Holi is one of the most popular festivals in India which is celebrated with loads of fervor throughout the major parts of the country. The best places to celebrate Holi in India depend on your taste as there are so many activities take place at this festival. There are so many places where Holi is celebrated with different traditional styles and rituals so it depends on you which place appeals to you the most.
Here we are listing the top 10 places to celebrate Holi in India. Choose one of these destinations, book your Holi Tour Package, and get ready for the thrilling and crazy experience of the Holi celebration in India.
1. Barsana
Holi in Barsana is known as “Lathmar Holi”. During this festival, men are usually beaten up with sticks by their women in a funny manner and that’s why it is known as the Lathmar Holi Celebration. Barsana was home to Krishna’s beloved Radha and he used to go there to tease her and her friends. In revert, the women of Barsana chased him away with Lathis (Wooden Sticks).
So this is how Lathmar Holi is celebrated and why Barsana is known as one of the best places to celebrate Holi in India. Came to this region in 2020 with your friends, be a part of the celebration as this celebration will give you all the vibes of India’s Holi festival for sure.
When: 15 March 2020
2. Mathura and Vrindavan
Mathura and Vrindavan are also on the top of the list of the best places to celebrate Holi in India. Mathura is said to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna and Vrindavan is the place where he grew up. The celebration of Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan is famous among the whole country and pulls so many tourists throughout the world. The unique celebration of the Holi festival here represents the unbreakable love of Radha & Krishna. Mathura has a week-long celebration of Holi. A musical procession is taken from the temples of Mathura to Holi Gate in which people dance, sings, and throw color powders on each other’s faces and greets everyone they meet.
The best place to see the grand celebration of the Holi celebration in Mathura is the Dwarkadheesh Temple.
When: March 9 to 10
3. Shantiniketan
The Holi festival in Shantiniketan is known as Basant Utsav or Spring Festival. The great Bengali Poet Sir Rabindranath Tagore started this festival in his Vishva Bharti University. Till today, his tradition is followed in whole west Bengal and celebrated with loads of fervor by Bengali people, especially by the students of Vishwa Bharti University.
Basically, this festival celebrates the coming of the spring season and passing the winter season. On this day, Bengali women dressed up in yellow Saffron Saris and show their traditional folk dances and cultural programs. This festival attracts a large number of local and international tourists every year to take part and witness these amazing celebrations.
When: 9-10 March
4. Punjab
Punjab is also famous for its unique type of Holi celebration. Holi in Punjab is celebrated as “Hola Mohalla” which is actually celebrated a day prior to the Hindu festival of Holi. Where Hindu people celebrate this festival by throwing colors on each other, Sikhs celebrate this festival by showing their martial art skills in simulated battles.
Hola Mohalla is a three-day-long festival which held numerous mock battles, exhibitions, musical performances, and poetry competition.
When: 8 March 2020
5. Jaipur and Udaipur
If you want to experience a royal celebration of Holi then Jaipur and Udaipur are a great combination of the best places to celebrate the Holi festival in India. Holi is celebrated for 2 days in Rajasthan. The first day of Holi is called Holika Dahan that takes place at the city palace Udaipur. The customs of Holika Dahan is usually performed by the Royal Mewar Dynasty and on the actual day of Holi, the celebration speaks in every street of Udaipur.
An elephant festival is celebrated on the day of Holi in Jaipur. A massive parade including decorated elephants, camels, horses can be seen in Jaipur. Traditional folk dances and singing competitions are also held during this festivity in Jaipur.
When: 9-10 March
So this is our list of 5 best places to celebrate Holi in India that you should not miss to visit while traveling during the Holi festival. There are more exciting places to celebrate Holi in India like Mumbai, Goa, Delhi, which you can add to your list. If you have ever been to India before and enjoyed the Holi celebration at some of these places then share your experience with us in the comment section below.
