The best places to celebrate Holi in India really depend on what kind of experience you want to have. You'll find activities taking place almost all over India, but they range from traditional temple rituals to modern parties with DJs, bhang, and plenty of colors. See which of these places, with totally different Holi festival celebrations, appeal to you the most.
Want to know the meaning of Holi and find out when it's held each year? The answers are in this Holi Festival Guide, including important safety information and tips.
Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images News/Getty Images 1. Barsana: Holi with Sticks Indian men don't always rule the roost! The women of Barsana village near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh beat up men from neighboring Nandgaon village with sticks, in what's known as Lathmar Holi celebrations. Lathmar Holi takes place around a week before the main day of Holi. In 2015, it will happen on February 27. The following day, the celebrations move to Nandgaon village. On March 1, the start of Holi celebrations at Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan will be the main attraction. It's worth getting to Barsana a couple of days in advance of Lathmar Holi so that you can also experience Laddoo Holi festivities there. Sweets are thrown around and spiritual songs related to Radha and Krishna are sung.
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2. Mathura and Vrindavan: Traditional Holi
Holi celebrations get underway on Vasant Panchami (end of winter), 40 days before the main Holi day, in the temple towns of Mathura and Vrindavan, four hours from Delhi. Mathura is where Lord Krishna was born, while Vrindavan was where he spent his childhood. The main venue for Holi celebrations in Mathura is in the vicinity of Holi Gate. A long procession with colors and music takes place on Holi (March 6, 2015) from the temples along the river to the gate. The Sri Krishna Janmastham in Mathura holds a renowned show in the week before Holi. The week long celebrations at Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan are also legendary.Popular tour company Viator offers a two day exclusive Holi festival trip to Mathura from Delhi. Otherwise, if you want to make your own arrangements, these top hotels in Mathura and Vrindavan are recommended places to stay.
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3. Shantiniketan, West Bengal: Cultural Holi
The celebration of Holi as Basanta Utsav (Spring Festival) in Shantiniketan was started by famous Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Inspired by spring and the colors of Holi, he introduced the occasion as an annual event in his Vishva Bharati Universitythere. Students dress up in spring colors and put on a huge cultural program for visitors, including dances to Tagore's songs. This is followed by the usual throwing of colors. Vasanta Utsav has become a cherished part of Bengali history and culture, and it attracts numerous foreign tourists. Note that festivities happen a day earlier than the given date for Holi in other parts of India. Delhi by Foot will be running a five day photography tour to Shantiniketan for Holi this year.
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4. Purulia, West Bengal: Folk Holi
A three day Basanta Utsav folk festival takes place in the Purulia district of West Bengal. It runs in the lead up to Holi and on the actual day. You'll get to sing and play Holi with the locals, as well as enjoy a wide variety of unique folk art. This includes the remarkable Chau dance, Darbari Jhumur, Natua dance, and songs of West Bengal's wandering Baul musicians. What makes the festival special is that it's organized by villagers as a way of helping sustain themselves. The location is around 5-6 hours by train from Kolkata, or transport in private vehicles can be arranged. Accommodation is provided in tents and there are portable toilets as well. Contact Banglanatak for bookings and arrangements.
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5. Anandpur Sahib, Punjab: Warrior Holi
Experience Holi the Sikh way at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab! Hola Mohalla is an annual fair that dates all the way back to 1701. It was first organized by Sikh Guru Gobind Singh to celebrate Holi. However, instead of throwing colors, expect to see a demonstration of physical agility. There's wrestling, martial arts, mock sword fights, acrobatic military exercises, and turban tying.
An elephant festival kicks off Holi celebrations in Jaipur every year on Holi eve. Elephant parades, elephant beauty contests, folk dances, and tug-of-war between elephants, locals and foreigners are all regular events. It makes Holi extra fun! Note: this event was canceled the last two years due to pressure from animal rights groups. A cultural program was held in its place, without the elephants. It's reported that an elephant festival will be organized on March 5, 2015, but this is to be confirmed. If it doesn't happen, a cultural program will occur without the elephants. Alternatively, if you do want to attend a local Holi festival celebration in Jaipur with elephants, try Eleholi. While in Jaipur for Holi, don't miss Vedic Walks' special Holi walking tour.
Holi Cow
7. Delhi: Modern Holi
Holi tends to be a rowdy affair in Delhi. If you're staying anywhere near Paharganj, be prepared to be covered in color by shopkeepers and children alike if you step outside. If you can, try and get tickets to the Holi Cow festival. A festival of color, music and madness, it's is held a short distance outside the city. The environment is safe, and non-toxic colors are provided, along with bhang lassis, street food, and sprinklers to get everyone in the mood. Both DJs and bands perform. Plenty of expats, as well as locals, attend. You can find out more about Holi Cow on Facebook.
8. Braj, UP
No one plays Holi like the people of Braj. You need to visit the land of Lord Krishna to realize that the Brajwasis are not exaggerating. And when in Braj, nothing can match the excitement and action experienced during Lathmar Holi of Barsana. Legend has it that Lord Krishna used to visit Barsana, Radha’s village, on Holi. Taking offence at his pranks, Barsana women chased him away. As a re-enactment of that event men from Krishna’s village, Nandgaon, visit Barsana on Holi.
Lathmar Holi of Barsana
Women clearly enjoy an upper hand and they utilize it to the hilt to beat the daylight out of the men. Men use shields to save themselves from the blows. All this happens as part of Holi revelry and no offence is taken even if the staffs miss the shields.
Goa’s answer to the festival of colours, Shigmotsav can be termed a fusion between Holi and Carnival. It is the biggest festival for Hindus and is spread over a fornight.
The grand finale of the festival is the artistically-designed and beautifully-lit floats taken out in the state capital Panaji and other places like Ponda, Vasco, Madgaon and Mapusa.
Shigmotsav is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of phalguna, the last month of the Hindu calendar. Festivities start with prayers to the village gods and goddesses. The last five days of the fortnight is when the parades are held.
Shigmotsav is a fusion of Holi and the Carnival of Goa
From the Elephant Festival in Jaipur to the Emperor’s Parade at Beawar, Rajasthan boasts of some unique ways to celebrate the festival of colours.The Elephant Festival should not to be missed if you are in Jaipur during Holi. Brightly decorated elephants adorned with scarves, embroidered head-plates, velvet parasols, ear danglers, gold embroidered rugs and large anklets parade through the streets.
The Elephant Festival of Jaipur attracts a large number of foreigners too
Badshah ki Sawari at Beawar, about 185 km south west of Jaipur, re-enacts a medieval practice instituted by the Great Mughal Akbar. Impressed with his minister and one of the nine gems of his court, Raja Todarmal, Akbar made him the Emperor for a day. On the day of Holi, Raja Todarmal went around in a procession distributing money and wealth on Holi. At Beawar, the Emperor and the vizier move around throwing colours. Koda Maar Holi: It’s Rajasthan’s answer to the Lathmar Holi of Barsana. Men who throw colour or water are whipped by their victims. While men enjoy the punishment, the women too seem to love inflicting it.Original SourceOriginal Source
No one plays Holi like the people of Braj. You need to visit the land of Lord Krishna to realize that the Brajwasis are not exaggerating. And when in Braj, nothing can match the excitement and action experienced during Lathmar Holi of Barsana.
Lathmar Holi of Barsana
Women clearly enjoy an upper hand and they utilize it to the hilt to beat the daylight out of the men. Men use shields to save themselves from the blows. All this happens as part of Holi revelry and no offence is taken even if the staffs miss the shields.
The Elephant Festival of Jaipur attracts a large number of foreigners too
