Holi festival 2025 is just around the corner, and we know that you are all very excited to turn the streets into vibrant colors, play unlimited songs, and dance till you can’t breathe to celebrate the festival of colors to the fullest.
Have you heard about a guide to the Holi festival? This may be new, but you are surely going to love it because it is going to help you make the most of your Holi celebration with your friends, family, and loved ones.
Now you must be wondering why you even need a Guide to Holi Festival; you are no longer a kid who is new to the Holi festival in India. However, a little heads-up doesn’t hurt anybody, right?
Holi is the only time of the year when throwing colors on a random stranger is completely okay, but there are certain things to keep in mind so that you don’t overdo it. Before we head to what we should and shouldn’t do during the Holi celebration, let’s check out why we celebrate Holi and what the Holi Festival History is.
Suggested Read: Top Holi Events In Gurgaon 2024
The Holi festival in India is celebrated on the day of Phalguna, and today, people play with artificial colours; however, during the 4th century, Holi was celebrated in a very different manner, as mentioned by Kalidasa, the great poet during the time.
There are many legends associated with the celebration of Holi, some of which are:
We are no strangers to the fact that Krishna was of a dark complexion, and he was a lot self-conscious about his dark complexion. He asked his mother for advice, to which she suggested that he could put a colour on Radha of his choice. Krishna playfully coloured Radha’s skin, making it look similar to his, and Radha fell for his charm. So it is believed that the Holi Festival History is celebrated to commemorate their love for each other.
As per the legends, after the death of Sati, Lord Shiva was deeply disturbed and found solace in deep meditation. The world started to suffer because Shiva was deep into meditation. Goddess Sati was reborn as Parvati to rouse Shiva to bring normalcy to the world. After Parvati’s attempt did not bear fruit, she asked Kamadeva for her help. Lord Kamadeva was a cupid of the time; in short, he was the deity of love and passion.
Kamadeva shot his arrow of love into Shiva’s heart, which awakened but angered him enough to open his third eye. It was then and there that Shiva incinerated Kamadeva on the day of Phalguna. Thus, the people on the South side of India started worshipping him for his sacrifice because even though he was incinerated, his arrow awakened Shiva and made him fall for Parvati, hence bringing normalcy to the world.
At some places, Holi festival in India is celebrated to rejoice the end of the Ogress Pootana, who was killed one night before Holi.
The king of Mathura, Kansa, ordered Pootana to kill infant Krishna by feeding him poisonous milk, however Krishna sucked the life out of her and she died one day before the Holi. So, in some places, it is believed that Holi marks the end of the cold, dark winters and welcomes spring.
Pootana was considered as winter, and her end marks the heroic win of Lord Krishna over evil.
There are plenty of legends that go way back in time, but the best part about all of it is that these legends are responsible for introducing the world to such a cool festival that brings so much joy and happiness to every household and brings people together.
Suggested Read: Holi Events in Mumbai
The Holi festival traditions throughout India unite under one common purpose, which is to celebrate with color festivities, music, and happiness. Two days make up the celebration of this custom.
1. Holika Dahan (The Night Before Holi)
The inaugural celebration of the Holi festival in India goes by the name Holika Dahan. The communal celebration happens in outside locations where people create bonfires while conducting religious observances. People light the bonfire to symbolize the destruction of Holika and the victory of righteousness. People gather from their families and neighboring families to celebrate through dancing, music, and singing.
2. Rangwali Holi (The Festival of Colors)
Rangwali Holi represents the second day of the festival, during which people indulge in throwing colored powders referred to as gulal. The play becomes even more thrilling through the active use of water balloons as well as water guns. During Holi, people listen to music while sharing sweets with their loved ones as they enjoy their time with family and friends.
Before Rangwali Holi, people enjoy special drinks such as the bhang mixture thandai. The festival foods for Holi include gujiya and malpua, along with the famous jalebi.
Holi Celebration in India
Holi is celebrated in distinct local celebrations throughout different regions in India. Local cultural heritage adds distinctive traditions to the celebration across different areas throughout India.
1. Mathura and Vrindavan: Holi draws many visitors to Mathura and Vrindavan because Lord Krishna is associated with these two small towns in India. Holi activities in Mathura span more than seven days and highlight the Lathmar Holi celebration at Barsana, where women entertainingly hit men with wooden objects.
2. Jaipur, Rajasthan: Holi in India receives major festivities during the festival season in Jaipur, which belongs to the state of Rajasthan. The city hosts royal Holi celebrations with elephants, traditional Rajasthani dance, and music performances. It is one of the best places to celebrate Holi in unique ways.
3. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: The Holi festival in India receives spiritual reverence from the population of Varanasi, located in Uttar Pradesh. Many people gather at the ghats to engage in color play while singing and dancing.
4. Delhi: Delhi hosts some of the most energetic Holi celebrations in India. Delhi celebrates its Holi with parties, DJ music, and food while allowing rain dances and music festivals for all the attendees.
The Guide to Holi Festival is a must if you are new to the festival. This usually happens when you have been away from the country for a long time, or you live somewhere in South India, where the Holi Celebration in India is not as grand as the ones in the North.
The Holi Celebration in India is grand in some parts of the country, which, by the way, you should check out because it is going to be an experience worth having.
Guide To Holi Festival: When Is Holi Celebrated?
Every year, the Holi Celebration in India on the day of Phalguna marks the end of the cold winters and welcomes Spring with its blooming flowers. Since nature begins to show its vibrant colours, the best way to get back at it is to colour the streets with vibrant colours.
The timings of the Holi festival traditions differ every year as it follows the Lunar Cycle; however, every year, Holi falls in February and March. The entire Holi festival traditions lasts for three days, after the Holika Dehen one night before the main Holi day.
The day begins by offering pooja, and then putting Gulaal(Red colour) on each other and greeting each other with Happy Holi.
Relatives exchange gifts and sweets on this day, however, the showstopper sweet Gujiya remains everyone’s favourite.
There is Gujiya, colours, rocking music, and bhaang to keep the merriment going throughout the three-day celebration.
Suggested Read: Pushkar Holi Party 2025
Holi Celebrations In The Country
According to our Guide to Holi Festival, Holi celebrations in India are just wild, and some people plan trips especially to witness the Holi festival in India.
One of the Best Places to celebrate Holi in the wild Holi celebrations is Vrindavan and Mathura, which are considered the birthplace of Lord Krishna and one of the best places to celebrate Holi. You are in for some wild celebrations.
Some of the Best Places to celebrate Holi can be seen in Hampi, Udaipur, Jaipur, Shantiniketan, Barsana, Delhi, Banke Bihari, and plenty of other places to witness the crazy vibe of the festival of colors and festival of love, bringing people closer.
Ultimate Guide To Holi Festival: Holi Safety Tips
Guide To Holi Festival: Do’s
According to our Holi festival guide, here are some things that you should ensure:
- According to our Holi festival guide, you should visit your relatives and friends and greet them with love.
- Do exchange Gujiyas with family and friends
- Oil your hair before playing with colors because, as per our guide to the Holi festival, if you don’t oil your hair before playing with colors, it may cause hair damage.
- Do oil your other body parts that you may think are going to be exposed to protect them from the harsh colours.
- Wear long sleeves and sunglasses to protect your eyes.
Guide To Holi Festival: Don’ts
The Holi Safety Tips are here to help you with certain things. We know that you may get a little too excited because everyone is high on adrenaline and happiness. However, even if you are enjoying yourself too much, you have to ensure that you don’t overdo anything that may be disrespectful to others or land you in trouble.
- Don’t pull anyone’s hair.
- Don’t make anyone uncomfortable by maintaining too much physical touch; if they are uncomfortable, sense the tone and maintain your distance. As per our guide to Holi Festival, it will save you from a lot of trouble.
- Don’t drink too much bhaang or lassi because it may intoxicate you.
This Guide to Holi Festival helps you understand everything about this colorful festival—from its Holi festival historyand Holi festival traditions to the best places to celebrate Holi and Holi safety tips.
As Holi festival 2025 approaches, start planning your trip to India and experience the Holi festival in India like never before. Whether you celebrate at home or in one of the best Holi festival destinations, remember to spread joy, love, and happiness.
Happy Holi!