Holi is one of the important festivals in India that is celebrated to signify the triumph of good over evil. The demoness Holika is burnt on this day. It is celebrated with colors all over India. It is a spring festival in India that is celebrated in the month of March. King Hiranyakashipu was a demon who once ruled the earth and forced everyone to worship him. He had a son called Prahalad who was an adherent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried to kill his own son in many ways but was always rescued by Lord Vishnu. His sister Holika had a boon that she could enter fire without getting scathed. When she was asked to enter fire with Prahalad, she was burnt and Prahalad was saved again.
Holi is one of the oldest festivals and is a festival of colors that is celebrated all over India. Holi is also celebrated as a festival of love between Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha. There is also a story that Lord Krishna would often feel depressed because he was blue in color and didn’t know if the fair looking Radha would love him. Lord Krishna’s mother suggested that he apply color on Radha on the day of Holi and that is how they became a couple. Since then people throw colors at each other to celebrate love and joy on this day.
Holi is a triumph of good over evil. Holika is burnt to symbolize the burning of the demoness called Holika. She sat in the fire with Prahalad in her lap but was burnt and Prahalad was saved by Lord Vishnu. Holi is celebrated to symbolize that good always wins and is also a festival that celebrates love.
People celebrate Holi by smearing colors on each other. They play music, dance, and drink Bhang. Bhang is a paste made from the Cannabis plant which is turned into a drink and consumed on this day. On the eve of Holi, bonfires are set to mark the burning of demoness Holika. There are also rituals where people walk on hot coals as a part of the ritual as it is considered sacred.
In other parts of India processions of Lord Krishna and Radha are carried to celebrate their love. Many mouth-watering delicacies are made on this day. The pyre is constructed with the effigy of Holika and burnt in the evening in the open space.
Travel to Vrindavan on the day of Holi and witness the furor of celebrating this festival. This is the place where Lord Krishna was born and Holi is one of the most important festival celebrated here. The Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan celebrates Holi for two weeks. At this temple, colors are not used to celebrate Holi. Instead, flowers are showered on the devotees by the priests on this festival. Hence it is called Flower Holi or Phool Ki Holi at this temple. There are huge musical processions that are organized where people smear each other with colors and dance. At Vrindavan, Widows Holi is also celebrated where the widows participate in the colorful festival.
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This is a place in Uttar Pradesh where Holi is celebrated in a unique way. Lathmar Holi is celebrated where the women rejoice in beating up men with sticks. Barsana is the birthplace of Radha, the beloved of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna used to tease girls at this place in a friendly way and play pranks with them. The Ladli Ji Temple in this town is the place where you can witness the bizarre Holi traditions and rituals on this day.
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This festival is celebrated with great gusto in the capital city of India. The DJ plays music, people dance, throw colors at each other and have a good time during the day. Sweets, Bhang and many other delicacies are relished on this day. In the evening bonfire is set to signify burning of Holika. Many Holi parties are organized across the city where you can enjoy the music, play with colors, and relish the food with street colors.
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Holi is celebrated as Basant Utsav or the Spring festival in this town of West Bengal. The Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore introduced this festival in West Bengal. There are many cultural events held on this day with music and dance celebrations. All the people who participate in a dress in the colors of the spring and wear flowers. People smear dry colors on each other. This festival is celebrated one day before Holi.
It is celebrated like a folk festival where folk dance forms like Nature, Chau, and Darbari dance forms are showcased. The villagers display a variety of folk art and folk songs are sung on this day. Purulia in West Bengal is also a place to visit to celebrate Basant Utsav.
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Hola Mohalla is a type of Holi that is celebrated in this town of Punjab. It was started by the Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh to celebrate Sikh Warriors since the 17th century. Anandpur Sahib is a pilgrimage of Sikh people. It is celebrated one day after Holi to celebrate the sect of Sikh warriors known was Nihang Sikhs and martial arts is displayed as a tradition. Many mock acts of sword fights, turban tying, and other Sikh military warrior acts are enacted to celebrate this festival. It is followed by Punjabi music and dance. Holi is celebrated like a Warrior Holi in this town.
Holi is played in the ruins of Hampi. The entire town participates in the festival, people throw colors at each other, drink Bhang, and dance to the drumming all day. Holi in Hampi is celebrated because it attracts a lot of international tourists and is a place that has gained significance for celebrating Holi for a few years. Holi is traditionally a North India festival that is celebrated with a lot of furor in Hampi, Karnataka.
Mumbai is lively 24×7 and on the day of Holi, you can join any of the private parties that play music and held Holi events with music, dance, and people smearing colors at each other. The ‘Matki Phod’ is celebrated on Holi in Mumbai. A pot is tied high on the streets, and people gather making a pyramid to reach this pot to break it. It is celebrated on the streets of Mumbai. It is celebrated to signify that Lord Krishna used to steal butter from the pot. The pots which are strung high are filled with colors, milk, and butter.
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Holi is celebrated in Kerala as Manjal Kuli by the Kudumbi community. The yellow color is smeared to signify turmeric, which is sacred to this community. This festival is celebrated to symbolize the victory of Goddess Durga over a demon. A mud crocodile is created to symbolize the goddess who is believed to help the people of this community migrate from Goa to Kerala. Water is mixed with turmeric and poured at each other. People sing and dance to the folk music of this community. This festival is celebrated for 4 days in the month of March.
There are three types of Holi that are celebrated in this state. Khadi Holi is celebrated in the rural areas of Uttarakhand where the locals sing and dance to the folk songs playing drums. Baithki Holi is celebrated from December to March in some parts of this state to welcome the spring season. Mahila Holi is celebrated by the women of this state who sing and dance to the tunes of folk songs. The bonfire is set one day before Holi to signify the burning of Holika.
Royal Holi is celebrated with Rajasthani traditions at this city. The Pink City celebrates Holi with colorful smearing of colors, also with the elephant festival where the elephants are painted in vivid motifs and participate in the processions. The elephants are made to play the tug of war game. Folk dances and music mark the celebration of this festival. Udaipur is also a place in Rajasthan where you can visit to witness the extravagant celebrations of Holi.
You can join the Royal celebrations at the Udaipur palace along with the Mewar family and witness the traditions and culture of the Royal heritage at Udaipur.
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Holi is celebrated in this state with many street performances in colorful costumes. A special traditional dance called the ‘Thabal Chongba’ is performed on the streets with drums. People sing and dance on devotional music to celebrate this festival. On the last day of Holi, a procession is carried out in Imphal, the capital city of Manipur.
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