Marvellous Destinations in India to Experience the Best Holi
Holi, the word itself, fills us with joy and happiness. It is India’s most awaited and celebrated festival with great zeal. On this most mesmerising festival celebration, people apply colours on each other’s face, sit with their family and friends to relish Holi dishes and dive deep into the festivity. People residing in different parts of India come back to their homes to celebrate Holi. Many people also consider visiting popular places to celebrate the Holi festival in India to spend their Holi vacation.
Holi Utsav: An Overview
Holi is one of the marvellous festivals in India that spreads the message of love and togetherness. It is a 2-day festival that encompasses Holika Dahan and Holi. Although, the celebration preparation started a week before and lasted 1 day after the actual celebration. On Holika Dahan, we lit up a bonfire that spread the message of the victory of good over evil.
When We Celebrate Holi
According to the Hindu calendar, Holika Dahan is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima, and Holi is celebrated on the next day of Holika Dahan. Usually, it falls between mid march. This year in 2023, the Holi date is March 8th. Holika Dahan, also known as Dolyatra, is on March 7th 2023.
Why We Celebrate Holi
According to Hindu mythological beliefs, Hiranyakashyap, an evil king, and his son Prahalad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, are behind Holi’s celebration. It is said, Hiranyakashyap started to consider himself a God because of his egoism and forced people to worship him, but his own son was against it. He likes to worship Lord Vishnu and continues it even after several warnings from the king. Seeing this, Hiranakashayp got angry and ordered sister Holika to kill Prahlad. To follow instructions, Holika, covering herself with a protective cloak, sits at the bonfire with Prahalad. But the cloak saved Prahlad instead, and Holika burned. Later, Vishnu in Narasimha Avatara killed Hiranakashayp to establish humanity again.
Another belief is associated with the love story of Radha and Krishna. The story goes that Lord Krishna fell in love with Radha, but since Radha was a fair girl and Krishna was a dark-skinned boy, he was shy infront of Radha Rani because of it. To rectify this colour difference, Manmohan playfully coloured Radha Rani and all her friends. After this event, Holi emerged as one of the unique festivals where we play and do all masti by keeping our norms aside.
Best Places to Celebrate Holi in India
In different parts of the country, Holi is celebrated with distinct traditions and rituals, making it an excellent opportunity to experience the rich cultural diversity of India. Numerous varieties of Holi special food are prepared on occasion, and Thandai and bhang dishes are Cheersed. On this festival, you can plan a visit to several destinations of India to get coloured in the epic celebration.
Here, we’ve curated a list for you to explore some of India’s most marvellous destinations known for Holi. Whether you’re looking for a traditional Holi festivity or a more modern one, we’re sure you will find some incredible locations that suit your taste. To experience the best Holi celebrations trip, you can take a train journey and satiate your travel hunger with the scrumptious taste of incredible Holi dishes.
Also Read-Celebrate the Fete of Joy with Colourful Holi Special Thali
Mathura, Vibrant Holi at Krishna Janmbhoomi
Mathura, known as the birthplace of Shri Krishna, Holi, is celebrated with great fervour. Here the celebration starts a week before the actual festival with the Lathmar Holi. Lathmar is a traditional and craziest way to celebrate Holi in which men and women participate in a playful and harmless fight with sticks. On the day of Holi, people gather in the streets to sing, dance and throw coloured powder at each other.
Vrindavan, Witness Widow Holi
Vrindavan is again a fabulous location to celebrate Holi. This place is also associated with Kanha. It is said Krishna Kanhaiya spent his childhood here and did lots of Bal Lila. When many parts of India believe widows can’t play Holi because of the use of colours. Vrindavan gives a message to the entire world that the colour of happiness never vanishes from someone’s life. In the Gopinath temple of Vrindavan, Widows from numerous shelter homes come together and play Phoolon wali Holi. In addition, Banke Bihari temple also organises widow Holi, Pholo wali Holi, and colour Holi, which offer people an epic experience of Holi celebrations.
Barsana, Experience the Lathmar Holi
Located near Mathura and Vrindavan, Barsana is another place related to Lord Krishna. It is a famous Holi destination known as Lathmar Holi. During Lathmar Holi Utsav, women chase men with sticks to save themselves, and men hide in the temple. Women surround the temple and shower with flowers. Experiencing this unique way of Holi bash is itself a joyful activity. You can easily cover the Holi Mahotsav of Braj bhumi on your trip by being in Vrindavan, Mathura, and Barsana.
Shantiniketan, Welcome the Spring Season
Home of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Shantiniketan, located in Bolpur of West Bengal, is known for its incredible celebration of Holi with a different name Basant Utsav. Tagore first introduced the Basant Utsav celebration in his university Shantiniketan in which people are asked to get dressed in yellow attire, students perform in organised events as per their talent, and the event is followed with a colourful celebration. The Shantiniketan Holi is celebrated in a more managed and organised manner that one shouldn’t miss witnessing.
Anandpur Sahib, Celebrate Hola Mohalla
One of the holy cities of Sikh, Anandpur Sahib, commemorates an exclusive Holi that depicts the colour of war. Here, Holi is known as Hola Mohalla, a 3-day festival. To celebrate it, the Sikh community participates in martial arts, plays colours, wears traditional costumes and showcases mock battles. Moreover, at Anandpur Sahib Holi, you can witness horse riding, weapon exhibitions, kirtan, dancing, singing, and more. In addition, during Holi, in Punjab, you can also join langar to relish some delectable traditional Punjabi food.
Kumaon, A Historical and Cultural Holi
Kumaon is a region of the Indian state Uttarakhand that celebrates Holi more culturally and traditionally. Under this region, different cities, Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar, come. Here, Holi is celebrated in different forms Kumaoni Holi, Baithki Holi, Khari Holi, Mahila Holi etc. During Holi in the Kumaon region, you can experience folk songs and dance.
Purulia, A Mesmerising Sight to Celebrate Holi
Purulia in West Bengal is a beautiful destination with verdant hills, lush greenery, and forests. It is a peaceful place. During spring, nature itself plays Holi by blooming colourful Palash flowers. Here also, Holi is celebrated traditionally for 3 days. People indulge in activities like dance, music, consuming traditional food and brewing Mahua. You can reach Purulia by boarding a train to Purulia Junction railway station, PRR. Train connectivity is available to this place to visit on Holi.
Manipur, Yaoshang Festival
Manipur, an incredible state of the Northeast known for its beautiful tourist destination, celebrates a 6-day long Holi called Yaoshang. In the celebration, people beyond their age and gender participate and cheer on the concept of love and unity, which is the root of humanity. Experiencing this tribal way of celebration is epic. You must witness ones in life.
Udaipur, Commemorate Royal Holi
When it’s Holi, you can’t forget Udaipur. The Shahi Holi is celebrated with melodious songs, folk dance and plays. Here, the festivities start with Holika Dahan, where large bonfires are lit up at royal palaces, followed by cultural programmes. Then multiple Holi parties are organised in the city where you can enjoy the colour with delicious foods and beverages.
Jaipur, Holi in Pink City
Holi is when the world-famous pink city, Jaipur, looks like a rainbow. Similar to Udaipur Holi, in Jaipur, the royal families organise beautiful Holi celebrations. The Rajasthani Holi celebration, filled with folk music and dance are great ways to celebrate the day. Moreover, in Holi in Jaipur, you can attain luxurious Bollywood theme-based Holi parties at various resorts and venues.
So, what are you waiting for? Check the trains between the stations nearest to you and your selected Holi destination to enjoy the festival with all your zeal and enthusiasm.
Tips to Enjoy the Holi Fullest
Holi is a time for celebration, laughter, and spreading Khushiyan. So, don’t miss a chance to enjoy this festival. Here are some tips to keep in mind to enjoy this ever-vibrant festival.
Protect Your Skin and Eyes
We play Holi with coloured powders and liquids. These colours can cause skin irritation and eye injuries. So, it’s important that you apply moisturiser/oil on your skin. Additionally, to protect your eyes, you can wear sunglasses or goggles.
Stay Hydrated and Healthy
Amid the enjoyment of the Holi celebration, don’t forget to keep eating and drinking. Holi is not only a festival of colour but also an occasion to relish delicious delicacies. So enjoy exclusive Holi dish and drink ie. thandai. Also, keep in mind to have plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Choose Safe Colours
Some Holi colours contain harmful chemicals and substances. So, you must check the ingredients of the colours before buying it to stay safe and avoid all the mishappenings.
Respect Others’ Sentiment
“Bura na mano Holi Hai” is an overrated zinger because people can get offended and hold the right to complain about any of your activities that break the rules and hurt someone’s sentiments.
Keep Valuables Safe
Holi is usually celebrated in public spaces with large crowds, especially at popular Holi destinations. So, keeping your valuables safe is essential to avoiding theft or loss.
Avoid Water Wastage
We know it is a one-day or two-day celebration in which water gets used. But still, you should take care of the extra wastage because we cannot make water.
Spend Time with Your Loved Ones
We know it’s the key to achieving long-lasting happiness. During your Holi celebration, spend quality time with your loved ones.
Being at any of the mentioned marvellous destinations in India, immerse yourself in the euphoria of Holi and also, on the safe side, keep these tips with you. Moreover, book your tickets in advance, pack your bags, and get ready to celebrate the festival of colours with family and friends like never before!
What Can I Do on Holi?
Holi is one of the fabulous festivals of love and unity. You can enjoy this to the fullest. Be with your friends and family, enjoy a meal together, play colours, visit temples and do lots of fun. In addition, you can plan a family vacation on Holi to explore India’s epic culture and tradition.
How Can I Plan a Holi Trip?
You can take a train to top Destinations in India famous for holi. Undoubtedly, the Train is an outstanding mode of commuting in India. During Holi, Indian Railways introduce festival special trains to ease the crowd of train journeys. However, you will find lots of rush in trains, so make sure to book train tickets ahead and keep checking PNR status to know the ticket’s confirmation status. RailMitra, a rail enquiry app, will help you check your train ticket’s live PNR status.
Moreover, with the AI tool of the RailMitra app, you can check train live status, train fare, station details etc. In addition, with it, you can order a delicious meal on wheels and enjoy your craziest Holi vacation.
RailMitra wishes you Happiest Holi filled with colour, sweets and blessings.