Holi in India 2020

Holi in India 2020

                                        (https://images.app.goo.gl/8BmDBk3E4H1saLXG7)

Holi is considered as one of the most revered and celebrated festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country. It is also sometimes called as the “festival of love” as on this day people get to unite together forgetting all resentments and all types of bad feeling towards each other. 

The great Indian festival lasts for a day and a night, which starts in the evening of Purnima or the Full Moon Day in the month of Falgun. It is celebrated with the name Holika Dahan or Choti Holi on first evening of the festival and the following day is called Holi. In different parts of the country it is known with different names.

The vibrancy of colors is something that brings in a lot of positivity in our lives and Holi being the festival of colours is actually a day worth rejoicing. Holi is a famous Hindu festival that is celebrated in every part of India with utmost joy and enthusiasm. 

The ritual starts by lighting up the bonfire one day before the day of Holi and this process symbolizes the triumph of good over the bad. On the day of Holi people play with colours with their friends and families and in evening they show love and respect to their close ones with Abeer.

The best places to celebrate Holi in India really depend on what kind of experience you want to have. The followings are ten places recommended for you.

1. Anandpur Sahib, Punjab: Warrior Holi / March 10-12, 2020.

                                         (https://images.app.goo.gl/W4oXLoTmzbmoTue9A)

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. There's wrestling, martial arts, mock sword fights, acrobatic military exercises, and turban tying.

2. Mathura and Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh: Traditional Holi / March 6-10, 2020

                                          (https://images.app.goo.gl/k5LYqHox56Rp6qWw8)

Uttar Pradesh celebrates Holi a little extravagantly than the rest of the India. The Braj region in India, the cities of Uttar Pradesh, mostly in Mathura and Vrindavan make the festivities all the more special. According to some legends, it is celebrated as a divine connection of love between Lord Krishna and Radha. Therefore, people re-enact the fun-play of these divine lovers.

Apart from play of colors, exchange of sweets and other fun, there are also unique rituals followed only in Uttar Pradesh. Barsana celebrates the festival with a unique ritual of lath-maar practice where women hit men with sticks for fun. People indulge in play of colors, dry and water. Sweets, music, dance and fun make the festival even more special for all to have fun with friends and families.

3. Mumbai: Community Holi with Slum Children / March 7, 2020

                                          (https://images.app.goo.gl/wobu6xn14PCV5Mmr9)

Dharavi, Mumbai's largest slum, is not the depressing place that you may expect it to be and especially so on Holi. Reality Tours and Travel will take you on a fascinating (and uplifting) tour of the slum, and then to a Holi party that they will be throwing for the community at Dharavi. Join in and celebrate Holi with the locals in a safe and friendly environment, complete with colors and music. The cost is 1,400 rupees per person. 80% of proceeds are devoted to helping the people of Dharavi.

4. Jaipur, Rajasthan: Holi and Elephants / March 10, 2020

                                                                                  (https://images.app.goo.gl/WoJ7fzKaLCScKr6A6)

Rajasthan, like the rest of India, dips in the celebration of Holi by welcoming the spring season. Call it the festival of love or colors the state knows how to mix ritual and other ancient traditions with a final touch of royalty. What's even unique is the way different parts of the state giving the festivities their own different vibe. While Mali and Gair Holi are distinct to Ajmer, Brij Holi to Bharatpur, Bikaner rejoices the colorful time of the year by playing Dolchi Holi.

5. Purulia, West Bengal: Folk Holi / March 8-10, 2020

                                                                               (https://images.app.goo.gl/AC1AmeZWaVnw8kvi7)

A three-day Basanta Utsav folk festival takes place in West Bengal, at Nimdih in the Purulia district and Tepantar in Birbhum district. It runs in the lead up to Holi and on the actual day. You'll 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 Bengal's wandering Baul musicians. What makes the festival special is that it's organized by villagers as a way of helping sustain themselves. The location is around five to six hours by train from Kolkata, or transport in private vehicles can be arranged. Accommodation is provided in cottages and tents, and there are portable toilets as well.

6. Barsana, Uttar Pradesh: Holi with Sticks / March 3-5, 2020

                                                                                (https://images.app.goo.gl/Wy32eiCAmvZRwzyk7)

Holi celebrations in Barsana are among the most unique festivities in India. In the spirit of fun, smearing of colors, drenching in water and mock fights. According to legends, Barsana was the birthplace of Radha, the consort of Lord Krishna. As the fables narrate, the lord used to come from his home-town Nandgaon to tease Radha and the Gopis.

The tradition continues till date. Men from Nandgaon come to Barsana to play and the women greet them with sticks (lathis). The unique spectacle is known as Lathmaar holi. The abundance of sweets, bhang and the festive spirit enhance the thrill.

7. Delhi: Musical Holi / March 10, 2020

                                                                               (https://images.app.goo.gl/cmCdcPpz5DPGYddRA)

Holi tends to be a rowdy affair in Delhi. If you're 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 Moo Festival (previously the renowned Holi Cow Festival). This festival of color, moozik and madness has more than 40 Indian and international performers spread over four stages. The environment is safe, and non-toxic colors are provided, along with bhang lassi, street food, and sprinklers to get everyone in the mood. Plenty of expats, as well as locals, attend.

8. Shantiniketan, West Bengal: Cultural Holi / March 9, 2020

                                                                                  (https://images.app.goo.gl/BuzsXrGm9nesJ6W28)

Drenched in the mesmeric charms of spring, Holi in Santiniketan is a celebration of love, fun and art. The onset of the season of spring calls for the occasion of the Basant Utsav. The loving abode of Rabindranath Tagore, Shantiniketan is seen transformed in festive mood as he had started the ritual years back. The very ambiance is of fun and the oncoming delights of the spring.

Colorful traditional attire, play of dry colors, dance, music, sweets and more create wonderful joy. The occasion is made special with the tunes of Baul singers and their melodies hums of 'Ektara'-the musical instruments

9. Udaipur, Rajasthan: Royal Holi / March 9, 2020

                                                                              (https://images.app.goo.gl/DCwqAVnoUWgLiDck7)

On the eve of Holi people light bonfires to mark the occasion and ward of evil spirits in a ritual called holika dahan. For an unforgettable regal experience, join in the celebration of Udaipur's Mewar royal family. There will be a magnificent palace procession from the royal residence to Manek Chowk at the City Palace, including bedecked horses and royal band. Later the traditional sacred fire will be lit and an effigy of Holika burnt.

10. Hampi, Karnataka: Holi in South India / March 10, 2020

                                                                               (https://images.app.goo.gl/gMiV8YVUvS16skSN8)

If you're looking for an exuberant Holi, South India is generally best avoided. As Holi is primarily a North Indian festival, it's quite subdued at most places in the south. The focus is mainly on religious aspects and temple rites. However, Hampi in Karnataka is a notable exception! The whole town turns out to play Holi in the morning (perhaps for the benefit of the many western travelers there), amid drumming, dancing, and the evocative ruins of the grand Vijayanagar empire. Afterwards, the crowd slowly moves to the river to wash all the color off.