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Holi Celebrations across Different Regions of India

07 Mar,2023 04:30 PM, by: Anushthatri Sharma
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Holi is a festival of colors and is celebrated in different parts of India with great enthusiasm and zeal. Here are some of the ways Holi is celebrated in different regions of India:

North India: Holi celebrations in North India are famous for their grandeur and enthusiasm. People here start the celebrations by lighting a bonfire the night before the festival, known as HolikaDahan. On the day of Holi, people play with colored powders and water. Traditional dishes like gujiya, mathri, and dahibhalla are prepared and shared with friends and family.

South India: In South India, Holi is celebrated as a two-day festival. On the first day, people light a bonfire and perform prayers. On the second day, people play with colors and water. A special dish called 'Holige' is prepared, which is a sweet pancake filled with coconut and jaggery.

West India: Holi celebrations in West India are known for their energetic dance and music performances. People here also light a bonfire the night before the festival and play with colors and water on the day of Holi. Special delicacies like thandai, puranpoli, and shakkar para are prepared and shared with loved ones.

East India: In East India, Holi is celebrated as 'Dol Purnima'. People celebrate by playing with colors and water and also dancing to traditional music. A special drink called 'bhang' is consumed during the celebrations. Traditional dishes like 'luchi-aloordum' and 'payesh' are prepared and shared.

Overall, Holi is celebrated in different parts of India with different customs and traditions, but the spirit of the festival remains the same - to celebrate the triumph of good over evil and spread joy and happiness.

Here are a few Indian destinations that attract numbers of visitors every year during ‘Holi’ for their vibrant celebrations:

Holi in Barpeta, Assam: In Barpeta, Holi is celebrated as a religious festival and is known as 'Phakuwa' or 'Doul'. The celebrations begin a week before the actual day of Holi. People sing and dance in “Holi Geet” and offer prayers to Lord Krishna.

On the day of Holi, people play with colors and water, and a special sweet called 'pitha' is prepared. The celebration in Barpeta is unique as it involves the performance of traditional Bhaona plays, which depict scenes from the life of Lord Krishna. These plays are performed by local artists and are enjoyed by people of all ages.

Holi in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, is famous for its Holi celebrations. The festival is celebrated for over a week and is known as 'Lathmar Holi'. Women playfully hit men with sticks, and men protect themselves with shields. The playful hitting symbolizes the teasing of Radha by Lord Krishna and his friends.

On the day of Holi, people play with colors and water, and the streets are filled with music and dance. The celebration ends with a grand procession of Lord Krishna and Radha, which is accompanied by music and dance.

Holi in Jaipur, Rajasthan: In Jaipur, Holi is celebrated as a two-day festival. On the first day, people light a bonfire and perform rituals to ward off evil spirits. On the second day, people play with colors and water and enjoy traditional food and drinks like 'ghevar' and 'thandai'.

The celebration in Jaipur is unique as it involves the performance of folk dances like 'Gair' and 'Chakri'. People also dress up in colorful traditional attire and visit their friends and family to exchange sweets and greetings.

The festival of Yaoshang or Holi is considered one of the major festivals of Manipur. The five-day-long celebration begins with the burning of ‘yaoshang’ (a small thatch hut/straw hut) which is constructed with bamboo and straws on the first day. Come nightfall, the local children dress in traditional attire and visit every house in their neighbourhood to collect the festive lucky money. This is called nakatheng in meetei language. This money is used to organize a grand feast few days after the festival. The festivities also include - ThabalChongba (a dance event), ’Pala Eshei’ (devotional songs) ShumangLeela (a traditional theatre play) along with the usual plays with colours and pichkaris.

Overall, Holi celebrations in different parts of India have their unique customs and traditions that make the festival more diverse and vibrant.

 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Critical Script or its editor.

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