Holi Festival in India

The air gets enrobed with exhilaration and the aura receives vibrant colours with open arms...the occurrence of Holi brings this convivial transformation.

Holi festival in India is something that every Hindu waits with bated breath. Adorably referred as the ?Festival of Colours?, Holi is the time when people from different backgrounds forget all the grudges and come forward to celebrate. Holi in India is an occasion to indulge in colourful celebrations, bonfire and sweets. The festival signifies the end of winter and opulence of the upcoming spring harvest season.


Time

Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in March every year.


Legends

The festival commemorates the triumph of good over evil, which is brought about by the destruction of the demoness Holika. It was enabled through unshakable devotion to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation.


Rituals

The emphasis of Holi rituals is given on the burning of ?Holika?, the demoness. For doing so, large bonfires are lit on the eve of Holi. This ritual marks the occasion and is known as ?Holika Dahan?.


Celebration

On the festival day, people smear ?Gulal? or coloured powder all over the faces of one another. Throwing coloured water, having parties and dancing under water sprinklers are the common sights during Holi. ?Bhang? or a paste prepared from cannabis plants is traditionally consumed during the celebration. ?Gujia? is a special sweet, prepared at homes and relished by the Holi players on the occasion.


Holi in Rajasthan- Celebration by Royals

An Elephant Festival comes forth Holi in Jaipur on the eve annually. Elephant parades, folk dances, beauty contests and tug-of-war between elephants and locals are the regular events that multiply the joy of Holi. A night before the festival, people gather and lit large bonfires to burn the dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People throw coloured powders and water and make merry. Dancing on the traditional beats of Dhol further adds gaiety to the event. On this day, the royals of Rajasthan also mingle with the commoners and they get drenched in colours. The second day is known as Dhulandi.


Holi in Mathura - Traditional Affair

The temple towns of Mathura and Vrindavan speak volume about the Holi celebrations. Encompassing as Braj bhoomi, Mathura is the place where Lord Krishna was born and spent his childhood in Vrindavan. Holi in Mathura is also celebrated as 'Gulal-Kund' in Braj, which is a beautiful lake near the Govardhan hill. Pilgrims and visitors drench themselves in colour on their visit to this sacred site. Braj region (Barsana and Nand Gaon) celebrates latthmar Holi where the women folks playfully beat up the men with sticks as they tease them by singing songs and throwing colours.

The 40 prior to the Holi day, dancers and performs from different corners of India gather to act in the shows based on Krishna and village maidens. They also perform Holi folk songs that enlighten the atmosphere. Holi in Banke-Bihari Temple in Vrindavan is especially significant.


Other Places to Celebrate Holi in India are:

  • Basant Utsav at Shantiniketan in Bolpur, West Bengal
  • Folk Holi at Purulia in West Bengal
  • Tribal Holi at Banswara
  • Shigmostav in Goa
  • Hola Mohalla in Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, Punjab
  • Elephant festival Jaipur

Venture to get drenched and enjoy festivity at its best with Holi in India!

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