This is a Holi song. Holi (होली) is an Indian and Nepali spring festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring. It's also known as the "festival of colours". People throw colored powders at each other and drench each other with water. Everyone is fair game! This happens in most outdoor public spaces, along with singing and dancing.

"This Holi song is mostly sung in Rajasthan, thereby the Hindi is slightly accented, so instead of the normal 'meri' for 'my', this song uses the more traditional 'mhari' accents. But it's really fun and famous even outside of Rajasthan :) The kids can role-play being fiancés by putting their index finger across the top lip to act as a mustache." -Mohit Ishar

The pronunciation can be found in the Song Notes.

Notes

To follow along with the pronunciation while listening to the song, it helps to know that each line is repeated at least once. Also, the 1st verse is the chorus and it's repeated every other verse. I italicized the chorus to make it easier to see.

Pronunciation

Holiyan mein ude re gulal

Holiyan mein ude re gulal
Kahiyo re mangetar se

Mhari e mangeter, chudla vali re
ghadiyaan valo re navaab, kahiyo re mangetar se

Holiyan mein ude re gulal
Kahiyo re mangetar se

Mhari e mangeter, nathni vali re
moonchaan valo re navaab, kahiyo re mangetar se

Holiyan mein ude re gulal
Kahiyo re mangetar se

Mhari e mangeter, payal vali re
ghodyaan valo re navaab, kahiyo re mangetar se

Holiyan mein ude re gulal
Kahiyo re mangetar se

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Mohit Ishar for sharing this song with us, for the translation (with Lisa) and the pronunciation!

धन्यवाद