To this day, Holi remains one of India’s most widely celebrated and respected celebrations. As a day when people may put aside their differences and celebrate one another, the “festival of love” is another name for it.
The two-day-long Indian celebration begins on the evening of Purnima, or Full Moon Day, during the month of Falgun.
The festival’s official kickoff is the night before Holi, known as Holika Dahan or Choti Holi. It goes by several names in various regions of the United States.
Holi, the festival of colors, is an occasion worthy of celebration because of the joy in our lives.
The Hindu festival of Holi is one of the country’s most well-known and widely celebrated holidays. Beginning on the evening before Holi, a bonfire represents the victory of good over evil.
People express how much they mean to their loved ones with Abeer, a drink they share with their friends and family after a day of playing with colors on Holi.
History of Holi
It is unclear when Holi was first celebrated; however, references to it may be found in ancient Sanskrit literature and songs from as early as the 4th century.
- The term “Holi” comes from the name of the Hindu monster “Holika,” hence the celebration has long been regarded as a festival of color.
- According to the myth, Holika was the sister of Hiranyakashyap, the haughty demon king who ordered his subjects to adore him at all costs. Prahlada’s loyalty to Lord Vishnu infuriated him, yet he still loved him.
- Hiranyakashyap had his daughter Holika mislead her brother Prahlada into entering a flaming pyre so he could murder him for his betrayal.
Still, Holika survived since she was impervious to fire. Holika, on the other hand, sacrificed her own life since she was only immune when she entered the flames alone, but Prahlada was spared when he entered the fire singing Lord Vishnu’s name. - Following this, it is said that Lord Vishnu arrived and murdered Hiranyakashyap as a demonstration of good triumphing over evil.
People gathered the following day around the charred remains of the fire, covering their faces with ash. The use of colored powder eventually replaced this method. - Krishna’s blue complexion, brought on by the she-demon Putana poisoning him with her breast milk, further links him to the festival of Holi.
- When little Krishna expressed concern that women may reject him because of the color of his skin, his mother encouraged him to have some fun by coloring Radha’s face in the same shade.
- The act of dusting one another with colored powder is a way that they show their appreciation for one another and celebrate their connections to one another.
Where Holi Festival Can Be Celebrate?
Here are a few well-known places where you can celebrate Holi in different ways and styles.
Mathura
Lord Krishna, the Hindu deity most closely linked with the Holi celebration, is widely associated with the Braj area of India, which lies between Delhi and Agra. Its main town, Matheran, is widely believed to be his site of birth.
As a result, local shrines stage some of the nation’s biggest and most spectacular festivities, gathering thousands of revelers, many of whom drive from rural villages in open-backed vehicles.
The Dwarkadheesh Temple is one such place; on the morning of Holi, a teeming throng of devotees congregate to sing, dance, and chant amid a cloud of purple gulal.
Vrindavan
During Holi, Vrindavan’s Bankey Bihari Temple becomes the focal point of the town’s intense devotion to Krishna.
Pictures showing individuals doused in purple, red, and pink powders from head to toe in a crowded courtyard are likely to have been taken here. There is a simultaneous occurrence with the event at Matheran. One must be a fool to try to do both.
For a more subdued celebration, skip the Bankey Bihari and visit the Gopinath Temple, where a thousand white-clad widows assemble to celebrate the holiday by showering each other with gulal powders and hundreds of kilograms of marigold petals while temple priests play up flitting Krishna tunes.
Barsana
Barsana, located close to Mathura, has an exceptional Holi rite worth seeing.
Women lined up with hefty wooden sticks block the path of men from neighboring Nandgaon as they make their way down the small roadway leading to the major Krishna temple.
An enormous throng in vibrant gulal powders watches as the women slam their unique leather shields down on the guys with tremendous vigor.
Jaipur
A magnificent elephant parade, with the Maharaja riding atop a massive tusker in his golden howdah in a scene straight out of Mughal India, used to be the highlight of the Holi celebrations in the Pink City.
Jaipur, however, has continued to be a major Holi hub even though the festival has been illegal since 2012 because to concerns about animal welfare.
The royal family’s lavish charity ball at the palace is the main attraction.
Tickets are very hard to come by but can normally be acquired via us if ordered in advance.
Across town, at the Govind Dev-Ji Temple in the heart of the City Palace, the Krishna and Radha deities are heaped with marigold flowers and serenaded with joyful “Holi bhajans” (Hindu devotional songs).
At the same time, the local tourism office hosts traditional Rajasthani folk music, dance performances, and civilized “gulal” powder play at the splendid old Khasa Kothi Hotel (hymns).
Udaipur
On the night before Holi, or Holika Dahan, the local Maharaja would ignite a ceremonial bonfire in the palace’s central courtyard to kick off the festivities.
After the fireworks show, guests will enjoy a cocktail hour and a four-course meal in the privacy of their rooms.
The morning after, many foreign tourists may be seen at the ‘chowk’ below the neighboring Jagdish temple, where they have been known to experiment with ‘gulal’ powders in relative safety thanks to the efforts of the local tourism police.
Agra
Tourists may expect a riot of color and revelry during the festival of Holi, which is celebrated with tremendous fervor and excitement.
In honor of this special occasion, many people gather to drink bhang, dance, party, and feast on treats.
While in Agra, you may also see parades advertising the Holi festivals, which include bright costumes and traditional music.
After participating in the Holi festivities, visitors visiting Agra may explore the city’s many historical landmarks, including the Agra Fort, Mehtab Bagh, and the Taj Mahal.
Delhi
Holi in Delhi’s festive celebration turns the metropolis into a pulsating rally. The city is transformed into a kaleidoscope of color when pichkaris spray paint and gulal clouds are released.
If you’re in Delhi and looking for a place to celebrate Holi, go no further than the Holi Moo Festival (formerly the famous Holi Cow Festival).
Frenzy Adventure, the Maharana Pratap ISBT, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium are some of the best places to celebrate Holi.
A look at Lathmar Holi at Nandgaon and Barsana
During the week-long Lathmar Holi celebration, both males and females partake in the traditional use of lathis, or water pistols, to throw at one other while singing and dancing.
The males from Nandgaon disturb the local ladies by singing annoying songs and starting fights with them.
The ladies dress up as Gopis and beat the males with sticks to upbeat songs. Men who fall into the clutches of the ladies of Barsana are forced to dress as women and perform sexually explicit dances for the town. The guys show up wearing armor and other safety gear to defend against bumps and scrapes.
People celebrate Lord Krishna and his wife Radha by throwing colored powder and shouting “Shri Krishna” and “Shri Radhey.”
Next day, the women of Barsana will go to Nandgaon to join in on the celebrations. In addition, they consume a traditional beverage called “Thandai,” which is produced from milk and several herbs.
Can Tourist Join The Holi Celebration in India?
The answer is yes; tourists can join the Holi celebration in India. The festival is observed by Hindus across India with great fervor.
Holi’s day marks spring’s arrival and is considered a religious festival that celebrates the coming of spring, fertility, love, and joy.
It is also known as the Festival of Colors. People celebrate this day by throwing colored powders at each other, dancing, and singing.
In North India, children throw water at each other to cleanse their sins and make them pure again. However, in South India, it is more like a riot where people get together to have fun and play games.
What You Need To Wear On Holi Celebration?
Wear clothes that are comfortable and easy to walk in. Make sure they are not too tight or loose, as these can cause discomfort while walking around. Also, don’t wear shoes with high heels as this may make it difficult for you to walk on the ground.
Here is a list of items that you will need on Holi:
1) A scarf/shawl/shawl with beautiful designs and colors which can be used to decorate yourself or others with the help of colorful powder.
2) A hat or cap to cover your head and hair so that you don’t get hurt by falling colors from other people’s hands or heads.
3) Gloves, preferably cotton gloves, so that you can easily dance around without getting burned by hot colors thrown at you by others around you
4) A pair of sunglasses, preferably UV-protected, so that you don’t get hurt by falling colors from other people’s hands or heads.
10 Essential Things to Pack for Holi
The following items are essential to pack for Holi festivals.
1. Long-Sleeve Shirt
You can wear T-shirts during festivals, but wearing a long-sleeved shirt will prevent you from getting sunburned.
2. Scarf
Wear a scarf around your neck or wrap it around your waist to protect yourself from dust particles and dirt.
3. Sandals
Wear comfortable sandals or flip-flops while walking across dry ground.
4. Sunglasses
Protecting eyes from dust and sunlight is very important.
5. Camera
Taking pictures will give you memories that won’t die away easily. Be ready with a basic DSLR camera and a memory card for capturing holi images.
6. Phone
Photography has become very common these days, and taking selfies with smartphones is fun too. So, carry your phone with you at all times.
7. Lipstick
Colorful lipsticks add beauty to your face, especially during holi celebrations.
8. Coconut Oil
Rub some coconut oil on your body before stepping out. It protects the skin from burns and makes it soft.
9. Hair Product
Keep hair healthy by applying coconut oil and natural hair products.
10. Powder
Dust off powder onto hands after rubbing coconut oil on them.
How to Plan a Trip to India During Holi
After learning about Holi, it’s time to start planning a trip to India.
It is recommended that visitors to India for Holi allocate a minimum of seven days to their trip.
You may enjoy the event for two days and then spend the rest of your time seeing India’s most famous landmarks, such as the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Red Fort in Delhi.
While celebrated in many different ways around the world, in some urban regions, the festival of Holi may become excessively chaotic, putting the lives of its participants in peril.
This means that you should put a lot of time and effort into researching potential locations before settling on one.
If you’re planning on going out and celebrating in the early morning before the streets become too noisy, it’s best to book a hotel that allows its clients to have private festivities.
Final words
Holi is a picturesque, joyous celebration in many regions across India; it is a time when people of all ages come together to celebrate friendship.
What makes Holi extra special is that it allows us to devote ourselves to setting aside our differences and learning to respect others’ viewpoints and traditions—even if they differ from ours.
The spirit of these celebrations will hopefully inspire us as we try to achieve greater harmony within our country and even the rest of the world.