Holi, the festival of colours, is one of the most vibrant and joyous festivals in India. It is celebrated in different parts of the country in different ways, with music, dance, and lots of coloured powder and water.?
This festival marks the arrival of spring and the end of winter. The festival of Holi is also observed as the triumph of good over evil and also the beginning of a good spring harvest season. If you are planning to experience Holi in India, here are some of the best places across the country to celebrate the festival.
The celebrations of the festival of Holi start on the evening of Purnima which is the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna. Popularly known as the festival of colours, Holi is celebrated with great immense fervour and enthusiasm annually across the country. This year the festival of colour will be observed on 8 March 2023 (Wednesday). The festival is also known as Dol Purnima, Rangwali Holi, Dhulandi, Dhuleti, Manjal Kuli, Yaosang, Ukuli, Jajiri, Shigmo, or Phagwah.
Holi is the most popular festival celebrated in Vrindavan, a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, known for its association with Lord Krishna. On the day of Holi, people come out to the streets and smear each other with coloured powder and water. The Festival of Holi is a joyous occasion where people forget their differences and celebrate together.
In Vrindavan, Holi is celebrated in a unique way. The festivities start a week before the main day of Holi and are marked by processions of devotees carrying idols of Radha and Krishna, who are believed to have played Holi with their friends in this very town.
On the day of Holi, people gather in the streets and throw colours and water at each other, accompanied by music and dance. The celebrations are particularly vibrant in the temples of Vrindavan, where devotees come from far and wide to take part in the festivities and seek blessings from the deities.
This small town near Mathura is famous for its unique Lathmar Holi can actually be said to be the weirdest way of celebrating the festival, where women beat men with sticks in a playful manner. The men have to protect themselves with shields to avoid getting hit.
Holi is a major Hindu festival celebrated across the country but in Barsana, a small town in Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the festival is unique and very famous. In Barsana, the festival of Holi is celebrated as Lathmar Holi, which involves women hitting men with sticks also called lathis in a playful manner. The celebration starts with a procession, where men from the nearby village of Nandgaon visit Barsana to play Holi with the women. The women of Barsana then welcome them with a shower of colours and hit them with lathis. The men try to protect themselves with shields but eventually surrender to the women's playfulness. This tradition symbolises the playful interaction between Lord Krishna and Radha.
Located near Mathura, Nandgaon is a small town where according to legends Lord Krishna spent his childhood. The Holi celebrations here include throwing coloured water and flowers at each other and smearing colours on the face.
Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Nandgaon, a small town near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. The festivities last for several days and are centred? around the Radha Rani temple, where devotees gather to offer prayers and seek blessings.
On the day of Holi, the town is awash with colours, as people run through the streets throwing brightly hued powders and coloured water at each other in celebration of the end of winter and also for the triumph of good over evil. The air is filled with music and dancing, and people indulge in traditional sweets and snacks. Overall, the Holi celebrations in Nandgaon are a riot of colours, music, and joy, and are a must-see for anyone interested in experiencing the rich culture and traditions of India.
The Elephant Festival is an annual event held in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The festival is typically held on the day of Holi, which is the festival of colours, and features a colourful procession of beautifully decorated elephants, along with other cultural performances and activities.?
The festival attracts both locals and tourists all over the world, who come to witness the stunningly adorned elephants and their skilled mahouts (elephant riders). The festival also features a variety of competitions, including elephant polo and races, as well as cultural events such as traditional dances and music performances. Overall, the Elephant Festival is a unique and vibrant celebration of the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan.
Udaipur's stunning palaces, lakes, and gardens provide a scenic backdrop for the festivities. Holi in Udaipur is a joyous occasion where locals and travellers from across the country come together to celebrate, connect, and have fun.
The Holi celebration by the royal family in Udaipur is a grand and magnificent affair. The royal family of Mewar, who are the custodians of Udaipur's cultural heritage, host an elaborate Holi celebration at the City Palace.
The festivities begin with a regal procession that features the Maharana of Mewar on his royal horse. The procession moves through the streets of Udaipur and culminates at the City Palace.
At the palace, guests are treated to a lavish feast and traditional performances by local artists. The highlight of the celebration is the "Holika Dahan" ceremony, where a bonfire is lit to symbolise the victory of good over evil.
The next day, the royal family and their guests participate in the colourful Holi festivities, playing with vibrant colours and enjoying traditional delicacies. The celebration by the royal family is a true spectacle and a reflection of Udaipur's rich cultural heritage.
Basant Utsav is a vibrant spring festival celebrated in the town of Santiniketan, located in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India. The festival is also known as "Holi" or "Dol Jatra" and is celebrated on the full moon day of the Bengali month of Phalgun (usually in March).
During the festival, students and teachers of the Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan dress up in colourful clothes and perform folk songs and dances. The entire town is decorated with colourful flowers and people smear each other with colourful powders and water as a symbol of unity and brotherhood.
The festival was first started by Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Laureate poet, and philosopher, and has since become an integral part of the cultural heritage of West Bengal.
Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India. The festival is usually celebrated in March and is a two-day event. On the first day, people light bonfires to symbolise the triumph of good over evil. On the second day, people play with colours and water, smear each other's faces with coloured powder, and enjoy festive food and drinks. The streets of Hampi come alive with music, dance, and joyous celebrations as locals and tourists alike participate in the fun-filled festival. Holi in Hampi is a unique experience that offers a glimpse into India's rich culture and traditions.
The Holi Moo! Festival inspired by the colourful festival of Holi which signifies the start of spring, combines traditional revelry with a contemporary mix of music, art and culture. The 15th edition of Holi Moo a multi-genre, multi-stage music festival that celebrates one of the most popular Indian traditions of Holi is back in a twin-city tour in Dehradun and Goa! The 15th edition of the festival will be held in Dehradun and Goa on the 4th and 8th of March this year respectively.?
Holi Moo! The Festival offers a safe, secure and welcoming environment for all revellers, with an opportunity to play the traditional festival of Holi with eco-friendly organic gulaal raising one¡¯s tempo with traditional Indian dhols (drums) and performers. Visitors also get to enjoy Indian and Western street foods and colourfully crafted, Holi-inspired cocktails.
Shigmo is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in Goa, India. It is also known as Shigmotsav or Shigmo Festival. The festival is celebrated in the spring season, usually in the month of March. The word ¡°Shigmo¡± is a Konkani term, which has been coined from Prakrit word ¡®Suggimaho¡¯ and the Sanskrit word, Sugrishmaka. During this time, people dress up in colourful costumes and parade through the streets, dancing and singing to the beats of traditional music. The festival is a celebration of the victory of good over evil and is marked by the performance of various traditional folk dances such as Ghode Modni, Fugdi, and Goff. It is one of the most vibrant and lively festivals in Goa.
Hola Mohalla is an important religious festival among the Sikh community, celebrated in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab which is also an important pilgrimage site for Sikhs and is known for its gurdwaras. Not just from India but thousands of people around the world arrived to celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm and devotion. It is a three-day festival is celebrated by the Sikh community that usually falls in March a day after Holi. The festival was started by the 10th Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh, in the late 17th century to strengthen the community by holding martial arts competitions and mock battles. The festival is characterised by processions of Nihangs (Sikh warriors) dressed in traditional blue attire and displaying their skills with swords and other weapons, and the display of various forms of martial arts, including Gatka that show self-discipline, warrior spirit, and the values of community and equality that are central to the Sikh faith. The festival also features devotional music and poetry and is a significant event in the Sikh calendar. Hola Mohalla is celebrated with great devotion and is considered an important cultural event in Punjab.
The holy city of Varanasi celebrates Holi with a unique tradition called Latthmar Holi. The festival is celebrated with sticks instead of colours.
The capital city of Odisha celebrates Holi as Dol Purnima. The festival is celebrated with coloured water, flowers, and sweets.
The city of dreams celebrates Holi with a street party called Rang Barse. The party includes DJs, live music, and food stalls.?
Dhulandi Holi, also known as the "Festival of Colors", is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Haryana. On this day, people smear each other with bright-coloured powders and water, dance to the beats of dhol and sing traditional Haryanvi Holi songs. In the state, the festival is also known as "Phagwah" or "Phalguni" which is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Phalgun.?
People exchange sweets and delicacies and visit friends and family to celebrate the festival together. Especially between Devar (Husband's brother) and Bhabhi (Brother's wife) where she beat him with a rope made of saree or clothes in a mock rage to pay him the price for all the pranks he played on her whole year and he acts as if he is powerless and he pretended attempts at shielding themselves lead to much fun and amusement. The atmosphere is filled with joy and laughter as people forget their differences and come together to celebrate the spirit of unity and brotherhood.
Rangpanchami is a popular festival celebrated during the five days of the Holi festival in the state of Maharashtra, India. It falls on Krishna Paksha on Panchami tithi of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which usually falls in March. Panchami denotes the fifth and Ranga signifies colour, thus in a literal sense, it refers to the very fifth day of the festival of colours. The festival is also known as Shimga or Holi in other parts of India.
On Rangpanchami, people smear each other with coloured powder (gulal) and water, sing and dance to traditional songs, and exchange sweets and snacks. It is a day of fun and enjoyment, where people forget their differences and come together to celebrate the spirit of unity and joy. Especially the festival is popular among the fishing community, as they celebrate this festival in the name of Shimgo with great enthusiasm and pomp.
Phoolon Ki Holi is a unique celebration which celebrated on the day of Ekadashi a day before Holi, which takes place at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India. During this celebration of Phoolon ki Holi, devotees throw flowers instead of coloured powder or water, creating a beautiful and fragrant spectacle.?
According to legends, the festival is inspired by the legend of Radha and Krishna, who used to play Holi with flowers. The celebration is marked by live music, dance performances, and colourful processions that attract thousands of tourists from around the world. The atmosphere is festive and joyous, and the streets are filled with the fragrance of flowers and the sound of cheerful chanting.
Phalgun Purnima is a significant festival celebrated in Bihar and other parts of India. According to Hindu Calendar, the festival falls on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun also known as Holi, the festival of colours.
On this day, people in Bihar celebrate this festival by playing with colours water, and enjoying traditional delicacies. The celebrations began with lighting a bonfire by putting cow dung cakes, known as Holika Dahan, the night before. The next day, people smear colors on each other's faces and exchange sweets and gifts.
In Bihar, people also celebrate Phalgun Purnima as the birthday of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a famous saint, and founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition. On this day auspicious day devotees offer prayers and perform various rituals to seek blessings from the Lord.
In South India, people do not celebrate the festival of Holi as people celebrate in North India but still, there is a unique way to observe the festival. Holi known as Manjul Kuli in Kerala is celebrated in Gosripuram Thiruma¡¯s Konkani Temple which is situated at Cherlai in Cochin, Kerala. On the first day of the festival, people visit the temple for worship and second day celebrate the festival in a unique way as locals use turmeric instead of colours. The festival is marked by traditional music, dance, and feasting, and is a time for people to come together and celebrate their community's culture and traditions.
Yosang is a popular festival celebrated in Manipur, a state in northeastern India. It is also known as the "festival of colors" or "Yaosang" and is observed by the Meitei community, the largest ethnic group in Manipur. Yosang is a five-day festival that begins on the full moon day of Phalguna, the eleventh month of the Meitei calendar. During Yosang, people participate in various cultural activities, such as traditional dances, music, sports, and games. One of the highlights of Yosang is the Thabal Chongba dance, where boys and girls hold hands and dance around a bonfire to the beat of the dhol (drum) and pena (stringed instrument).