About the Holi Festival of colors
Holi, also called the festival of colors is a Hindu festival that was initially played and originated in India but is now celebrated globally. The date of the festival changes every year as it is based on Lunar Calendar. On a full moon night of the Hindu Month Phalguna. The celebration begins a night before the main festival with Holika Dahan.
How to celebrate the festival of color Holi
The celebration of the festival of color Holi begins a night before the main festival with Holika Dehan. The next morning people throw Gulal (colored powder) and water balloons. People visit each other’s houses and have different cuisines and drinks like Mishrambu. It is said that in this special festival, people forgive all the grudges and start a fresh and new relationship.
Reasons and stories to celebrate Holi
There are three main reasons or stories for celebrating Holi which include the arrival of the Spring season, the story of Radha-Krishna, and the most popular story of Holika and Prahlad. Let’s understand more about these stories one by one and understand the importance of celebrating Holi.
- Arrival of Spring- The arrival of the Spring season reminds us how spring welcomes a new beginning from winter. Those who play Holi should also start a fresh life by forgiving their enemies and looking forward to life positively.
- Radha- Krishna- Holi is also showcased as the festival of love and compassion and it shows the true love between Radha and Krishna. Krishna, the 8th avatar of Lord Vishnu loves to show his care for others joyfully and in this process one day he threw color on his friend Radha, and soon along with everyone they enjoyed the festival of Holi. This story of Radha Krishna signifies that everyone is equal and should be treated as same.
- Prahlad and Holika story- The very popular story of Prahlad and Holika gives the message that good is always above evil. Evil king Hiranyakshipu the father of Vishnu Bhakt Prahlad wanted everyone to worship him rather than any other God but this could not influence the devotion of his son towards Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakshipu asked his sister Holika to sit on fire with Prahlad as Holika had a shawl that protected her from fire. Prahlad surrendered his life to Lord Visnu and sat on Holika’s lap without any fear. Lord Visnu also saved Prahlad’s life by putting the shawl over Prahlad.
Events organised during Holi
Holi is the festival of colors and when it comes to Holi events, you can get invitations to join the colour-throwing activity for which Holi is popular and famous. As Holi bounds people of different castes, backgrounds, and genders in compassion and care, it is not only limited to Hindus.
Holika Dehan
Holika Dehan also known as Choti Holi is celebrated on a full moon night of Phagun month according to the Hindu Calendar one night before the main festival. Generally, Phagun month falls between February and March.
Best places to visit Holika Dehan
There are some places in India where Holika Dehan or Choti Holi is celebrated with full enthusiasm in different parts of India. There are some places where you can witness the energy of Holika Dehan celebrations and these states are:
- Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: Mathura located on the banks of the river Yamuna is the birthplace of Lord Vishnu’s 8th avatar Shree Krishna. People there celebrate Holika Dehan with traditional rituals and enthusiasm. It attracts thousands of tourists and people out there.
- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga. It is known for its vibrant culture and is the hub of education. At the time of Holika Dehan, the Ghats came alive and the view of the reflection is amazing and mesmerizing.
- Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh: Vrindavan is another city linked with Shree Krishna. In Vrindavan, people enjoy Holika Dehan with great zeal. On this day, the streets and temples of Vrindavan are full of Lights and decorations.
- Barsana, Uttar Pradesh: Barsana a city in Uttar Pradesh is popular for its Lathmar Holi also enjoy Holika Dehan with full enthusiasm.
- Jaipur, Rajasthan: In different parts of Jaipur Holika Dehan is celebrated by burning the idols of Holika in a bonfire.
- Braj Region, Uttar Pradesh: Braj Region which also includes towns such as Govardhan and Nandgaon celebrates Holika Dehan with traditional rituals and other cultural activities.
- Delhi: In Delhi different communities and neighbours celebrate Holika Dehan together.
- Hyderabad, Telangana: Hyderabad is known for its rich culture and Heritage, and people living in Hyderabad celebrate Holika Dehan with full enthusiasm.
These are some states where you can see and get the festive experience during Holika Dehan.
Things to know about the festival of colours Holi
Holi also known as the festival of colours is a festival in India and has religious significance for Hindus. It is an ancient festival that originated in India and now is celebrated globally. The festival is celebrated every year in the month of Phalguna. It is the festival of colors, brotherhood, joy and happiness. In different parts of the country, Holi is celebrated in different ways.
The festival starts a night before the main festival by performing Holika Dehan. For Holika Dehan dried wood, cow dung, sticks, and grass are burnt and people chant prayer, and in some states, they revolve around the Holika. On the main festival day, people throw Gulal (colored powder) and colored water on each other and visit each other’s houses.
Best Places to celebrate Holi
There are some places where you can enjoy this festival of colors. Some of these places include:
- Jaipur, Rajasthan: For a vibrant Holi experience, you can visit Jaipur as they are known for their colorful celebrations. The streets get colored as people play with Gulal and Colored water. If you are going to Jaipur don’t miss the Grand Elephant Festival and you can enjoy their traditional folk dance and amazing food that would spark the festive spirit. To reach the place you can use any of these modes of transportation train, flight, or bus, and even come to the destination by car.
- Bangalore, Karnataka: You can celebrate Holi in Banglore with the energetic crowd playing with colors in parks and streets. At the time of the festival, the young crowd makes the atmosphere lively with DJs, events, etc. If you are in Banglore, you can attend different Holi events organized by different clubs. If you are planning to visit Banglore, Karnataka at the time of the festival you can reach there by using different modes of transportation such as Train, flight, and bus even you can come to the place by car.
- Delhi: Experience the energy of Holi celebrations in Delhi with their cultural performance and rituals. Its famous parties and events are organized by different clubs on the eve of Holi. If you are planning to visit the capital of India you can come using different modes of transportation such as train, flight, bus or even come to the place through your car.
- Mumbai, Maharashtra: The city is the perfect blend of modern and traditional Holi celebrations. People gather in community halls and colonies to play with colors. On this day you can attend parties organized by different clubs and hotels. If you are planning to visit Mumbai you can reach there by using different modes of transportation such as train, flight, bus, or even enjoy the through your car.
- Goa: You can celebrate Holi in the most unique way in Goa. The city celebrates the festival in beach areas. People in Goa gather at the beaches and play with colors. The ambiance and the energy of the people make Goa a memorable place to visit during Holi. You can participate in various Holi events and parties organized by different clubs and organizations. If planning to visit Goa this Holi you can come to the place either by car or can even use other modes of transportation such as a train from your destination and even cover the destination by flight.
- Hyderabad, Telangana: The festival of Holi is one of the joyous festivals which is marked by colorful celebrations. People meet each other near their residential areas, community halls, and parks to celebrate the festival of colors. People in Hyderabad enjoy this festival with dance and music and the beauty of Hussain Sagar Lake enhances the beauty of the festival. If you are in Hyderabad in Holi you can attend different Holi events and Holi parties organized by different clubs that make the festival more lively. If you are planning to visit Hyderabad this Holi you can come to the place by car or even use a different mode of transportation like flight and even through train and even enjoy the road trip by bus.
- Pune, Maharashtra: People living in Pune play Holi with full energy and enthusiasm. People gather in community halls, parks, and other public spaces and play Holi meet different people, and enjoy different foods. The streets of Pune are full of people playing Holi. If you are in Pune during Holi you can attend and enjoy various programs and events organised by different clubs and organisations. You can reach Pune to enjoy the festival of colors through your car or you can use other modes of transportation such as trains, or flights and enjoy the road service by bus.
- Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: Mathura located on the banks of the river Yamuna is the birthplace of Lord Vishnu’s 8th avatar Shree Krishna. People there celebrate Holi with traditional rituals and full enthusiasm. It attracts thousands of tourists and people out there. If you want to see the Holi of Mathura you can use different modes of transportation like train, bus, and even your car.
- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga. It is known for its vibrant culture and is the hub of education. At the time of Holi, the Ghats came alive with the crowd of people enjoying Holi. If you are visiting Varanasi you can come here using different modes of transportation including train, flight, and bus, or even you can come with your car.
- Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh: Vrindavan is another city linked with Shree Krishna. In Vrindavan, people enjoy this festival with great zeal and enthusiasm. On this day, the streets and temples of Vrindavan are full of gulal and colors. people meet each other and give them their blessings and greetings. If you are planning to visit Vrindavan at the time of Holi You can use your car to visit the place or can use other modes of transportation such as train, flight, and bus.
- Barsana, Uttar Pradesh: Barsana is a city in Uttar Pradesh popular for its Lathmar Holi also enjoys Holi with full joy and enthusiasm. You can come to see this famous Holi by visiting the place and to come to Barsana you can use your car or other mode of transportation such as train or bus.
- Braj Region, Uttar Pradesh: Braj Region which also includes towns such as Govardhan and Nandgaon celebrates Holi with traditional rituals and other cultural activities. There are different ways to reach the Braj Region of which one is using a car and the other way is using a different mode of transportation like train, bus, etc.
These are some places where you can enjoy the festival of colors and experience the energy for the festival in people.
