Holi Festival celebration is very crucial in India. Most of all, different states of India celebrate holi in their own way. You will get to know that Holi is just around the corner when you hear these lyrics of the song playing in your neighborhood:
‘O Rang Barse Bheege Chunar Wali, Rang Barse’
Holi Festival celebration
Different states of India call Holi by different names and celebrate it in different ways. Popularly known as the festival of colors and happiness, Holi is one of the famous festivals of Hindus. When Holi is around the corner, you will find that people are collecting stocks of gulaal, pichkaris, and other colors. Also, the fragrance of Gujias will fill all the lanes of the town and you will find mouthwatering sweets on every sweet shop of the town.
With people coming out on the streets to smear gulaal or throw water balloons from the balcony, the vibe is full of merriment. Holi festival celebration is full of zeal and happiness and people from every religion in India celebrate it. Now that you know about Holi festival, some of you might already know about it. However, you should know what are the different celebrations that the people of India would miss out on. So, here is the brief of how different states in India celebrate Holi.
Lathmar Holi festival
Known as one of the most popular Holi celebrations in India, Lathmar Holi is enjoyed in Uttar Pradesh. As the name suggests, here people not only celebrate Holi with colors but with lathis as well.
According to Hindu mythology, during Dwaparyug, when Lord Krishna came to visit his beloved Radha and teased her and her friends, the women of Barsana chased him away with lathis. So, in order to keep this tradition alive, every year on Holi, the men of Nandgaon visit Barsana. The women beat them with lathis while the men try to escape. Those who get caught are forced to dress as women and dance on the streets.
Hola Mohalla
Also known as Warrior Holi, it is celebrated a day after Holi by the Nihang Sikhs in Punjab. In order to commemorate the sacrifices and bravery of the Sikh soldiers.
Started in 1701 by the Sikh Guru, Guru Govind Singh Ji, Hola Mohalla is an out of the box celebration. People showcase martial arts, recite poetries and dance during the day while play with colors in the evening.
Basant Utsav
In Bengali, Basant means spring, and Utsav means festival. Also known as Dol Jatra, this holi festival is famous in West Bengal and the locals celebrate with great enthusiasm. A day after Holi, the women in Bengal dress in yellow and smear colors on the faces of friends, families, and even strangers who are present at the celebration.
Moreover, a large procession of Lord Krishna is carried out on the streets and people sing and dance their hearts out. However, the major celebration takes place at Shanti Niketan. People not only play with colors but recite poems and other works of Rabindranath Tagore and you will find a glimpse of aesthetic Bengali culture here.
Manjul Kuli
Unlike North India, Holi is not so popular in South India. But some communities in Kerala, like Kumba and Konkani, celebrate this festival very peacefully. On the first day, they visit temples, and on the second day, they play with colors containing turmeric. Also, they dance to the traditional folk songs and the main celebration takes place at the Konkani temple of Gosripuram Thirumala.
Rang Panchami
In Maharashtra, the celebration of Holi starts at the sunset of Purnima by the traditional practice of Holika Dahan. And following that, people play with both wet and dry colors while twirling on the Bollywood songs. Known as the most exciting Holi celebration, it can even go on for a week.
Moreover, you also get a chance to taste the mouthwatering delicacy, Puran Poli, cooked mainly on the festival of Holi here.
Kumaoni Holi festival
Known by many different names in Uttarakhand, Holi is celebrated to signify the victory of good over evil. In the Kumaon region, Holi is celebrated in three different ways namely, Khadi Holi, Baithaki Holi, and Mahila Holi. While Khadi Holi is exclusively played by men dressed up in traditional attire and singing songs with musical instruments, Mahila Holi is played by the local women. However, in Baithaki Holi, people gather in the community centers and sing songs related to the incidents in the life of Lord Krishna. They also play Harmonium and Tabla at the celebrations.
Conclusion
Holi festival celebration in India is taking place for ages and every year people eagerly wait for it. But the spirit of this festival is getting deteriorated day by day as people have started drinking before the celebration which mostly leads to unwanted chaos. Therefore, we must always remember that we celebrate festivals to spread happiness and keep the traditions and culture alive. So, celebrate Holi with a twist every year, and don’t miss out on your chance to dance to the Holi anthem!