Whenever spring season arrives in India, people began to prepare for Holi- festival of Colours in their own way. Most awaited festival of joy which get celebrated with high degree of enthusiasm and various ways. The colours of Holi not only colour your skin while they colour all the sadness and fill the life with new fervour and happiness. Falling in Month of March, Holi is end of intense winter season and welcomes summer. There is no foundation of big or small, poor or rich, nationals or international, the festival brings everyone close by covering face with myriad of colours.
The flow of tradition to celebrate Holi in India can’t found elsewhere. Generally, people enjoy the festival with their family and relatives, but many people want to make the joy of holi at best Holi celebration places in India. Foreign Tourists must plan for the Holi Festival in India to enjoy a unique fervour of colours.
Historical Significance of Holi
An ancient festival of India famous from Mahabharata era associated with Lord Krishna. The spring festival get celebrated on Phalgun Purnima (Full Moon). The Day of festival is followed by Holika Dahan which is done by people to kill all the evil powers inside and bring the good things in. Holi is also celebrated as immortal love of Radha and Krishna.
Indian states celebrate the festival in different style but with same zeal. One Festival, Various names can best define Holi Festival. This Year Holi is coming with long weekend that can be utilized to spend Holi vacations with best places to visit for Holi celebration in India. Choose your place to make your Holi celebration grand and unique from these extraordinary places.
1) Royal Holi-Rajasthan
Rajasthan is state of colours with colorful cities, soak in colours of various cities at time of joyful holi in Royal style. If you heading to Jaipur at Holi, enjoy the special event organized in lawns of Khasa Kothi Hotel flourished with Rajasthani Folk Dance, song performances, a great lunch of Rajasthani cuisine. For more spectacular and royal style celebration, head to Udaipur. Get welcomed by maharaja of Mewar at the guest zone of Royal City Palace. On Holika Dahan eve, a huge Bonfire is lit in massive ground of Palace. The King and his family adorned in royal clothes grace the event sitting in ornate camels, elephants. Afterwards, a decorated procession with fireworks, horses, dancers, musicians and royal band starts from the royal residence to Manek Chowk. On Day of Holi, Many Hotels and resorts make special arrangements for their guests with special Thandai drinks, colours, raindance and Refreshments.
Holi in Uttar Pradesh
The Cultural state of India, UP is most coloured at the day with festival starting few days before. Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana are prominent places of Radha Krishna Temples and many people gather them to celebrate Holi with their Lord Kanha.
2) Lathmar Holi, Barsana
Most famous Holi is Lathmar Holi in various part of UP but Barsana is most famous for it influenced with Holi played by Radha, Krishna and Gopies. In Lathmar Holi, Women beat men with stick(lath) along playing Holi while men sing song to tease them. The weirdest form of Holi is played in Barsana, a village near Mathura. The village is said to be native of Radha and a Temple is also dedicated to her in the village. The vibes, giggling of women will keep you enchanted till the nest season of Holi.
3) Gulal Holi, Mathura
Being the birthplace of Lord Krishna see the elaborate style of grand Holi celebration. Colourful Holi procession begins in the late noon from Vishram Ghat and ends near Holi Gate. Devotees gather on the morning of Holi at Dwarkadheesh Temple playing gulal and chanting Hari Name.
4) Phoolon Ki Holi, Vrindavan
The joy city and Lord Krishna’s Playland and enjoy the best at epicentre Banke Bihari Temple. The weeklong celebration continues with splashes of flowers or Phoolon ki Holi that proceeds with Widow Holi at Gopinath Temple. Get dipped in music of devotional songs amid Holi Bash.
5) Holi in Mahadev ki Nagari, Varanasi
Varanasi is also popular for playing Holi at best fervour. From the corridor of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, People play Holi with gulal, wet colours, ash with chanting of Har Har Mahadev. Varanasi welcomes tourists with Glass of Thandai/Lassi, banarsi paan, sweets that fill mouth with water and give immense enjoy of Festival.
6) Hola Mohalla-Punjab
For a completely different hues of Holi Festival, head to Anadpur Sahib in Punjab. Here Holi is celebrated with three-day long event named as Hola Mohalla. The mode of celebration is gulal, wet colours and demonstration of martial arts by Sikh community. During the event, they celebrate the foundation of the Khalsa Panth. A procession is led by Nihangas dressed and up in traditional costumes and showcase mock battles with their traditional weapons. They show amazing stunts as Horse riding, dancing with weapons and many more. Kirtan, dancing, poetry reading, Langars are also salient features of the Holi event.
7) Shigmotsav-Goa
Be a part of Shigmotsav- Holi Celebration in Goa with offering prayers to village gods and goddesses. People of Goa make this festival a 15 days long event with showing parades in troupes, music shows and night time musical fares. People dance on the beat of Drums and music system and wish each other a Happy Holi. The Fifth Day is very special as everyone applies colors on each other and colour the beach in different mix of gulal. Holi is best enjoyable in Goa with famous cuisines, natural colors, beachside party and mocktails.
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8) Dola-Odisha
Witness the Swing festival or Dol of Lord krishna at the spring festival Holi in Odisha. Idol of Lord Jagannath is places in Dol and a procession is carried out to the main streets. People play Holi with lord and each other with gulal (abeer), flower petals. Women sing devotional songs and dance on beats of music to offer their veneration to God. In the evening, milkmen carry the palankquin on their shoulders and take to the special tent Jhoolan Mandap. In the morning, abeer is applied on idol of Lord and several prasadam as Laddoos, pethas are offered. By the evening, Priests take idols for a dip in pond and then the dol get carried back to The Temple.
9) Yaoshang-Manipur
Holi of Manipur commences from Full moon day of Phalgun & celebration continues for 6 consecutive days. The prime highlight is Moonlight Dance where the dancers perform on the beat of Drums beating. Witness the culture of Manipur with folk dances, music, Lamps and bonfire with splash of Gulal.
10) Rang Panchami- Maharasthra
Maharasthra names the Holi celebrations as Rang Panchami and vigorously celebrated in Capital of state- Mumbai. Top notch resorts, clubs organize Holi parties to give collective fun of holi to tourists and locals. You will find an ooze of celebration at every nook and corner of the city. So, if you’re heading to Mumbai for Holi celebration, get ready to colored in fun and tune of bash of Holi. Take part in Rain Dance or Matki Phod, colorful water rides in water parks or Holi bash party at clubs. Where ever you will go, can’t remain unstrained in streets of Maharashtra. Many competitions held for Matki Phod where the winner is one who breaks the pot hung on a height. People in Mumbai greet each other with gifting and sending sweets.
11) Holi in West Bengal
West Bengal is home to great Novelist Rabindranath Tagore and he had introduced the Basant Utsav at Shanti Niketan premises. On this day students dress up in colourful attire and presents an extravagant cultural programme for visitors. Whereas You will witness fervour of Holi in quaint hills of Purulia that has intact the old-age traditions in its soil. Festival begins three days prior with various dance forms as Chau Dance, Natua Dance, Darbari Jhumar with spread of dry colours in the hilly sky. The festival is also known as Dol Festival and organised around Bandhar Deul.
Concluding Thoughts
There are many other places where you will find different mood of celebration but no matter, ready to enjoy the fun of Holi, where ever you are in India. Make your India Tour special with unique Holi celebration in India.
