Beating of drums, multi colours soaring higher than birds, distribution of sweets, Holi songs reverberating in the air, – amidst all these there are people, drenched with multi colours, are dancing in glee. That is how you will be greeted in India if you come between February and March. This is the time when the whole of India warmly welcomes spring and celebrates Holi. With Holi fever catching the family, fueled by a long holiday, you might be wondering where to spend these valuable days. To ease your planning we are highlighting below ten famous places in India where you can enjoy Holi festival to your heart’s content.
1. Banke Bihari Temple:
Holi is a synonym to Vrindavan. To welcome spring after the chilling cold, this spring festival is celebrated with pomp and gaiety in Vrindavan. You can vanish into the huge processions of people smeared in different colours and dancing to the tunes of drums and music.
On the day of Ekadashi that comes before Holi, Phoolonwali Holi is celebrated here. That day the Temple priests throw flowers on the devotees. Widow’s Holi is another feather to its cap. It has begun only a few years back to break the convention of preventing widows from playing with colours and/ or wearing colourful clothes.
2. Barsana
Barsana, a place near Mathura, is famous for Lathmar Holi. In this Holi festival, women beat men with a stick while playing Holi! This unique tradition has been there in UP from ages. It’s quite a sight to find the women happily putting their sticks on their male counterparts. Thus, the Lathmar Holi of Barsana Holi is certainly going to give you a memorable holiday.
3. Shantiniketan:
Shantiniketan means Rabindranath Tagore. Shantiniketan is an old and premier university of West Bengal. To relive the ancient tradition, the Nobel laureate and poet Rabindranath Tagore introduced the BasantUtsav in this university. People follow this tradition until today with full of fun. To match the colourful Holi and spring students with colourful attire present a huge cultural extravaganza for the visitors. Colourful extravaganza and joy of Shantiniketan will surely make your Holi a day of delight.
4. Delhi:
The day you land in Delhi during Holi you will be infested with fun and frolics. If you can get tickets to the ‘Mad Moozik’ festival, Holy Cow, then you are in for an awesome time. During the spring festival if you are in Delhi then remember that Holi Cow is the place where every music lover goes. To give a different dimension to your Holi celebration Delhi offers the most sought after place in India.
5. Manipur:
Right from the beginning of Vaishnavism in Manipur people have been celebrating Holi and Yaoshang with full of vigour and merriment. Beginning with the full moon day of Phalguna, Holi and the great Yaoshang Festival of Manipur make it a six-day extravaganza. A number of folk dancers and musicians will enthral you under fluorescent lamps and bonfires, while people play with gulal. Therefore Manipur is yet another destination for Holi celebration.
6. Punjab:
Holi is celebrated by the Sikhs in a unique way in Punjab. As per a tradition local people shout their hearts out on this day, exhibit martial arts and in the evening they make fun with colours. Their martial arts on this day and have fun with colours in the evening. The added attraction of the day is delicious halwas, puris, gujias, and malpuas.
7. Hampi:
Holi is rarely celebrated in South India. But, the presence of a large number of western tourists Holi celebration in Hampi has become very popular. Besides using coloured powder & liquid colours, the celebration of Holi in Hampi will take you to a new height by a loud riot of music and dance.
8. Purulia:
In the Purulia district of West Bengal, a 3-day BasantaUtsava is celebrated before the actual Holi. Features of the festival are folk music & dance, and the exhibition of their unique folk art. The folk dances include Chau, DarbariJhumur, and Natur. You will be able to listen to the famous Baul songs of Bengal. These combinations make Purulia a famous destination for Holi celebration
9. Udaipur:
Venice of the East, Udaipur offers you an absolutely spectacular and royal Holi in India. On that day, the Maharaja of Mewar welcomes honourable guests, foreign tourists, and many dignitaries to The Royal City Palace. He arrives in the celebration wearing traditional attires and a bonfire is lit in the expansive ground of the palace. Sounds of drums, folk dances and folk songs will keep you mesmerized. It will be followed by cocktails, a lavish dinner, and wonderful fireworks.
10. Jaipur:
Pink City Jaipur is considered among the best places to celebrate Holi in India. Besides the general public, the Rajasthan Tourism department is also making all-out efforts to make this celebration a grand event. For the visitors of KhasaKothi Hotel Rajasthan Tourism organizes folk dances, songs and festive lunch on the lawn of the hotel.
We are sure that the above ten Holi destinations in India will make your Holi celebrations a unique one.
