Holi 2024 Travel Guide - India's Festival of Colors

Holi Festival(also know as Festival of Colors) is not only a festival about color but also a color party for everyone. People in the street are singing and dancing, and they decorate the sky and the ground with colorful colors to welcome the arrival of spring. No matter what skin color you are, when you come out you will be colorful. The more colors you have on your body means the more blessings you will receive in the new year. It was the most sincere blessing from the passionate Indians and a carnival that belonged to the whole country. This is undoubtedly one of the must-see experiences of a lifetime. Here is a complete guide for travelers who want to take an India tour during Holi Festival.

The Festival of Colors, Holi

What is Holi?

The Holi represents the end of the monochromatic winter, and with it comes a colorful spring. It is one of the three major festivals in India. For Indians, the most anticipated thing in spring is to celebrate Holi Festival with friends and family, which is the most colorful festival in the world. During the festival, Indian people, regardless of gender and age, are in a state of madness. The world in front of you takes on a crazy colorful splendor. People are colored, the streets are colored, and even the water of the Ganges is colored.

When is Holi 2024?

Holi is the day of the full moon in December in the Hindu calendar. In 2024, It starts on March 24th and ends on March 25th. The date of this festival changes every year, so be sure to check the information in advance when you decide to come and experience Holi Festival.

Catch the joyous atmosphere of the Holi festival

Why is Holi Celebrated?

There are many legends and stories about the Holi Festival, one of which is derived from Hindu mythology. Krishna, one of the guardians of Hinduism, is naughty and likes to sprinkle colored powder on the shepherdess. After the myth spread for thousands of years, it formed a unique local custom in India.

Another story says that in ancient times, a tyrant did not allow his people to believe in Vishnu, but his son disobeyed him and insisted on believing. Then the tyrant instructed his sister Holika to burn the prince on a full moon night. The next morning, when the people rushed to rescue him with water containers, they found him unharmed. On the contrary, Holika had been turned into ashes, which was the result of the blessing of Lord Vishnu. So the people threw the seven colors of water on the prince to celebrate. Holi is derived from the banshee named Holika. Therefore, during the festival, the local people also throw the Holika statues made of grass, wood or paper into the fire and burn them. Compared with God's punishment, people are more willing to celebrate the victory on earth. Thus, Holika was seen as the embodiment of evil, and the victory of the prince over evil was celebrated. People will light a bonfire on the eve of the full moon in spring to celebrate. It is called Holika Dahan, which symbolizes that Holika was burned to death in the fire. The next day, people sprinkle the colored powder on each other to celebrate the victory of evil, which is the origin of Holi.

Holi powder in different colors

What are the Holi Celebrations?

During this festival, the locals played traditional Indian music. And people celebrated by hugging each other, dancing, and shouting, "Happy Holi!" Both adults and children took to the streets and put colored powder on each other's foreheads to show their blessings. More people just grab the powder and spray it on each other from head to toe. Wherever the powder goes, it is an incredible and colorful world. Naughty children even mix the powder with water and shoot everyone they meet with a water polo or water gun.

Grand celebrations on the Holi Festival

Where to Celebrate Holi?

In principle, all cities, towns and villages in India will throw colored powder on the day of Holi and the day before. So if you just want to feel the excitement of the festival, you only need to be in India for those two days, and you can basically participate in it.

Holi is celebrated all over India, but you can experience different festival cultures in different cities. The older the city, the more atmosphere it has. For example, in Varanasi, the atmosphere is obviously stronger than in Delhi. Holi celebrations in Anandpur Sahib are called Holi Mahalla. Here you can celebrate the festival by watching and participating in armed parades, and there is a week-long program of singing the Sikh Bible and music. Jaipur is also a good choice. You can see elephant parades, elephant beauty contests and traditional folk dance music performances here. There will also be corresponding large-scale singing and dancing events at the Jaipur Palace that will surely impress you. Besides, Goa can also be one of your choices. The Holi Festival in Goa is called Shigmo. When you come to Goa, you can't help being immersed in the parade atmosphere of traditional folk street dance. What's more, you can see beautiful relief paintings describing myths and religious stories everywhere.

Locals dyed by Holi powder in various colors

If you want to experience the ultimate rave party, you can go to the celebration in Vrindavan. A large number of Indians would flock to the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan to pray, which was accompanied by colored powder and flower petals. Other than that, you can also choose to spend the day in Mathura, where there will be a parade of floats. Compared to Vrindavan, the celebrations here are more moderate and relatively less crowded.

What are the Tips for Celebrating Holi Festival in India?

Glasses, not just for decoration

• Wear quick-drying clothes, such as a T-shirt, or clothes that are easy to clean or that you do not have to worry about washing.
• If you plan to take photos during the festivities, make sure you have waterproof equipment for the machine, as well as glasses and a mask for yourself.
• Some small cash will be enough, leave the valuables in your hotel if possible.
• Stay alert during the festival, not only for your financial security but also for your personal safety. There are some alcoholic drinks available during the festival, so keep your distance from hallucinogenic drinks and people who are drinking.
• Tips for the Holi Festival Celebrations 2024

Having fun is the spirit of Holi. If you are a tourist, the locals will definitely treat you with care. At this festival, no one will mind whether the attack is exaggerated and unrestrained or a motionless sneak attack from behind. If you wear a white T-shirt, it will become colorful in an instant. Holi Festival for Indians, the caste system does not need to be followed too much, and fun is paramount. They can temporarily forget the class differences and forget the hatred and estrangement. Anytime you turn your head, you can see a colorful and smiling face. Adults and children alike are immersed in joy and hope.

If you want to go deep into the region of India, experience the traditional Holi Festival, and feel the colorfulness of life, please don't hesitate to contact us, our experienced travel expert will build a tailor-made itinerary based on your interests and needs within 24hrs.