Festival Of Colors aka Holi is an Indian festival, celebrated every year during the end of Feb to Mid of March as a symbol of good over evil, inspired by mythological stories. Also, many states in India celebrate Holi not only with colors but with different types.
Different Types Of Holi Celebrations In India
Lathmar Holi – Barsana
According to myths, Holi began in the Barsana region of India, which includes Vrindavan, Mathura, Nandgaon and Barsana. Interestingly, the festival here is celebrated with not just colors, but with lathis. As per tradition, women chase away the men with lathis. But it’s not a beating session – it’s a crazy one, and the men come prepared too.
Hola Mohalla – Punjab
Hola Mohalla, known as the warrior Holi, is celebrated in Punjab. This festival is observed by Nihang Sikhs. They show martial arts and sing their hearts out on this day, which is usually celebrated a day before Holi.
Rang Panchami – Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, Holi is also known as Shigma or Rang Panchami (colour on the fifth). The celebrations start after the sunset on Purnima by lighting up a pyre of firewood (burning Holika), symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The next day is ‘Rang Panchami,’ which witnesses all the fun and frolic of people applying colour – ‘gulaal – and spraying water on each other.
Shigmo – Goa
The spring festival in Goa is called Shigmo. It is organized as an enormous carnival with traditional folk songs and street dances, apart from playing with colours. As Goa is a coastal state with the primary occupation being fishing, fishermen’s boats are beautifully decorated with religious and mythological themes.
Phoolon Ki Holi – Mathura & Vrindavan
Vrindavan’s Phoolon ki Holi is a grand festival that takes place on the inside of the temple grounds and is well-known both in India and worldwide. People forgo the use of colours and water to play Holi with flowers on the Ekadashi preceding Holi. The priests of Vrindavan’s Banke Bihari temple throw flowers at visitors as soon as the temple gates open.
Royal Holi – Udaipur
The rituals of Holi include the Royal ‘Mewar Holika Dahan’, playing with colors, and even fireworks. The preparation and decoration start quite early to accomplish the most elegant views and experiences on the day of Holi. The preparation starts quite early and numerous temples are decorated to organize the rituals of Holi. There are magnificent processions with elephants, camels, and horses adorned elegantly. To witness the imperial grandiose of Udaipur covered in the colors of Holi is a sight to behold.
Dola Utsav – Odisha
The Dola Utsav is a six-day long festival celebrated in the coastal region of Odisha. The essence of divinity is the center of all the rituals performed to worship Lord Krishna and Radha. On the day of Dola Purnima, the idol of Lord Jagannath is brought out of the temple to allow the devotees to play Holi with them. The festivity turns into a procession of colored people singing bhajans. Mostly, the festival of Holi is celebrated on the next day of Dola Purnima. Visit Odisha before Holi to be a part of the grand procession.
Basically, people celebrate this festival by the bonfire and applying colors (Gulaal) on each other’s faces to express their love and togetherness. And in some states Holi is also known as Pahguwa – Bihar, Khadi Holi – Uttarakhand, Ukuli – Kerala. So, which type of Holi have you celebrated?
