The capital of India and the most visited city of Rajasthan are the perfect settings to enjoy the festival of colours in a special way, a festival full of coloured powder, water and joy.
India, the land of spices and colours, experiences a very special burst of festivity once a year. Every March, when the Hindu festival of Holi arrives, there is a unique burst of joy, water and paint. It is the closest thing to what in other places is called Carnival, not because of the music and dancing, which is also there, but because of the tradition of painting each other, as happens for example in the carnival festivities in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Holi 2024 is celebrated on 24 and 25 March and is a very special occasion to soak up the Hindu culture. It is actually the liveliest festival in India, the world’s most populous country, and has a religious origin, commemorating the eternal love of Krishna, one of the reincarnations of the god Vishnu, and Radha, his favourite concubine. Holi today represents the victory of good over evil, and is a time to play with friends and family, as well as to welcome spring, especially in the north of the country.
What to expect at the Holi festival
There are as many ways of celebrating Holi as there are places in India and it is different everywhere. What is common everywhere is the desire to have a good time, to go out into the streets to spray and be sprayed with water and paint until your face, hair, arms and, of course, your clothes are soaked and impregnated with the powdered dyes. It is a celebration of colour in the crowd.
There are two places that boast the most authentic Holi, the towns of Vrindavan (where Krishna supposedly spent his youth) and Mathura, but as they are off the beaten tourist track, we’d rather you enjoy these days of fun in Delhi and Jaipur, two must-see stops for visitors to the north of the country.
Delhi, the liveliest capital
It’s all about wandering the streets and looking for a party, there’s no other secret. This is one of the best places in India to make the most of Holi. The more inquisitive can check local newspapers to find out what parties are scheduled at venues and hotels, but it’s best to wander around Delhi’s old town and residential areas. In fact, you can plot a tourist route through popular attractions such as Lodhi Gardens, Humayum’s Tomb, Chadni Chowk or the centrally located Connaught Place and expect to find some revelry. Indians like foreigners to participate in their traditions and will invite you to join their party. The welcome is sure to be colourful, with paint-filled balloons thrown at you, water guns dousing you, or a handful of gulaal, as the powdered dyes used are called, forming a saffron, crimson, green or blue-blue cloud that will be your first paint bath of the day. Let yourself be carried away by the sound of the typical drums, which are shaped like a kite. That’s what it’s all about. Take the usual precautions, wear clothes you don’t mind if they don’t come back with you in your suitcase and have fun! Oh, and don’t forget that almost all shops and restaurants close on the first day.
Jaipur, the gateway to Rajasthan
The region of Rajasthan, with its ancient history of kings and palaces, is said to hold the essence of India, which is why a visit is recommended for such an iconic event as Holi. Jaipur, known as the Pink City because of the famous sandstone façade of the Palace of the Winds, the Hawa Mahal, is the gateway to Rajasthan, only about three hours from New Delhi. Two other Rajasthani towns, Udaipur and Pushkar, have fabulous Holi celebrations, but are much further away. If you plan to visit them, this is a good time of year. If you can only stay in Jaipur, the great thing is that the big party is held at the royal palace, known as City Palace. Another spectacle worth seeing during Holi is the blessings of the devotees at the Govind Dev Ji temple. Watch out! The streets of Jaipur are being sprayed with water-based paint from cannons. The city also boasts of its ‘gulaal gota’, lacquered balls filled with powdered dyes that are thrown like snowballs to burst and spread the colour of the festival to everyone nearby. As in Delhi, many hotels hold Bollywood-inspired parties during Holi, but what’s not to be missed is the Jaipur Elephant Festival, which is held every year during these unique days. As the name suggests, it’s a parade of pachyderms adorned with the colours and handcrafted motifs that have made India famous.
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Conclusion
The idea of blending in with the crowds and getting paint sprayed all over you can be a bit daunting, but Holi is one of the best festivals to discover India and get carried away by a culture that will always surprise you. It also coincides with the arrival of spring, before the hot and rainy season. And it is an ideal way to immerse yourself in the chaos and colours of India. Delhi and Jaipur are two of the cities where you can best enjoy this religious festival.