Holi 2023: A Glimpse Into The Colourful Celebrations In Different States

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The colour-splashing festival of Holi comes on in the month of Phalgun , which is between February and March and people paint the town red and in other colours, and play around with water, flowers and more. Adults too pitch in by throwing Gulal on each other's faces. Of course they give away their blessings during this occasion to youngsters. Then it is time to try out the delicious Holi dishes like Gujiya, Thandai and so on and then retire to bed, in good mood, but exhausted.

This year, Holi will be officially celebrated on Wednesday, 08 March 2023, and the preparatory rituals like Holika Dahan begin the day before, on Tuesday night, 07 March 2023. Each state has a way to express its revelry and joy of celebrations. It is also called by different names according to the regional tastes and preferences. Let us go over each, one by one.

1. Punjab (Hola Mohalla Holi)

This three-day long Sikh spring festival begins at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. The Nihang Sikhs, display their Hola Mohalla skills, taught by their tenth Guru Guru Gobind Singh, through martial arts. Horse riding, wrestling, sword fighting skills of the Sikh warriors are displayed that bring in the cheer and festive spirit. Mock battles, and music and poetry competitions are the other features that keep the audience enthralled.

2. Uttarakhand (Kumaoni Holi)

The Kumaoni celebrations of Uttarakhand are mostly along the lines of music and not much about the riotous display of colours.

3. Uttar Pradesh (Lathmar Holi)

Lathmar Holi, an interesting version of Holi is played in Barsana, Mathura and Vrindavan. Barsana, is an hour's drive from Mathura which is known to have celebrated its first holi when Radha and her Gopis played with Krishna and his Gopas when they visited Nandgaon for Holi. Even today, men hide themselves behind the shields to protect themselves from the lathi wielding women.

Banke Bihari temple comes alive with celebrations on Ekadashi of the holi week, where Phoolon ki Holi is played by sprinkling petals of fresh flowers. At around 4pm, the temple priests sprinkle flower petals on devotees for about half an hour. Widows are allowed to celebrate Holi at Gopinath temple around noon. All of them indulge in colours and music throughout the day.

4. Udaipur (Royal Holi)

Udaipur as usual is the bygone royal era which comes alive during the celebrations. Organized by the royal family of Mewar, it starts with a procession in which decorated horses move gracefully to the rhythmic music of bands. Traditional bonfire is lit in which Holika effigy is burnt according to traditional rituals.

5. Goa (Shigmo Holi)

Shigmo is a huge carnival wherein people are all over the streets, dancing to the beats of folk music and dabbing each other's face with colours.

6. Maharashtra (Rang Panchami Holi)

Firewood indicates all that is evil and a pyre made of firewood is built and lit showing the victory of good over evil. Next day they follow it up by playing with colours and water.

7. Kerala (Manjal Kuli)

People of South have their own way to celebrate the Holi. In the South, people celebrate Holi in a very different way compared to the rest of the states.Konkani and Kudumbi communities call it Manhal kuli which is a much less boisterous and more peaceful that is celebrated in temples wherein songs are sung and water colours mixed with turmeric are used to dab each other with.

8. Manipur ( Yosaong Holi)

The Yaosang festival and Holi event coincide and hence the festivities go on for 5 days and more, and the entire town revels in folk dance performances, music, bonfires, sports and colour-dabbing ritual.

9. Shantiniketan (Basant Utsav)

Holi, more popularly known as Basant Utsav in Shantiniketan celebrates this spring festival as per the instructions of Rabindranath Tagore. The entire university of Shantiniketan gathers to play with the yellow, as yellow is the predominant colour for the occasion. Wearing yellow attires, people add gaiety to the festivity. Cultural programmes are also arranged to brighten up the moods of people and the occasion.