Places of Visit in India during Holi Festival

Holi festival is considered as one of the biggest Hindu festivals in India and also known as the festival of colors, this spring festival signifies the triumph of good over evil, the arrival of spring and also is celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.

Even though Holi is celebrated all over India is the utmost zest and exuberance, a few places travelers can visit to experience a unique form of Holi are as follows.

Barsana and Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh – Lath Maar Holi

The residents of Barsana and Nandgaon have their own unique way of celebrating Holi, wherein all women gather and beat their husbands with sticks, isn’t that every women’s dream. Many travelers gather around the Radha Rani Mandir to witness women hitting men with sticks.

It is said that Lord Krishna visited Barsana, also the village of Radha, and playfully teased her and her friends and was chased by Radha and her friends with sticks. Keeping this story alive, men visit Barsana and Nandgoan only to be beaten up by their wives. Find a trusted tour agency in India to plan and book your India festival tour.

Mathura and Vrindavan.

These cities have a mythological connection with Lord Krishna, and the festival of Holi is a week-long lavish affair where the entire town comes together in celebration, covered in color where travelers can witness and experience a combination of age-old traditions and unrestrained fun.

Travelers can also witness some of the most unique forms of Holi here, such as the Phoolon ki Holi at the Banke Bihari Temple where Holi is played with flowers or the widows Holi symbolizing the breaking of social shackles. Plan your travel plan With India tour operator and feel festival of colors.

Hampi, Karnataka

Although the Southern region of India is not known much for its Holi festival celebrations, Hampi is an exception. Holi in Hampi is celebrated on the full moon day during the month of Phalgun. Holi celebrations are spread across two days, wherein travelers can join in festivities with the locals and splash color on each other and dance to beat of drums followed by a dip in the river.

Shantiniketan

Holi is celebrated as Basant Utsav in Shantiniketan, West Bengal. Started by Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore at the Vishva Bharati University, students at the University dress up in yellow and present cultural programs and folk dances which is followed by throwing color on each other. There cultural presentations and celebrations attract a large number of visitors who come to witness and take part in these celebrations.

Anandpur Sahib

The Sikh community at Anandpur Sahib has given their own unique twist to the celebrations of Holi festival. Also known as Hola Mohalla, this three-day festival is celebrated with a display of weapons, mock battles, exhibitions, kirtans, music, and poetry competition, etc. The highlight of this festival is some of the most daring feats performed by some of the participants which include the sport of Gatka which is a mock battle played with real weapons, tent pegging, bareback horse-riding, the performance of numerous daring stunts like standing on two speeding horses, etc.

Jaipur and Udaipur.

The festival of Holi receives great patronage from the Royal families of Rajasthan and is celebrated over a 2 day period in Jaipur and Udaipur. The festival commences with Holika Dahan which takes place in many popular tourist attractions across Rajasthan such as the Udaipur Palace etc. and this is followed by celebrations across the streets of various cities like Jaipur and Udaipur all across Rajasthan with people throw water and color on each other.

Jaipur also celebrates an elephant festival during Holi wherein the festival begins with a massive animal parade wherein elephants, camels, horses are decorated and dressed up by their owners. Other festivities also include elephant polo, elephant races, a tug-of-war between elephants, etc. which attract a large number of visitors to Jaipur and Udaipur every year during the Holi Festival.