Best Places to Celebrate Holi in India
The national celebration of Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is a major occasion for revelry and pleasure. It is a holiday that spreads joy and colour into everyone’s hearts as well as their surroundings. From the east to the west and the north to the south, India has some of the best locations to celebrate Holi. Many parts of India have various traditions and ways of commemorating this event, from using the traditional colours of pink, yellow, orange, and more to playing with flowers and water balloons, among other things.
Holi, which heralds the arrival of the spring and harvest seasons, also commemorates the triumph of good over evil. A significant influx of tourists from all over the world travel to the nation during this period to take in the pomp and festivities. Holi is undoubtedly a festival that unites people, whether it’s via activities like playing with gulaal, watching the Holika Dahan, indulging in delectable gujiyas and thandai, or hosting house parties with your loved ones.
Here is the list of best places to celebrate Holi in India:
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Mathura
One of the best sites to celebrate Holi in India is the city of Mathura, which is situated in Braj, Uttar Pradesh. In addition to being one of the few locations in the nation where you can see the proof of his miracles, it is considered to be the location of Lord Krishna’s birth. And during Holi, Mathura transforms into a refuge for people as this is where the most lavish festivities of this holiday are held in the entire nation. You can participate in various music and dance festivals as well as morning chanting, bhajans, and playing with purple gulaal at the Dwarkadheesh Temple. There are also colorful processions from the Vishram Ghat to the Holi Gate. Throughout Holi, Mathura hosts Ras-Leelas and Matki Phod celebrations.
2. Vrindavan
Home of the Phoolon ki Holi, Vrindavan is another popular spot to celebrate this holiday. In order to celebrate Holi with flowers, which is considered to revive everyone’s brotherhood, thousands of pilgrims travel to Vrindavan each year. The Banke Bihari Temple, where the festival’s opening rituals are performed, is where the primary Holi celebrations in Vrindavan take place.
3. Barsana
The small hamlet of Barsana, which is close to Mathura, is one of the best spots in India to celebrate Holi. You may see the famous Lathmar Holi, where women beat men with sticks in good fun, here in Barsana. One of the most enjoyable events you will attend is the Lathmar Holi of Barsana, which normally takes place a week before the major festival.
In addition to the Lathmar Holi, you may also participate in the sweet Ladoo Holi at the Shriji Temple in Barsana. Laddoos are given out to worshippers inside and outside the temple as a representation of Lord Krishna travelling from Nandgaon to Barsana to meet Radha. Together with bhajans honoring Lord Krishna and Radha, people also sing a lot of traditional songs in Braj Bhasha to celebrate Holi in Barsana.
4. Shantiniketan
Holi, also known as Basanta Utsav, is a huge celebration in Shantiniketan. Shantiniketan, a city in West Bengal close to Kolkata, celebrates the event in a more cultural way by drawing inspiration from the vivid colours of Holi. It is situated in Bolpur. At his Rabindra Bharati University in Shantiniketan, the well-known Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore originally developed the Basanta Utsav festival.
They dress up in saffron-colored attire for Holi, together with university students, and sing and dance to Tagore songs before playing with coloured powder. Also, they perform gulaal on one another and enjoy delectable sweets. The Holi festival in Shantiniketan draws thousands of visitors to this small village from all over the world, not only from India.
5. Agra
One of the top cities in India to celebrate Holi is Agra, which is situated on the Yamuna River’s banks in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra is the location of lavish Holi celebrations every year in addition to the famed Taj Mahal. Holi is celebrated here with great fanfare and vigour by playing with vibrant colours, eating delectable food and sweets, downing glasses of thandai, and dancing to upbeat music.
6. Udaipur
In the Rajasthani city of Udaipur, you may celebrate Holi like a king or queen. The Holika Dahan rite performed by the royal Mewar family kicks off the Holi celebrations in Udaipur. This is referred to as the Mewar Holika Dahan, and it is followed by a vibrant parade from the residence of the royal family to the royal residence at Manek Chowk. Around the customary fire at this time, you can also watch residents performing the Gair folk dance.
7. Pushkar
There is nothing better than travelling to Pushkar, one of India’s top locations for Holi celebrations. Holi, which is celebrated in Pushkar with the highest fervour and vigour, is one of the most breathtaking spectacles you will ever see. Holi at Pushkar is nothing short of exceptional, with festivities taking place close to the ghats and temples, as well as gulaal application, gujiya consumption, and even bhang thandai competitions.
8. Purulia
Purulia, one of West Bengal’s best-kept secrets, is a wonderful location to celebrate the Holi holiday in a pretty distinctive style. Purulia, which features lush green scenery, undulating hills, and dense forests, observes this event three days before Holi. Holi in Purulia, also known as the Dol Festival, is organised around the Bandhar Deul, a temple built in the eighth century. A wide variety of folk acts, like as the Chau and Natua dances, the Darbari Jhumur, and Baul music, which give the event its own distinct flavour, are also available here during Holi.
The Ayodhya Pahar in Purulia, which is painted red during the springtime when this event is celebrated, is one of the celebration’s main attractions. This is because during this season the Palash flowers blossom here and cover the entire landscape, creating a captivating spectacle.
9. Jaipur
Jaipur is one of the best places to celebrate Holi in India. It is during this festival that you can see the entire Pink City get transformed into a vibrant rainbow. Holi in Jaipur is a culmination of different activities and experiences, with amazing celebrations organised by the royal family at the palace. Many other functions around the city are also organised, which include a variety of Rajasthani folk music, dance as well as the traditional playing and exchange of gulaal.
10. Hampi
Even while Holi may not be a very significant event in the South, it is nonetheless observed in cities and towns there, primarily as a celebration of joy and good times. Perhaps one of the most striking outliers is the town of Hampi, where numerous temples are fervently commemorating this event. Holi in Hampi includes everything from the Holika Dahan to traditional and folk songs and dances, as well as the exchanging of colours.
