Best Places to Celebrate Holi In India

Holi, also called the festival of colours, is one of the most significant celebrations in India wherein millions of people come together and partake in spraying watercolours and gulaal on each other. Though it is an ancient Hindu tradition, it is celebrated by people of all religions, ethnicities, races, and castes today. Hence, calling it an international travel festival would be absolutely right. Holi is the day when friends and foes come together, meet each other, and mend their broken relationships, thereby celebrating love, kindness, and empathy. And as it is an official holiday in several states of India, you can plan to celebrate it at the best places. Here we are with the list of the best places to celebrate Holi in India:

• Mathura

Holi to Mathura is what Diwali is to Ayodhya and that’s what makes Holi celebration extremely special in Mathura. Being an ancient city and the birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura celebrates Holi every year with all zeal and zest. On this day, you can find people here from every corner of the world throwing colours at each other. Several temples organise numerous religious shows such as bhajans and colourful processions.

• Vrindavan

Vrindavan is the twin city of Mathura and is located in its close vicinity. Hence, it also witnesses tourists and travellers from all around the country in thousands every year. Visit Banke Bihari Temple and partake in its festivities. Apart from celebrating Holi, you can explore local traditions and religious customs here along with marvelling at the exemplary architecture of temples and religious complexes. Also, do not forget to miss out on Yamuna Puja, which is an incredible experience in itself.

• Delhi

Being the capital city of India, Delhi is one of the few places where you can find people from every corner of the world. Here, in the city, you come across people from Kashmir, southern parts of India, eastern parts of the country, and also from foreign lands. That’s the reason Holi celebrations in Delhi are quite different. Other than that, you can indulge in cafe-hopping and restaurant exploration here. Delhi is home to many wonders like Red Fort that can surely intrigue you.

• Varanasi

Plan your holidays in the divine landscapes of Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth, and celebrate the festival in high spirits. The city is of great cultural, historical, and religious prominence due to the presence of the holy river Ganga and numerous ancient temples and sites. Witness people partaking in Holi parties by river ghats, in chaotic streets, around temples, and other such places. Be a part of the celebration and make a memory for a lifetime.

• Barsana

When it is about Holi, you cannot just miss out on the Lathmar Holi of Barsana. It is the kind of celebration where women of Barsana hurl sticks on the men of its neighbouring town Nandgaon. The celebration finds its roots in the legends of Lord Krishna and his lover Goddess Radha.

As per the legend, when Lord Krishna visited Barsana from Nandgaon on the day of Holi, he was usually greeted by Radha and her friends with sticks. So, this celebration is all about recreating the legend and honouring the love between Krishna and Radha.