"Bura na maano Holi hai !!"
Holi in India is all about colors with devotion, dance, loud music, bhang and some delicious sweets and snacks. This vibrant festival is associated with many myths, legends and deities. Each year the date changes for Holi, it can happen anytime between February and March. In India, different states with their diverse culture and traditions have different ways of observing this day. The way it is celebrated in North India is completely different from South India. On the other hand, the culturally rich West and East have own ways of celebration. The best places to celebrate Holi in India is totally depend upon your taste, starting from traditional temple rituals to modern parties with DJs, bhang, and plenty of colors. If you want a real feel of this colorful celebration, see which of these places attract to you the most.
Tour of North India during Holi
Don’t miss Mathura and Vrindavan for religious aura and spiritual charm
The Holi of temple towns Mathura and Vrindavan, is the most popular one. According to legend, the tradition of Holi started from the ‘leela of Radha and Krishna’. Mathura is the birth-place of Hindu deity Krishna and Vrindavan is the place where he spent his childhood. The celebration in Mathura starts in the week before holi. A colorful musical parade takes place from the temples to river and then to the Holi Gate, where the festival is marked. The best place to enjoy Holi in Mathura is at Dwarkadheesh Temple.
The rarest sight of ‘Lathmar holi’ in Barsena near Mathura
The Barsana Holi will certainly give you all the vibes of Mathura Holi for sure! Barsana near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh is famous for “Lath mar Holi”. The main celebration takes place at the Ladliji temple in front of deity Radharani. It is the weirdest sight of this two days old celebration where on the first day the men are beaten up with sticks by women! Men are allowed to protect themselves with shields. Legend has it that Barsana was the home of Radha where Krishna went to tease her and her friends. Taking offence at this, the women of Barsana chased him away. The second day women from Barsana go to Nandgaon to play Holi.
At a short distance from Mathura, Vrindavan is an embodiment of India’s festival of colour. Enjoy processions of dancing people coated with colors just like Mathura. On the ‘ekadashi’ before Holi, the city celebrates Phoolon wali Holi where flowers are thrown at the devotees by the temple priests. Another special celebration of Holi in Vrindavan is the Widow’s Holi. The age-old taboo of society which prevented widow’s from playing any color, by rejecting the tradition Vrindaban widow’s started to participate a few years back.
Special visit to Banke-Bihari temple in Vrindaban
The celebration of Banke-Bihari temple in Vrindavan is very famous. The temple hosts a week long Holi celebrations. The event here takes place only a day before the main Holi. The temple opens up its doors to all visitors to play Holi. The priests of the beautiful temple throw colors and marigold garlands on the visitors.
Travel Punjab to experience Holi in Sikh way
The Holi celebration in Punjab is totally different from the rest of the country. ”Hola Mohalla” is an annual fair started by Sikh Guru Gobind Singh to celebrate the festival all the way back to 1701. Holla Mohalla or warrior is a week long fair where there is showcase of physical strength through wrestling, martial arts, mock sword fights, acrobatic military exercises, and turban tying. The warriors also recite poems,followed by the usual colourful Holi celebration.
Visit East side of India
Spend your festive vacation on Shantiniketan and Purulia in West Bengal to see the graceful cultural side of holi
