7 Places to Celebrate Holi in India Where to Celebrate the Holi Festival in India The best places to celebrate Holi in India really depend on what kind of experience you want to have. Youll find activities taking place almost all over India, but they range from traditional temple rituals to modern parties with DJs, bhang, and plenty of colors. See which of these places, with totally different Holi festival celebrations, appeal to you the most. Want to know the meaning of Holi and find out when its held each year? 1. Barsana: Holi with Sticks Indian men dont always rule the roost! The women of Barsana village near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh beat up men from neighboring Nandgaon village with sticks, in whats known as Lathmar Holi celebrations. Lathmar Holi takes place around a week before the main day of Holi. In 2014, it happened on March 10. The following day, the celebrations move to Nandgaon village. Its worth getting to Barsana a couple of days in advance of Lathmar Holi so that you can also experience Laddoo Holi festivities there. Sweets are thrown around and spiritual songs related to Radha and Krishna are sung. Experience Lathmar Holi on this three day tour offered by Delhi By Foot . 2. Mathura and Vrindavan: Traditional Holi Holi celebrations get underway on Vasant Panchami (end of winter), 40 days before the main Holi day, in the temple towns of Mathura and Vrindavan, four hours from Delhi. Mathura is where Lord Krishna was born, while Vrindavan was where he spent his childhood. The Sri Krishna Janmastham in Mathura holds a renowned show in the week before Holi. The week long celebrations at Shri Banke Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan are also legendary. 3. Delhi: Modern Holi Holi Cow Holi tends to be a rowdy affair in Delhi. If youre staying anywhere near Paharganj, be prepared to be covered in color by shopkeepers and children alike if you step outside. If you can, try and get tickets to the Holi Cow festival. A festival of color, music and madness, its is held a short distance outside the city. The environment is safe, and non-toxic colors are provided, along with bhang lassis, street food, and sprinklers to get everyone in the mood. Both DJs and bands perform. Plenty of expats, as well as locals, attend. 4. Anandpur Sahib, Punjab: Warrior Holi Experience Holi the Sikh way at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab! Hola Mohalla is an annual fair that dates all the way back to 1701. It was first organized by Sikh Guru Gobind Singh to celebrate Holi. However, instead of throwing colors, expect to see a demonstration of physical agility. Theres wrestling, martial arts, mock sword fights, acrobatic military exercises, and turban tying. 5. Shantiniketan, West Bengal: Cultural Holi The celebration of Holi as Basanta Utsav (Spring Festival) in Shantiniketan was started by famous Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore . Inspired by spring and the colors of Holi, he introduced the occasion as an annual event in his Vishva Bharati University there. Students dress up in spring colors and put on a huge cultural program for visitors, including dances to Tagores songs. This is followed by the usual throwing of colors. Vasanta Utsav has become a cherished part of Bengali history and culture, and it attracts numerous foreign tourists. Note that festivities happen a day earlier than the given date for Holi in other parts of India. 6. Purulia, West Bengal: Folk Holi A three day Basanta Utsav folk festival takes place in the Purulia district of West Bengal. It runs in the lead up to Holi and on the actual day. Youll get to sing and play Holi with the locals, as well as enjoy a wide variety of unique folk art. This includes the remarkable Chau dance, Darbari Jhumur, Natua dance, and songs of West Bengals wandering Baul musicians. What makes the festival special is that its organized by villagers as a way of helping sustain themselves. 7. Jaipur: Holi and Elephants An elephant festival kicks off Holi celebrations in Jaipur every year on Holi eve. Elephant parades, elephant beauty contests, folk dances, and tug-of-war between elephants, locals and foreigners are all regular events. It makes Holi extra fun! Note: this event was canceled last year due to pressure from animal rights groups. A cultural program was held in its place, without the elephants. Its been confirmed that elephants will again be absent from the celebrations in 2014 and a similar cultural program will occur instead. Should the Jaipur Elephant Festival be Canceled?
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 02:16:31 +0000
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