13 Best Places to Celebrate Holi Across India

The Holi celebration in India, a festival of colours, is an energetic, fun-filled expression of joy that is interspersed with a dizzying array of colours. Come March, Holi celebrations take over the entire country and herald the onset of summer.

Holi festival in India takes on different avatars in different regions. The varying types of Holi celebrations across India set the festival of colours apart from others. Even though Holi celebrations differ from one region to the next, its basic tenet of pure, unadulterated fun is the unifying element of Holi.

Here’s more about the Holi festival in India and how it is celebrated across the country.

Best Holi Celebration in India

Rang Panchami of Maharashtra
Lathmar Holi of Uttar Pradesh
Kumaoni Holi of Uttarakhand
Holla Mohalla of Punjab
Royal Holi of Udaipur
Manjal Kuli of Kerala
Shimgo of Goa
Dhulandi Holi of Haryana
Phoolon Ki Holi of Vrindavan
Basant Utsav of West Bengal
Phalgun Purnima of Bihar
Kaman Pandigai of Tamil Nadu
Yosang of Manipur

Rang Panchami of Maharashtra

The Holi festival is celebrated with great fervour in Maharashtra. The real Holi celebrations begin after the ritualistic burning of Holika’s pyre. The next day of Holi is Rang Panchami, a day that is set aside for colours and water play. It is one of the most quintessential Holi celebrations in India in which a riot of colours takes over the blue sky and ‘Thandai’ flows in generous quantities. Puran Poli is the flavour of the day, a sinful indulgence that can be enjoyed in numerous different and delicious ways.

Lathmar Holi of Uttar Pradesh

You might think you know about the Holi festival in India, until you hear about this celebration. Holi celebrations take a quirky turn in Uttar Pradesh as women take to the streets to beat up roving groups of men, but not really hurting them. The Lathmar Holi is an age-old tradition of Mathura and Vrindavan dating back to the times when Krishna and his friends played playful tricks on Radha and her friends. The men face the women with a dhal or a shield to protect themselves from the blows. In Kanpur, the Holi festival celebrations last for seven days and conclude with a grand Holi Mela.

Kumaoni Holi of Uttarakhand

The Holi celebrations of Uttarakhand are quite distinct from the more recognisable arena of colour and water. Here, Holi marks the beginning of the sowing season, and the celebrations move between towns and villages over a couple of months. People express their joy through music rather than colours. Holi in the Kumaon region is celebrated in three different forms. The Baithaki Holi is a showcase of musical performances while the Khadi Holi adds dance to the mix. The Mahila Holi is a ladies-only celebration that closely resembles the Baithaki Holi.

Holla Mohalla of Punjab

Punjab is definitely one of the places to celebrate Holi in India. The Holi celebrations in Punjab are much different from their counterparts in other parts of the country. Known as Holla Mohalla, the celebrations kick off a day before Holi is usually celebrated. The Holla Mohalla is also known as Holi for warriors. It is a day when people travel from far and near to witness the martial performances put on by the warrior sect of Nihang Sikhs. It is a day of competition and displays of dare-devilry that are put on to pay homage to the bravery of Sikh warriors.

Royal Holi of Udaipur

When talking about the Holi festival in India, Udaipur’s name mostly comes up. Holi celebrations take on a regal mien in the royal city of Udaipur. The former kingdom of Mewar has a rich history of customs and traditions continue to this day. The celebrations start on the eve of Holi, after the current custodian lights the holy pyre of Holika. The next day is reserved for colourful flamboyant parades that showcase the livery of horse and elephant riders as they make their way through the city. It is a grand spectacle that will add an element of excitement to many family vacations.

Manjal Kuli of Kerala

Holi may not be a big festival down south, but Kerala celebrates its own version of the festival of colours with Manjal Kuli. The celebrations are subdued and take place in certain designated areas such as temples. Instead of the traditional gulal, revellers use turmeric and water to express their joy. The first day is spent in worship and temple visits and the festivities continue the next day. Use this Holi long weekend to celebrate Holi of a different kind. Add one more page to your colourful album of family vacations.

Shimgo of Goa

How can Goa not be on the list of the best Holi celebrations in India. Shimgo is Goa’s version of Holi celebrations. But it is mostly an occasion to celebrate the spring season. The villages in Goa celebrate the more traditional Dhakto Shimgo (small Shimgo) while the cities prefer to celebrate Vhadlo Shimgo (big Shimgo). The day is marked by a massive carnival, traditional folk songs, and street dance performances. The fishing community decorates their boats in vibrant hues with religious and mythological themes as a way of thanking them for providing sustenance. The carnival features beautiful floats and intricate performances; a sight to behold.

Dhulandi Holi of Haryana

Dhulandi Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Haryana. It is quite a vibrant celebration style of the Holi festival in India. It is a day when people forget their differences and come together to enjoy the festivities. Men and women, young and old, all participate in smearing coloured powder (gulal) and throwing coloured water at each other. The tradition of bhabhis (sisters-in-law) playfully hitting their devars (brothers-in-law) with a stick adds a unique and playful element to the celebrations. The day is also marked by singing traditional Holi songs, dancing to the beats of dhol, and enjoying delicious sweets like gujiya and malpua.

Phoolon Ki Holi of Vrindavan

Phoolon Ki Holi is one of the best Holi celebrations in India, and it takes place in Vrindavan. The town is associated with Lord Krishna's childhood. Instead of using conventional colours, devotees and tourists gather in temples like the Banke Bihari Temple to play Holi with flowers. The air is filled with the fragrance of roses, marigolds, and other flowers, creating a divine and serene atmosphere. The event is accompanied by the singing of bhajans and the dancing of devotees, immersing everyone in spiritual bliss.

Basant Utsav of West Bengal

Basant Utsav, also known as the Spring Festival, is celebrated with great joy in West Bengal, especially in Shantiniketan, where Rabindranath Tagore introduced the festival. It marks the arrival of spring and is characterized by the vibrant display of colours, cultural performances, and the singing of Tagore's songs. Students and teachers of Visva-Bharati University dress in traditional yellow attire, symbolizing the blossoming of mustard fields, and participate in folk dances and musical performances, making it a cultural feast.

Phalgun Purnima of Bihar

Phalgun Purnima is a significant festival in Bihar, celebrated on the full moon day of the Phalgun month. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is one of the most spiritual Holi celebrations in India. Devotees take holy dips in rivers like the Ganga and offer prayers to the gods. The day is filled with the joy of playing with colours, singing traditional folk songs like Phagua, and enjoying festive foods such as dahi vada and malpua. The spirit of togetherness and joy pervades the atmosphere, making it a memorable celebration.

Kaman Pandigai of Tamil Nadu

Kaman Pandigai, also known as Kama Dahanam, is a festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu to commemorate the legend of Lord Shiva burning Kamadeva, the god of love, to ashes. The festival is observed in temples with devotees offering prayers, lighting lamps, and participating in rituals that symbolize the burning of desires and the purification of the soul. It is a day that emphasizes the importance of love and devotion in one's life.

Yaosang of Manipur

Yosang of Manipur

Yaosang is a five-day festival in Manipur that marks the beginning of spring. This Holi celebration in India is a unique blend of the traditional colour play and indigenous Manipuri traditions. The festival starts with the burning of a thatched hut, symbolizing the end of the old season and the beginning of a new one. The highlight of Yaosang is the Thabal Chongba, a traditional dance performed by boys and girls holding hands and dancing in a circle under the moonlight. Sports competitions, music performances, and the exchange of colours add to the festive spirit, making it a vibrant and culturally rich celebration.

In our country full of diverse cultures, Holi offers a common ground to join each other in celebrating life and all that it offers. Now that you know about the types of Holi festival celebration in India, where would you like to go?

You can choose any of the above places to celebrate Holi in India in 2024 with your loved ones.

13 Best Places to celebrate Holi in India 2024