Every spring as Holi Festival of Colors unfolds in India with its colors, so the victory of good over evil and the coming of new life is celebrated. Besides the universal frivolity with colors, differing areas of India introduce certain regional customs into the performances, thus creating a kaleidoscope of cultural traditions. The festive bunch of Lathmar Holi and the martial arts of Hola Mohalla let the story of culture, devotion and community bonding pervade. Behold, a snapshot of varied ways Holi is celebrated all over India, each having a unique quality and customs.
Lathmar Holi – Barsana’s Battle of Sticks and Shields: In the tight streets of Barsana, Uttar Pradesh, Holi blossoms and turns into a playful fight with Lathmar Holi, where women waving sticks run away with men, a tradition which is said to be inspired by the love stories of Radha and Krishna.
The Spiritual Holi of Mathura and Vrindavan: Mathura and Vrindavan, revered as Lord Krishna’s abode and known for their deep-rooted Holi tales, witness a devout and enthusiastic celebration. During the week-long celebrations of the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan and the golden processions in Mathura the celebration of the festival’s profound spiritual depth is displayed.
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Basanta Utsav – Tagore’s Spring in Shantiniketan: Holi at Visva-Bharati University Campus in Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal turns into a Basanta Utsav, a festivity based in the celebration of colors of nature through music, dance, and poetry inspired by Nobel Literature laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s vision of cultural coordination.
Folk Holi in Purulia, West Bengal: The locals of Purulia host a three-day festival called Basanta Utsav which is famous for performances of Chau dance, Darbari Jhumur, and Natua dance that add up the abundance of culture along with the fun of the festival.
Hola Mohalla – Punjab’s Show of Valor: Interweaving with Holi, the Sikh festival Hola Mohalla, which is celebrated at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, displays the feats of martial arts, poetry, and music, underlining the bravery and the spiritual richness of Sikhism.
Royal Holi in Udaipur: It is the royal family of Udaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, that imparts a touch of regality to Holi by having an awesome royal procession, traditional bonfire and royal participation, which showcases the royal roots of the Mewar dynasty.
Shigmo – Goa’s Carnival of Colors: In the same way the Shigmo festival of Goa represents its elegance with parades, folklore and the enthusiastic embracing of the Goan traditions of agricultural and martial equality.
Kumaon Holi, Uttarakhand: And a Musical Celebration: Holi’s turn into music festival during the two month period for the people of Kumaon. The festival includes Baithaki Holi, Khadi Holi, and Mahila Holi where people sing and do other traditional dances.
Yaosang, Manipur – A Colorful Blend of Sports and Games: The Yaosang festival in Manipur is a combination of colors of Holi with their own sports and Thabal Chongba dance. The festival last for 5 days where the first day signifying the celebration a hut made with hay and twigs is burnt.
Holi in Hampi, Karnataka: Displays Of Tradition & Merriment: Hampi in Karnataka sees an amazing union of the past and the present – the city where residents and travelers lour around the ruins for the colorful ‘healthy’ frolics and drum dunes among the River dives.
Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima, West Bengal and Odisha: In West Bengal and Odisha, Holi called Dol Purnima or Dol Jatra is a procession of idols of Radha and Krishna where music and colors produce a great common joy that highlights devotion and community spirit.
Every such event weaves the fabric of Holi, and one can see through those events that there is a marvelous variety of culture of India in general. Whether it is vivid patterned play of colors, rhythmic dance steps or final page to the book that pays homage to the legends, Holi in India weaves a story of cultural diversity in which people from all different backgrounds gather together and share in their joyful happiness and rebirth. When Indian people are ready for Holi, these truly local festivities accentuate the global meaning of the love, forgiveness and indestructible good spirit of human beings.