Best Places to Celebrate Holi in 2025 in India
Festivals promote harmony by transforming the unknown into the known and bringing the known closer together. It improves our mindset to tolerate diversity of race and religion, and it creates more opportunities for creativity and engagement. In short, they promote a joyful environment that allows people to live a somewhat stress-free life. – unknown.
Don’t be put off by the sad tone of this phrase. The blog will undoubtedly not be a somber event, much like one of our favorite holidays, Holi, which falls on Friday, March 14.. This colorful festival is often associated with the joyous celebrations in Mathura, Vrindavan, and other holy cities. Rain. However, what is overlooked are the unusual ways people in different regions of India celebrate the holiday with Gulaal, Gujhiya, and Gulab Jamun. Continue reading to learn about places where the festival is celebrated differently than usual.
1. Santiniketan, West Bengal
Shantiniketan, a famous locality in Bolpur, West Bengal, celebrates Holi as Basant Utsav, or Spring Festival. Here, celebrations are more melodious and poetic, and people offer each other “Abeer,” a drink made from dried vegetables. People wear orange and yellow colors to celebrate the arrival of spring most happily. This year, the festival will start on Friday, March 14., and continue until Friday, March 14. Make sure to stop by this beautiful suburb close to Kolkata to witness a unique Holi celebration.
2. Mathura
There is a special attraction to the Holi festival in Mathura. The interesting city of Mathura, famous as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, is a popular travel destination for Hindus, especially during Holi. The temples of the city are suitably decorated for the most elaborate Holi celebrations, which begin with the traditional puja on Vasant Panchami.
The most important place is the Dwarkadhish temple, where thousands of devotees gather on the morning of Holi for chanting, music, and dancing in a joyous, gulal-filled atmosphere. Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple organizes a spectacular display every year, which is not to be missed.
3. Vrindavan
Peace-seeking travelers from all over the world come to Vrindavan if they want to experience the Holi of flowers. Lord Krishna lived most of his childhood in Vrindavan. This lovely city celebrates Holi with flowers to remember their childhood. This March, you can travel to Vrindavan to participate in the famous Holi festival, where participants throw flower petals at each other in an effort to strengthen the bond between brothers.
Banke Bihari Temple is the focal point of Vrindavan’s Holi celebrations. For a week, people wearing clothes of every possible color enjoy the joy and celebration to the maximum. Devotional music is played for Lord Krishna at each place, which adds to the attraction.
4. Barsana
Barsana, where the celebration is known as Lathmar Holi, is one of the best places to celebrate Holi. Nandgaon and Barsana are two suburbs of Mathura. It is believed that when Lord Krishna came to Barsana, he met Radha and jokingly teased her. However, the women chased him out of the village. Since then, the women of Barsana have chased the men of Nandgaon, attacking them with sticks. The name Lathmar Holi comes from the words “lath,” meaning stick, and “maar,” meaning to strike someone.
Apart from this unusual festival, people in Barsana participate in brightly colored processions and distribute candy while playing laddu Holi at Shreeji temple.
5. Agra
The Holi celebrations in Agra are incredibly elaborate. Huge clouds of gulaal fill the air as people celebrate, dance, and enjoy sweets during this highly emotional festival. Folk music and lively parades make everyone present happy for the celebration.
The full moon is celebrated by lighting bonfires in Agra. People light fires on the streets to ward off negative energy and evil spirits. They say hello to each other at the Holi fair the next day and spend a colorful evening together.
6. Jaipur
One of the greatest places to celebrate Holi is Jaipur, where the royal family celebrates a grand celebration. The palace hosts grand galas to benefit nearby non-profit organizations. The historic Khasa Kothi Hotel is a fun place to visit with gulal playing, Rajasthani traditional dance, and music.
Govind Dev Ji Temple is another great place where you can feel spiritual. Mantras and hymns play in the background as people worship the idols of Radha and Lord Krishna and offer them marigold flowers.
7. Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
Hola Mohalla, or just Hola, is a three-day celebration starting the day after Holi. As the Sikh New Year approaches, people celebrate by competing in sports such as wrestling and fencing instead of dressing up and having color-based celebrations. Poetry, turban tying, and town kirtan are some of the other traditions honoring the legacy of Guru Gobind Singh.
8. Kumaon, Uttarakhand
Kumaoni Holi is special in many ways. Firstly, this celebration marks the beginning of the planting season and represents the triumph of good over evil for the residents. Second, when residents sing religious songs and traditional ragas, it becomes a musical event. Its uniqueness is further enhanced by the different forms of Holi celebrated here. The three versions of Holi that collectively last for more than a month in the region are Baithaki Holi, also known as Nirvana’s Holi, Khari Holi, and Mahila Holi, which begin on Basant Panchami, which comes in late or early January. People must be having a good time wearing white churidar kurtas and pajamas, which have a pointed emphasis on them.
9. Goa
Goa, another unexpected place to celebrate the joyous holidays of Holi, is a generally popular party destination in India. Here, Shigmo is celebrated from the eleventh to the fifteenth of the lunar month. You can see revelers walking through the streets beating drums and playing flutes. They are wearing vibrant clothes. On the last day of this festival, also known as “Rang Panchami,” participants parade through the streets, applying gulal to each other and showcasing their Goan ethnicity. The delightful atmosphere of Goa will deepen your love for this destination.
10. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Given that the International Yoga Festival takes place from March 1 to 7, the adventure capital of India is the ideal place for Holi celebrations. Renowned spiritual leaders, saints, and devotees from across the world will be present at the week-long festival, which will also include yoga sessions, talks, cultural performances, and aartis. Additionally, you can participate in unique Holi celebrations held on the banks of the Ganga, which include music, gulal, river rafting, and delicious refreshments.
11. Pushkar, Rajasthan
The village surrounding the sparkling Pushkar Lake remains charming throughout the year, but the atmosphere is even more charming during the festival of colors. Although there will not be much difference from the places mentioned earlier, it will be worth capturing the excitement and enthusiasm with which the residents enjoy it during the two days.
12. Udaipur, Rajasthan
Holi celebrations in Udaipur are as spectacular as the city’s name suggests. The celebration begins with the ruling Mewar Raja and his family performing the “Holika Dahan” ritual. After that, there is a spectacular parade of decorated horses, camels, musicians, dancers, and royal band groups that moves from the royal home, Shambhu Niwas Palace, to Manek Chowk of the City Palace. Spectacular fireworks mark the end of the festivities. Local people celebrate Holi on the second day with balloons, pichkaris, and both dry and wet colors.
Then, where are you going? Let us know in the comments section below. Happy and safe Holi to all!
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