Holi is one of India’s most vibrant festivals. Celebrated by everyone regardless of class, caste, or religion, its a festival that unites the subcontinent in welcoming the harvest season. Children, grown men, and even Great Aunties run through the streets in gleeful jubilation throwing colorful powdered dye at friends, relatives, and passersby, and attacking unsuspecting bystanders with friendly assaults of water balloons and squirt guns. Although it is a national festival, the craziness of Holi is displayed most raucously in the north, where eggs and mud are also thrown into the mix. This springtime festival (usually in March) leaves the country ablaze in a rainbow of colors, unrecognizable under layers of color that cake the faces and bodies of the subcontinent.
If you happen to be in India during Holi, make sure you connect with a group of locals for the day. Hit up couchsurfers or make friends with the guys working at the hostel, because you don’t want to miss out on the chance to participate in full-on water balloon fights, coating strangers in powdered dye, and drinking thandai. I had so much fun playing Holi that I’d encourage anyone to plan their trip to India around the annual Holi festival.
Not able to make it to India? Check out some of these Holi celebrations in North America:
- Festival of Colors in Sunnyvale, California.
- Holi at the Beach, Pacific Palisades, California
- Multiple celebrations throughout NYC
- Hare Krishna Centre, Toronto
Happy Holi!
I remember those pictures….great article again Dona. Maybe I will try to go next year to Festival of Colors in Sunnyvale that isn’t so far from here.
I have always avoided traveling in India during Holi. I think I’ve seen too many Bollywood movie where girls are abducted or assaulted during the craziness…
Oh no! Well you should definitely experience it at least once. So long as you’re with family and friends, its a blast. I just happened to be in Mumbai during Holi in 2008. Had never even heard of the holiday before, but it was one of the most fun days I had in India.