, tells Media India Group.

A survey by Ideas for India, an economics and policy portal run by economists at International Growth Centre, reported an increase of 170 pc in assault against women during Holi compared to otherwise similar days. Similarly, instances of sexual violence and violence against women (VAW) also saw an increase of over 160 pc and 140 pc during Holi, respectively in 2024.

Every year, numerous studies, reports, and documented cases of sexual harassment during Holi are shared on social media and filed by women. This year, Varanasi, one of the cities renowned for its grand Holi celebrations, has made headlines as several women have shared their distressing experiences of harassment on social media platforms. They have reported being subjected to inappropriate behaviour on the streets, all under the pretext of the Holi festivities.

Over the years, similar incidents have been reported across the country in cities such as Delhi, Lucknow and Jaipur amongst others, where women have shared accounts of being targetted and harassed in public spaces. In some instances, women have been forced to stay indoors during the festival out of fear of being violated under the pretext of celebration.

Despite the widespread nature of this issue, the problem persists due to the failure to hold perpetrators accountable. The lack of strict enforcement of laws and the trivialisation of women’s safety during public festivals only perpetuates this harmful cycle.

“I was on the road trying to get inside my cab right outside my apartment complex when two guys on a scooter pelted me with water balloons. Before I could react or register their number of their vehicle they sped away. The worst part, there was a police booth just 100m away from me, even then it happened,” recounts Samriddhi Singh, a journalist living in Delhi.

Most women do not report the assaults as they see little action being taken on most cases of sexual harassment, with police either dismissing the complaints or keeping the complaints on files, without initiating action or investigating the crimes.

This has led for calls that there is an urgent need for a cultural shift, where respect and consent are prioritised during celebrations, allowing them to enjoy festivals like Holi without fear of harassment.