Famous all over the world, the Holi festival is a unique experience that many dreams of living. Magnificent with the intensity of colors, intoxicating with its delicious food and traditional drinks, intense with the euphoria that animates the whole country, and symbolic with the abolition of castes for a few days, Holi is a unique event that is sure to delight you. Focus on a colorful festival, where love is honored.
When Does Holi Take Place?
The Holi festival has its origins in Hindu mythology and is a must for your trip to India. While it is celebrated in North and South India, as well as in Indian communities around the world, not every region seems to worship the same origins. Nevertheless, everyone agrees that Holi is a time to celebrate the arrival of spring, to forgive one’s enemies, and to express one’s love to one’s loved ones, in a deep spirit of universal love.
Marking the end of winter, Holi is therefore celebrated during the full moon of the month of Phâlguna, between February and March, at the time of the spring equinox. It is also on this occasion that a new year begins in the Hindu calendar.
How Is Holi Organized?
While in some cities, Holi festivities are spread over several days and require several weeks of preparation, the tradition is that the festival takes place over two days only.
The first day is called “Holika Dahan”. It is on this day that large bonfires are lit in all cities of India. These fires, celebrating the cremation of Holika, the demon and sister of King Hiranyakashipu, symbolize the victory of good over evil. Also called “Holi fire“, it is an opportunity for all Indians to meet and recite mantras from the Rig-Veda to ward off evil spirits. Once the fire is extinguished, the embers are collected by the inhabitants who spread them all over their bodies and light new fires in their houses, to purify their bodies and their environment.
The second day, the most famous, is called “Rangapanchami”. It is at this time that all social barriers fall to make room for joyful festivities, and especially for endless color battles! The dyed powder, called “gulal” has a particular meaning depending on the color: green represents harmony, orange optimism, blue vitality, and red, joy and love.
Whether they are thrown directly into the air in the form of powder, or mixed with water, you will quickly be covered from head to toe: the opportunity to make unforgettable photos! The music will be in full swing and will be very, very, very loud throughout the day! Bollywood or techno atmosphere will depend on the neighborhoods or the festivities you will have chosen. It is also the occasion to discover dishes and pastries specially prepared for Holi while refreshing yourself with thandai, a clever mixture of iced almond milk, cardamom, and in some cases, cannabis!
Where To Celebrate Holi?
From north to south and east to west, all of India will be alive with Holi festivities. However, you will notice some differences depending on the city or region you choose to spend the festival.
Holi is very popular with tourists in northern India, especially in the Rajasthan region. On the one hand, because the region abounds in places to visit and will allow you to extend your stay, but also because it is here that the largest gatherings take place, as in Jaipur and Udaipur, or the most festive as in Pushkar. Indeed, Holi takes on the air of an open-air music festival and attracts many young Indians but also tourists.
To experience a more traditional Holi, it is preferable to go to Mathura or Vrindavan, located in Uttar Pradesh, the historical cradle of several religious festivals. These are the most emblematic cities at the time of the festival because they are the most cultural and authentic, which will offer you a more traditional and ceremonial aspect of the festival.
In Vrindavan for example, the Banke Bihari temple is a place of high importance for Hindu pilgrims. Here, it is mainly the goswamis, Hindu priests, who gather and throw the colored powders on the faithful. Although more ceremonious, you will not escape the very loud music throughout the day.
On the Mathura side, the same atmosphere with long festivities in the Dwarkadheesh temple. Devotees come from all over the country to spend Holi in a great place of worship.
How To Celebrate Holi?
There are two ways to celebrate Holi: with family or friends in a private setting or venture out into the busy streets.
Generally speaking, spending Holi with your family will allow you to experience the festival traditionally. Many Indian families will be happy to host you during this period when the doors of every house remain open to welcome family, friends, neighbors, or anyone passing by!
You will taste the famous Indian sweet and savory pastries, as well as the famous almond milk flavored with cardamom. The whole thing will be accompanied by lively discussions, laughter, and color battles between family members of the course.
It will also be the occasion to discover the traditional Indian dances, on the rhythm of drums. You will admire the dexterity and precision of the arm and finger movements before the whole family joins in a common dance.
In the city, the atmosphere is much more animated and even if the spirit is festive and united, we recommend you to stay on your guard, the best being to be accompanied by locals to avoid being targeted as a tourist. Because if generally, the mutual respect reigns, the young Indians love to spray the tourists: we warned you!
Because Holi is also an opportunity for young people to let loose, sometimes too much, especially under the effect of alcohol that flows freely, or even substances. Men gather and share all kinds of drinks, from the well-known whiskey and coke to the more traditional cannabis thandai. As the day goes on, it will not be uncommon to witness overindulgence or accidents.
Prefer to go out during the day, as soon as the festivities start, to fully enjoy the party and avoid the streets as soon as the night falls. It is also recommended to always stay in groups and if you are a woman, never accept to be photographed with young men because you could quickly find yourself surrounded and in an uncomfortable situation. For those who prefer to play it safe, many hotels and restaurants organize “private Holi” parties. Although less authentic, they can be a good alternative to end the festival.
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