Holi Festival in India

India is a country with different traditions and cultures. The country is enriched with lots of festivals and Holi is one of the most vibrant festivals celebrated all over the country. Indians celebrate it with extreme enthusiasm and joy whether residing in India or outside the country. The festival of Holi comes on the full moon day in March (phagun). It is also known as the Basant Utsav in the rural India. As this is the festival of colours, people love to drench others in coloured water. Gulaal, abeer, water balloons, pichkaris and many more are the key things of the festival.

The colourful festival is celebrated very effectively in all the states of India. Holi in Rajasthan is as much the same as of Mathura. A night before the main occasion is enjoyed with the huge bonfires and throwing coloured powders on each other. The celebration starts with a Holika Bonfire on the previous night of Holi where people gather and perform some rituals.  Dhols are very much famous on Holi and people use to sing and dance on the traditional songs. Gulal and Kumkum adds gaiety to the occasion. The main activities of the festival starts from the next morning where everyone plays with colours, chase each other with coloured water, some carry pichkaris and water guns for the water fight. Some group of people carry drums and dhols, roam around the streets, sing and dance.

In Rajasthan, even the royalties of the state shows their spirit of togetherness as they also mingle with the locals. Rajput royals used to show their equestrian skills during the festival. Even nowadays, royals are expertise in the horse riding, throwing colour powders on each other. In fact, the royals are also drenched in the colour water.

holi festival rajasthaan India, Photo Credit By Suman Das on Flickr.com

Braj Mahotsav is the famous festival which is held in the honour of Lord Krishna. The festival is marked by dynamism and enthusiasm. Villagers in a multi hued attire show the ancient tradition of young Krishna who had a dark complexion and was jealous of his beloved Radha’s extremely fair complexion. Villagers perform the epic of ‘raslila’ portraying the eternal love-story of Radha-Krishna.

Some of the Folk Traditions in Rajasthan are:

Mali Holi: Holi is celebrated in many ways. This is played in the gardener community of Rajasthan known as ‘Mali’. They have the unique style of playing Holi where the male colour the women with water and women react by hitting them with sticks or long pieces of cloth.

Gair at Godaji: This activity is performed at the Godalji Village near Ajmer in Rajasthan where men from 12 villages come collectively. Each village brings their own drummers and troupes. The whole location has the scenic beauty which is surrounded by hills on all sides.

Dolchi Holi in Bikaner: Holi is celebrated in between the members of ‘Harsh’ and ‘Vyas’ communities. They celebrate the festival by throwing water at one another with immense force for the past 300 years.

Apart from these colour activities, Holi, in Jaipur, witnesses another kind of festival known as Elephant Festival. The festival features amazingly caparisoned elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers. Elephants, the symbol of strength are embellished with vibrant colours, jhools and heavy jewellery. The festival features the elephant parades, elephant races, elephant polo matches, elephant beauty pageant and elephant vs. man tug-of-war. The most beautifully decorated elephant is awarded at the festival.

Tourists from all over the world co-participate and experience the feeling of oneness and sense of brother-hood during the Holi festival.