Interested in celebrating Holi in India? Or maybe you’re just wondering what it is. Let me help you figure it out!
What is Holi?
Right before COVID hit, I went to India with the express intent of celebrating Holi.
It was so much fun and is truly unlike any other experience I’ve ever had, but what exactly is it?
Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival that is also known as the “Festival of Colors”, the “Festival of Spring”, and the “Festival of Love”.
Celebrating Holi in India is about the eternal and divine love of Radha and Krishna, the triumph of good over evil, the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love. For many, it is a festive day to meet others, play, laugh, forgive, forget, and repair broken relationships.
Yea, Holi celebrates a lot!
Where is Holi?
Holi is traditionally celebrated all over India, but it can now be found around the world. With different traditions that are observed at each location, there is something for everyone.
At some you’ll be throwing powdered colors, at others, you’ll find things such as painted elephants in Jaipur (Skip this one. Leave the elephants alone and DON’T RIDE THEM!), flowers galore, and women beating men with sticks during India’s Lathmar Holi celebration.
While celebrations can be found all over, the places generally considered to be the best are Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Baldeo, Udaipur, Pushkar, Varanasi and Jaipur.
I personally celebrated in Mathura and Vrindavan, with Vrindavan being my head over heels favorite. That’s where we threw the colors, danced with the locals, and it’s where you’ll find the famous Banke Bihari Temple.
When is Holi?
Holi lasts for one night and a day, with the start being on the evening of the Purnima full moon. This means that every year it will fall on slightly different days in March.
Some upcoming dates are as follows:
- March 14-15 2025
- March 4-5 2026
- March 22-23 2027
- March 11-12 2028
Who is Holi?
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
How did it happen for me?
Over the years I had seen plenty of pictures where people were covered in colors. It looked like a lot of fun. What was it called? Color runs? No, that wasn’t what I wanted. Those looked like more of America “borrowing” ideas from elsewhere. Ugh.
Then one day I saw a picture on Instagram of someone in a foreign city. He was covered in colors from head to toe with the hashtag #holi as the caption.
I clicked it.
It was like an explosion of color. A giant party of people throwing those powders into the air and celebrating.
I did a little research and found out exactly what they were celebrating, and why.
I needed to go and immediately knew where I’d be in March of the following year.
Just like that.
How to celebrate Holi in India.
There is Uber in India and it is considered to be very safe, but once you’re in the city, tuk-tuks are going to be your primary form of transportation.
If you’re wondering about celebrating Holi in India the colorful way, you’ll need to get yourself to Mathura or Vrindavan. They’re about twenty minutes away from each other. Getting around can be a task with what a major holiday this is, so I’d highly suggest getting there a day or two in advance, or booking a tour to shuttle you around.
Once in the city, communication may be difficult, but since you’re going to stand out like a sore thumb, they should know why you’re there and where to take you if you say Holi. If you can manage to communicate it though, Banke Bihari Temple is the heart of the celebration.
Ready to get wet?
While driving around you’re going to get soaked. In fact, you’re going to get soaked no matter what you do.
Understand and accept that now. You signed up for this. So if you’re here, you have absolutely no say in the matter. It will happen, and you’re not allowed to complain.
Everyone and their mother (though mostly kids) will be throwing buckets of water at your tuk-tuk, be it up close and personal on the street, or from the balconies and windows above.
“The loudest I’ve ever heard you laugh.”
That’s what someone said to me after I posted a video to Instagram of us riding the tuk-tuk down the street while being bombarded with colored water.
While on foot you’ll still get wet but this is a little less prevalent, aside from sneak attacks by kids with water guns.
Instead, this is when you’ll be throwing your colors into the air over groups of people, or doing the more direct, face swipe.
I hate to say it, but if you don’t like being touched, you may want to sit this one out. People seen walking around here are considered to be fair game.
It’s hard to express just how much fun it is.
No complaining!
Remember what I said about complaining?
Unfortunately, towards the end of the day, some people were, “tired” of getting water and colors thrown at them. Sorry guys, I loved you all, but if you are going to be celebrating Holi in India, you can’t complain.
Complaining about getting water dumped on you at Holi is like asking to be dunked in the middle of the ocean and then complaining about getting wet.
It only stops when you leave. So don’t complain, or stay home.
A friend of mine actually flipped the script on one of the kids by taking his water and dumping it back on him. That was very funny to watch.
Tip: If you’re super concerned, try to score the front seat of the tuk-tuk next to the driver. You’ll still get hit with water, but with far less than those sitting in the back. The drivers are usually considered to not be targets.
Banke Bihari Temple
Located in Vrindavan, Banke Bihari is the hot spot.
If you’ve seen pictures of a packed temple with dancing people covered in colors while powder flies through the air, this is probably where it was.
You’ll need to leave your shoes outside, but once inside, it’s a riot of colors, and a giant dance party.
Or so I’m told. In one of my more face palm moments, after being underwhelmed by the first temple we visited, I opted to stay outside for the party that was happening on the street. Ugh.
Boy do I regret that. In fact, I regret it so much that I fully intend on taking a Pack and Go trip just for this temple during Holi. I had every intention of doing it again in 2021, but COVID was still hanging over the world like a black cloud.
Make sure you arrive early enough because while the party will continue outside for a while longer, inside the temple, the celebration starts at 9:00 AM and ends at 1:30 PM.
The Colors of Holi
If you want to know about celebrating Holi in India, it can’t be done without the colors!
The colors you see everyone throwing at each other are called gulal while in powder form and rang if they are mixed into water.
The colors used are made from all natural, plant based dyes. In the middle of 19th century there was a change from natural to industrial made synthetic dyes, but after various harmful effects on both health and the environment became known, they were transitioned back to non-toxic natural sources.
With new herbal sources, they actually discovered that they could make more natural colors for less cost than the synthetics.
You’ll see colors for sale wherever you turn. The cost is very cheap so don’t skimp because you won’t want to run out. I’d recommend always having some in hand so you can counter-attack!
People will be throwing these at you from every direction. Especially if you stand out as a traveler or for not being covered enough.
Keep your head on a swivel!
People like to sneak up behind you and swipe it on your face before you know it’s happening.
Stay extra vigilant while on the tuk-tuks. When they stop, people will try to get you, but since you’re in a vehicle and can’t always readily jump out, their intentions may not be the best.
One girl in my group claimed she had mud swiped on her face. I personally didn’t see it and she was green by the time I looked, but who knows. It’s definitely possible. And gross. Stay frosty.
Solo Females
This is another thing to be conscious of. Holi is the celebration of the love between Radha and Krishna. As such, the men can be very aggressive and tend to focus more on the females. They justify it by staying that this is how the two shared their love for each other.
I don’t agree with it, but good luck convincing a country of 1.3 billion.
Does that mean females shouldn’t go? No, not at all. Just be sure to stay in a group, don’t get separated, and expect to get touched. Thankfully, none of the girls in my group claimed that they were groped but I would still be cautious.
Unfortunately, I’ve read a lot about it happening so don’t wander off alone.
Also, as much as I am a proponent of solo female travel, in this case, I would say skip the fully solo and book a tour so you aren’t alone during the fever pitch of what’s essentially a giant party.
The Aftermath
Once all is said and done, you’ll eventually return to your hotel room to find that your skin has been dyed in various colors.
Some of it will wash off but expect to be colored and blotchy for the next several days.
It will streak your hair as well. I wore a hat and was fine but the girls all looked like they had pink and purple highlights.
Any clothing you wear will be stained and ruined but that’s fine because you’ll want to wear the traditional white tops and bottoms anyway. These let the colors really pop. There will be places selling them all over.
They’re cheap and thin so I wore them on top of stuff I didn’t mind getting ruined.
Once you’re done they look pretty cool so you may want to keep them. One guy in my group (the one pictured above) had the clothing he wore framed in glass the same way you would a sports jersey. It looks awesome and I totally wish I had kept mine to do the same. Maybe when I go back!
Your shoes will be ruined as well. Avoid this by wearing sandals or flip-flops. This is the best idea in my opinion since you’ll be wet and frequently need to take them off, but I did see a few people wearing cheap white slip-on shoes.
Color Hacks
There are a few methods for lessening the color damage.
These are things like cover exposed skin in baby, almond, or coconut oil so it is hydrated and won’t absorb as much of the colors. Then there’s apply a leave-in conditioner or a serum on your hair. Or even oil your hair with coconut oil.
You’re free to try what you want but I’d just go with a hat or scarf. If you want to play, you’ve gotta pay in my opinion.
Though bright blondes, your hair is screwed.
So are you interested in celebrating Holi in India?
What do you think? Does celebrating Holi in India sound fun to you? Is it something you would like to do? Let me know below!
*I’d like to apologize for the picture quality. Unfortunately, due to the nature of this festival I used an older GoPro in an underwater housing. I have a better plan for when I go back.*
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