Mar 31, 2025
The other day, I noticed people walking down the street with bright splashes of color on their faces and hands — laughing, dancing, and clearly caught up in something joyful. I wasn’t sure what it was at first… but after a little digging, I realized they were celebrating Holi, the Festival of Colors!
Holi is one of the most vibrant and beloved festivals in India. It marks the start of spring and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, drawing from the ancient story of Prahlad and Holika. Over time, Holi has grown beyond its religious roots — it’s now a global celebration of joy, renewal, and human connection. People come together to toss colorful powders, dance to music, and come together.
That got us thinking… why not bring a little of that festive spirit into the workplace? And here comes our picks of 12 Holi-inspired team activities to spark joy in your workday.
Starter: Make Your Holi Color Paste
Holi begins with a burst of color — and what better way to celebrate than by making your own safe, skin-friendly color paste? Here's how to create your color paste to kick start the celebration.
Setup Time: 30 minutes
What You’ll Need: Cornstarch or flour, water, natural food coloring or plant-based dyes (like turmeric, beetroot juice, spinach water), mixing bowls, and trays to dry.
How to Do It:
Put 1 cup of cornstarch or flour into a mixing bowl.
Slowly pour in ½ cup of water while stirring, until the texture becomes smooth and paste-like.
Mix in your preferred color — but only use food-safe or plant-based options like turmeric (yellow), beetroot juice (red), or spinach water (green). Stir until the color blends in evenly.
Spread the paste onto a tray to air-dry slightly if you'd like it thicker, or keep it moist in sealed containers if you're using it right away.
If it’s for a themed station or craft table, label each batch with team names or color tags to keep it organized.
Safety Note:
Only use ingredients that are edible or safe on skin. Don’t use any synthetic paint or powdered pigment marked for art or industrial use. If it touches the skin, rinse with warm water and mild soap. Don’t use near the eyes or mouth. Always patch test a little on your hand first to make sure there’s no reaction. Check out this safe Holi color guide for the full list of natural ingredients and color tips.
Creative & Cultural Holi Activities
Celebrate Holi at work with bright and low-mess ideas that bring people together. From face painting to Rangoli, these fun setups bring the festival feel to the office in a colorful and inclusive way.
Holi Face Painting
Setup Time: 30–45 minutes
Difficulty: Medium
What You’ll Need: FDA-approved face paint kits, brushes, mirrors, and wet wipes.
This colorful and creative activity adds a Holi vibe without needing a full-on color splash. Set up a face painting station during lunch or breaks so coworkers can get small patterns painted on their cheeks or forehead — like flowers, swirls, or traditional designs. You can bring in a local artist or let creative volunteers run the booth. Add a mirror and plenty of wipes for quick cleanup.
Safety Note:
Use only FDA-approved, hypoallergenic face paints. Avoid painting near the eyes or lips. Recommend doing a patch test on the wrist before painting.
Small Rangoli Desk Challenge
Setup Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need: Colored rice, sand, dry lentils, paper plates or desk mats.
Rangoli is a traditional decorative art that uses colored powders or natural materials to form beautiful patterns. For an office-friendly version, invite teams to make simple Rangoli right at their desks using rice, sand, or pulses. You can give them templates or let them go freestyle. Set fun categories like “Most Creative,” “Best Traditional,” or “Best Use of Office Supplies” to inspire friendly competition.
Holi Handprint Banner
Setup Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need: White paper or canvas roll, non-toxic washable paint, gloves (optional), wet wipes.
This is a symbolic, group-friendly activity that everyone can join. Roll out a big white banner across a hallway or open wall. Let everyone place a colorful handprint on it, and underneath, they can write their name or a word that represents their hopes for the year. It becomes a shared art piece you can hang all week.
Safety Note:
Use only non-toxic, washable paints. Offer gloves for those who want them, and keep wipes nearby for cleanup. Avoid any oil-based or permanent paint.
Holi Festival Crafts Corner
Setup Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Medium
What You’ll Need: Colored paper, scissors, glue, beads, small clay pots, and simple craft kits.
Set up a drop-in craft station with hands-on Holi-themed DIYs. Co-workers can decorate mini pots, create colorful garlands, or design traditional Holi thalis. It’s a great option for people who enjoy quieter activities. Plus, everyone can take their creations home — making it a nice little takeaway.
Want more ideas like this? Try these low-cost team building ideas for your next event.
Games & Team Challenges
Bring out the friendly competition with these office-ready Holi games that mix culture, fun, and teamwork. Each activity is simple to set up and keeps the celebration lively without getting messy.
Holi Trivia Face-Off
Setup Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need: A printed or digital list of 15–20 Holi trivia questions, score sheet, optional buzzers or paddles.
Turn Holi into a quiz showdown with a mix of cultural facts and Bollywood flair. Split everyone into teams and take turns answering questions about Holi’s history, color meanings, regional traditions, or iconic movie scenes. If one team misses, the next team can try for bonus points. Pick a fun host to read questions and keep things exciting — maybe even toss in lifelines. At the end, total the points and give a small prize to the winning team, like a snack basket or free coffee card.
Color Code Relay
Setup Time: 20–30 minutes
Difficulty: Medium
What You’ll Need: Color slips or index cards, objects around the office in multiple colors, timer.
This fast-paced scavenger hunt-style game is perfect for teams that love to move. Each group gets assigned a color — like red, green, or yellow — and races to find five items around the office that match it. To make it more creative, you can ask teams to build a mini structure with the items, or pose for a themed team photo. A moderator or judge scores based on creativity, speed, and color match.
If you are looking for more scavenger hunt ideas, check out our 50 games for inspiration.
Safety Note:
No running or pushing allowed! Keep it safe by limiting the game to approved common areas. Avoid using anything fragile, and remind teams to sanitize shared or wearable items.
Pass the Color Balloon
Setup Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need: Bright balloons, music player or speakers, open space to form a circle.
This is a playful spin on the classic party game. Have everyone sit or stand in a circle and pass a balloon around while Holi music plays. Inside the balloon, you can add some colored confetti (optional). When the music stops, the person holding the balloon has to answer a Holi question or complete a light challenge — like doing a dance move, sharing a favorite memory, or saying something kind to a teammate. It’s fun, spontaneous, and brings good vibes all around.
Musical Chairs with Holi Beats
Setup Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need: Chairs, speaker or music system with Holi playlist.
Arrange chairs in a circle (one fewer than the number of players), and play upbeat Holi songs. Everyone walks around until the music stops — and whoever doesn’t get a seat is out. To keep the energy going, those out can lead a cheer or dance. It’s fast, easy to organize, and adds some light movement to the day.
If you're looking to take these Holi games even further—especially for hybrid or distributed teams—consider using interactive platforms that can help facilitate real-time challenges and uploads. For quick ideas that work across formats, these 5-minute team building activities are a great supplement.
Decor, Group Photos & Memory Makers
Small details go a long way when it comes to making Holi feel special at work. These ideas are all about setting the scene and creating colorful moments to remember.
DIY Selfie Wall
Setup Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need: Bright backdrop (like streamers or cloth), Holi-themed props, signs, and photo frame cutouts.
Designate a wall or open space where everyone can stop by for a festive group photo. Add bright fabrics or streamers for the backdrop, and lay out props — like sunglasses, flower garlands, color packets, or signs with fun Holi phrases like “Team Spirit in Color.” Encourage each team to take photos throughout the day. Later, you can share them in a company newsletter, Slack channel, or hallway gallery.
If your Holi celebration is limited by distance, Virtual team building could be a quick fix. Check out our 14 free virtual game ideas
Holi Desk Decoration Contest
Setup Time: 1 hour (can be spread out)
Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need: Craft paper, LED string lights, colorful stickers, mini plants, or festive desk mats.
Invite employees to give their workspace a Holi makeover. They can use any bright or handmade decorations — paper garlands, mini clay pots, fairy lights, or Rangoli coasters. Let the office vote or bring in a few judges to select winners in categories like “Most Creative,” “Brightest Desk,” or “Best Traditional Look.” It’s a great way to make the office feel alive while celebrating everyone’s unique style.
Play Holi Games on Phone to Celebrate in Office
Holi party is fun, but preparation, logistics, and coordination can be challenging. Do you know a team-building app like Deckle that allows you to celebrate Holi with less effort and no cost? If you think color paste can leave a mess in the room, try drawing Rangoli on your phone, imagine throwing powder and freezing to capture the moment via a photo task, and check out each other's response on the App. That's right, it's almost as fun as the real one, but a lot less of a hassle!
We Have Prepared a Holi Celebration Template for you. Interested in trying it out? Play the Holi Challenge Now ;)
If you'd like to create your own Holi Challenge, try crafting tasks using Incredible Race. Utilize photo, video, drawing, multiple choice, or Q&A task to create your very own combo! Plus, the leaderboard and back-end storage allow people to compete for prizes, store memories to celebrate in the future, and monitor participants' progress so no one is left behind. Try creating your own Holi Challenge with Deckle.
