Holi in India is that time of the year when every street across the land comes alive swathed in a plethora of colors, and riotous celebrations. What makes the celebrations across India unique is that every place in India has its own brand of Holi, making it truly special. Celebrated on Purnima or Full Moon Day in the month of Phalguna (the date usually falls in mid-March), Holi festivities in some places like Mathura, Vrindavan, Udaipur, etc, begins day in advance.
There are many places across India where Holi is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm. But there are some places that celebrate Holi with a special touch that is worth witnessing in-person. To experience them, make sure that you have booked your India Tour Package which will take you to these places.
The best of Golden Triangle Tour Packages will allow you to explore the heritage and cultural hues of the famous Golden Triangle comprising of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, AND also celebrate the festival in a way that’s unique and one-of-a-kind.
Delhi is considered by many to be the best place to celebrate Holi in North India. What makes the city so unique is its multi-ethnic fabric that converge together to celebrate the festival as a carnival with a fusion of traditional and modernity.
Holika: On the night of Holi, bonfires are lit to commemorate the triumph of the real over the fake. The next day, people frolic around with colorful clothes at lively functions where DJs sing to and dance along with Bhang that spices up the party atmosphere.
Holi Moo: A popular attraction during the festival, it plays host to over 40 international and Indian musicians. People revel in the atmosphere by celebrating with non-toxic pigments, shots, street meals, and sprinklers’.
Holi in Agra has its own unique flavor that is best experienced on Holi Day.
Bonfires are lit on the first day of the festival. This is followed by jovial water antics. Locals as well as foreigners take part with a festive spirit.
People come out on the streets with enthusiasm, bathed in a canopy of colors. While colors are thrown in every direction, glass after glass of bhang (made from cannabis) is downed with delight. In many areas of the city, there are parades doused in colors that are followed by the singing of folk songs.
Holi Food Festival: After the celebration comes the food festival. The festival brings to the fore many delectable delights like Bhang Pakora, Thandai, Dahi-Balle, Puran Poli, Dhaniya-Aaloo, etc, including the flavors of the Mughal cuisine.
It’s advisable to soak in the festive spirit by staying with a local family. This will give you an opportunity to interact with the family over a glass of juice or alcoholic beverages served with vegetarian snacks. Later, you also get the chance to relish the traditional Indian cuisine and dance to the beats of Dholak.
Book the best of Golden Triangle Tour Packages that will take you to not just to Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, but also to Mathura and Vrindavan (both quite close to Agra) and Udaipur (undertake a visit to this place after you finish your Jaipur trip).
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The arrival of spring in Jaipur is chronicled with the celebration of Holi in royal style. On the Holi day, the famed Pink City comes alive in all its glory reflected in the carnival of colors auspiciously with the elephant carnival that’s celebrated with great fervor. The carnival presents several entertainment sessions including elephant shows, elephant beauty competitions, community dances, and above all, tug-of-war among elephants.
Aside from the elephant carnival, there is ‘
Eleholi’: A cluster of special functions and gatherings that requires prior registration for admission.
Rajasthan Tourism Holi Festival: A venture of Rajasthan Tourism, it creates a unique festive experience on the yards of the Hotel Khasa Kothi. The show highlights Rajasthani folk dances, song plays, and a sumptuous celebratory traditional Rajasthani luncheon. The festival show is open to all including those who are not customers of the famous hotel.
Make sure that your Royal Rajasthan Tour Package also includes a trip to Udaipur on the Holi day.
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Holi in Udaipur will be a Royal HOLI celebration. The former Royal Family’s participation in the festivities elevates it into a grand celebration with a regal touch.
Glorious procession of camels, elephants, and horses on the night before Holi that takes the Mewar Royal Family to Udaipur, amidst fireworks that illuminate the night sky. The onset of this procession ushers in grand festivities that are a gorgeous fun fare.
Maharaja of Mewar greets reputable visitors, including foreign visitors and other dignitaries to the Royal City Palace.
Maharaja of Mewar in conventional clothes appears in a ceremony that involves a ceremonial campfire, called as ‘Mewar Holika Dahan’, lighted by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mewar, and the members of the House Of Mewar, at the Manek Chowk of the City Palace. The huge bonfire that lights up implies the conquest of right over wrong.
Traditional dance, called as ‘GAIR’, performed by the locals. This is followed by a procession carried out from the Shanbhu Niwas Palace to the Mahek Chowk.
Community hops, drum beats, and folk melodies. This is followed by cocktails, a sumptuous feast, and amazing fireworks.
Later, that is, the following day, Holi is played by the people in the city.
Holi celebrations in Udaipur come with a regal touch that spread over a period of three days. To savor the fun and frolic of all three days, it is advisable to opt for a Golden Triangle With Udaipur Tour Package. This will also allow you to also experience the best of Jaipur Holi celebrations and not to forget, celebrations in places in Jodhpur, Barmer, etc.
Also Read: 10 Best Places To Visit Rajasthan
The birthplace of Lord Krishna is doused with a myriad of riotous colors and music on the Holi day. In fact, the festivities begin a few days earlier before the actual Holi.
Morning of the festival witnesses people converging at the Dwarkadhish Temple near Vishram Ghat. The experience is out of this world as people pray and sing in chorus to commemorate the glory of Lord Krishna.
Late afternoon kicks off the celebrations in grand style with a big colorful procession where even kid dressed as Lord Krishna and Radha, sing and dance. The procession begins at Vishram Ghat, goes around the town and ends at Holi Gate. Revelers with bhang laced thandai sprinkle color, sing songs. There will also be a few vehicles decorated with flowers.
Evening ushers in ‘Holika Dahan’ which signifies the victory of good over evil, before the main Holi. A large effigy of Holika is burnt amidst a few rituals; the largest effigy is burnt near the Holi Gate.
Holi Day ushers in a grand celebration that takes place at the Dwarakadheesh Temple. Inside the temple, a leaf bowl full of gulal and flowers are placed before the deity. Then a procession moves to the Yamuna Ghat which is followed by the preparation of Bhaang by the priests. This is followed by play of colors when local men and kids participate.
Temples across Mathura are well-decorated and multiple events are held, including the mega procession from Vishram Ghat to Holi Gate.
Don’t forget to visit Sri Krishna Janmasthan Temple, the exact location of the Lord’s birth; and Nandgaon, where the Lord spent his childhood.
Holi in Vrindavan (a place connected to Lord Krishna’s early life), located to the North of Mathura, is not confined to just one day but is celebrated for more than a week.
Banke Bihari (Iskcon) Temple: It is the main center of the week-long Holi celebrations that takes place on the day before the main Holi festival. Temple priests at around 4 pm shower devotees with flowers, dry color, and holy water to the chanting of holy hymns for about half an hour; and everyone present play with Lord Krishna. This celebration part is called as “Phoolanwali Holi” or ‘Flowers of the Holi’.
Gopinath Temple: It witnesses around noon, a custom called “Widows’ Holi” where widows celebrate the festival. It ends a day before the festival.
Barsana is a small town on the borders of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is the birthplace of Radha Rani with a temple dedicated to her on the top of Brahmagiri Hills. On the Holi Day, the whole of Barsana is decorated in hues of yellow, the favorite color of Lord Krishna.
Laddo Holi: Also called as ‘Laddoo Festival’, it involves people of Nandgaon inviting the people of Barsana to celebrate Holi with flowers and bright yellow Laddoos (a rounded sweet).
Lathmar Holi: Also called as “Holi Of The Sticks”, it’s celebrated at Shriji Temple, the next day after the Laddoo Festival. Men from Nandgaon visit Barsana on this day, wearing traditional clothes with turban and carrying a shield. After paying tribute to Radha Rani Temple, they gather in the streets singing provocative songs, when the ladies of Barsana come out and beat them playfully with sticks on their shields. Later, laddoos are thrown by the priests at the devotees, followed by gulal (colored powder). The whole revelry soaked in colors spreads electrifying energy all around, as people enjoy the occasion with songs, dances, and Bhaang Thandai
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In Goa, Holi is known as ‘Shigmo’, with the celebrations spread over five days including bands, music shows, night-time musical fares, and parades. On this occasion, people play drumbeats and greet each other by spraying colors; and say thanksgiving to the village deities. Broadcasted across a fortnight, groups in the manner of ceremonies and artistic pieces are accommodated at the end of five days of the celebration. The last day also witnesses people applying gulal on others.
The festival is celebrated the maximum in Margao, Panjim, and Vasco, by both locals and visitors congregating on the beaches to perform with shades. it is advisable to opt for a Golden Triangle with Mumbai & Goa Tour Package.
Also Read: Beach Destinations For Beach Lovers
Glorified as the ‘Spring Festival (called Basanta Utsav)’, Holi in Shantiniketan, the abode of peace, is a historic celebration. First started by the famed Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, the festival, celebrated over a period of three days, is more of musical and lyrical, that’s marked by play with ‘aabeer’ (dry vegetable colors), music, and dance.
Highpoints
Disciples of the Vishwa Bharati University commemorate the event in a pretty unique manner, including a cultural program.
Scholars decked-up in yellow shade, perform some incredible proletariat dances and present educational shows. This is followed by the application of gulal in the form of colors.
Women dress up in all their finery in spring colors of orange and yellow that is heightened with fragrant flower petals mixed with colors, play with each other.
Participants clad in Indian traditional dresses sing and dance to the songs of Tagore and folk music.
Most people present during the occasion wear yellow outfits that add a sparkle to the festive occasion. The whole of Holi festivities start a day earlier before the actual festival day.
Unlike other places across India, Holi in Anandpur Sahib is celebrated in a different way. The celebration reflects the conventional system of the famed Sikh warriors. Rather than colors, the festival celebrations is more about physical activity in the form of martial arts and physical agility, a visual treat to watch.
The tradition of Holi goes all the way back to the year 1701 when the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh inaugurated a rally to fight against the growing Mughal imperialism. In later years, it germinated into a year-end fair celebration that includes the presentation of the Sikh warriors as the blue-clothed Nihangs. The whole celebration is regarded as one among the many religious Sikh way-fairings that’s worthy of being seen and celebrated with the locals as well.
On the Holi day, called as ‘Holi Mohalla’, several activities take place like
Tough fighter priests perform physical activity. The highpoint of the show is the classical performance of GATKA, a kind of combative performance.
Counterfeit Knife fights, Acrobatic Martial Operations, Headgear tying, and other methods of commemorating Sikh military courage.
Display of valor and courage through martial arts by Nihang Sikhs. They also showcase sword fighting, and wresting – every move enacted is in absolute harmony with the bodies of the warriors; and horse-riding involving outstanding stunts.
Colorful Holi procession through the city. The procession will see Kirtan Sabhas where devotional songs are sung by a group; and community service that involves free meals called Langar.
Holi in Anandapur Sahib is a lavish celebration that brings to fore a carnival of Sikh military courage.
Also Read: Winter Festivals In India You Must Attend
A UNSESCO Heritage Site, Hampi is known for still harboring the ruins of buildings that date back to the famed Vijayanagar Dynasty.
On the Holi day, all the temples and other remarkable historic sites are decked up in colors and there is an air of festive fervor in the whole city. Celebrated over a period of two days with a sport of shades and tones, Holi in Hampi is a unique spectacle, unlike other South Indian places.
The spring season
Heralds the start of Holika Dahan. People sing and dance in chorus to usher in the onset of spring season with bright colors interspersed with beats of drumming and whipping, against the backdrop of the wrecks of the famed Vijayanagar realm.
Holi Day sees the people applying colors on whomsoever they meet amidst the beating of drums. Later, they all gather on the banks of the River Tungabhadra to celebrate together. Several people also take a dip in the waters of the river on the occasion, which they consider auspicious. Many in fact believe that a dip in the river will wash away the colors as well as their sins.
Holi celebrations in India are as distinct as the diverse cultures in India. Experience it first-hand in 2023 by opting for India Tour Package, or Rajasthan Tour Package, or the best of Golden Triangle Tour Packages. Whichever package you select, you can stay assured that it will not only give you the opportunity to experience the distinctive Holi celebrations in each place, but also relish new cultures, meet and make new friends, and not to forget, see tourist spots.
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