Holi is an ancient cultural Hindu religious festival that is celebrated all over India. It is also known as the festival of colours and love, as it is a springtime event. Holi is celebrated in a beautiful way on the day of Phalgun Purnima, which usually falls in the month of March. After Diwali, Holi is the next most famous Indian festival. There are a large number of best places to celebrate Holi in India.
Holi is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil and has a long history. The origins of the event are covered in a variety of stories. According to one theory, the festival recalls the execution of Holika, Hrinyakashyap’s sister. The festival is not only celebrated in India but also in many parts of the world.
The celebration is also closely associated with Radha and Krishna’s undying devotion. A lot of foreign travellers and bloggers visit the best places to celebrate Holi in India to commemorate Holi celebrations in India for the enjoyment and beautiful ambience.
8 Best Places To Celebrate Holi In India
The kind of Holi fun you would like to have will determine the best places to celebrate Holi in India. This post will assist you in deciding where to go for a spectacular and colourful Holi festival. These are some of the best places to celebrate Holi in India.
1- Vrindavan
Vrindavan is indeed one of the best places to celebrate Holi in India because that is where Lord Krishna lived and began this colourful festival. Krishna, according to the folklore, was envious of Radha’s light skin and splashed colours on her to match him. The Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan is the epicentre of the most spectacular events. It’s where the photos of people coloured in pink, orange, and red Gulaal that you’ve already come across on Instagram and Facebook were captured.
2- Mathura
Mathura, where Lord Krishna was born, competes fiercely with Vrindavan in being among the best places to celebrate Holi in India. Visitors from the surrounding villages go to Mathura in large carriages and tractors solely to participate in the celebration of colours. On Holi, a large majority of the public gathers at the Dwarkadheesh temple in the early morning to dance, sing, and recite underneath the mists of Gulaal. Nearly 40 days preceding Holi, the villagers celebrate with a carnival. If anybody pours a pitcher of coloured water on you, simply shout Radhe-Radhe and just have a good time!
3- Barsana
Barsana is one of the best places to celebrate Holi in India. Visitors are intrigued by Holi festivities in Barsana, which are also called Lathmar Holi. It is a Holi holiday event with a spin: men must protect them from women’s harmless bashings. Males are beaten with wooden sticks by ladies from Barasana and Nandgaon, the two Mathura towns, whereas men must defend them with their shields. Lathmar Holi occurs seven days prior to the major Holi celebration. This year, Holi will be hosted at Barsana on March 18, 2022, and also in Nandgaon on March 19, 2022.
4- Jaipur
Before 2012, annual Holi events in Jaipur were be highlighted by an elephants parade, led by the Maharaja of Jaipur swinging upon a gigantic tusker in his golden armour. Despite the fact that this celebration has now been outlawed regarding animal welfare issues, Jaipur continues to be among the best places to celebrate Holi in India. One of several great attractions on Holi is a large banquet organized by the royal household of Jaipur in favour of charitable organizations. You can also visit several historical places in Jaipur while you’re there.
5- Udaipur
The Holi ceremonies in this city of lakes are majestic and one-of-a-kind. On the day of Holi, the Maharaja of Udaipur lights a traditional bonfire in the main courtyard of the Palace of Udaipur, a tradition called ‘Holika Dahan.’ Visitors will then depart for refreshments and an opulent meal, which will be accompanied by a fireworks show. Residents and tourists alike congregate at the ‘chowk’ underneath the Jagdish Temple to participate in the colourful Holi Utsav.
6- Pushkar
Pushkar is India’s greatest sacred city, home to the sole temple dedicated to Lord Brahma as well as the best places to celebrate Holi in India. Residents and travellers flock to the lake-centred city to mark the occasion of colours, and huge numbers of people arrive in the city whenever a large event is hosted in the central square. Artists perform EDM music rather than Bhajans, and ‘Bhaang lassis,’ cannabis, yoghurt, and sugar drink traditionally drank on Holi, are enjoyed. If you drink far too much, you’ll be enjoying Holi for weeks straight. T-shirts are not permitted for male attendees; you must go shirtless for this function.
7- Shantiniketan
Holi is commemorated as Basanta Utsava in Shantiniketan, Bengal, founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in renowned Vishva Bharati University. On Basant Mahotsav, students in Shantiniketan wear dresses in fresh colours and perform on a large ethnic event that combines cultural performances based on Tagore’s poetry making it one of the best places to celebrate Holi in India. On completion of the programme, everyone splashes colours on one another. Basanta Utsava has become an important element of Bengali heritage and traditions, attracting visitors from all over the world.
8- Anandpur Sahib
The event of Hola Mohalla, celebrated around at the holy sanctuary of the Andandapur Sahib Gurudwara, situated east of Amritsar on the border of the Shivalik Hills, welcomes Sikh devotees from throughout north India during the Holi festivities, along with a strong force of Akalis, or Nihangs. Akali Sikhs are an ancient warrior group known for distinctive knee-length costumes, massive blue or orange turbans, and enormous armament wrapped over their bodies. At the festival, they put on stunning performances of combat sports and equine talents, as well as a vibrant fun feast featuring a Gulal colour show.
Takeaway
The Holi celebration in each of these best places to celebrate Holi in India is unique in that it brings together individuals from all faiths and regions throughout India, each with its own rituals and traditions. Whenever you go to any of these locations for a spectacular Holi festival, don’t miss to photograph and record the experience. Explore each of the Holi celebration places listed above to select your Holi vacation spot in March 2022.