Known around the world as the Festival of Colors, Holi is one of India’s Biggest and most unique holidays full of color, culture, and religious significance. Without even knowing my trip fell in the middle of Holi and left me with the opportunity to experience it for myself. Of course, my experience wasn’t 100% authentic being foreign but I did however get a chance to explore the city and public festivals which left me with some incredible memories.
What is Holi
Figuring out what Holi actually was took me some time. There are many different reasons why people celebrate Holi but overall this is the general story of Holi according to my amazing tour guide (and some Google too lol).
According to the legend, there was a demon king named Hiranyakashipu who had obtained a boon that made him invincible. He grew arrogant and demanded that everyone in his kingdom worship him instead of the gods. However, his son, Prahlada, remained devoted to Lord Vishnu, much to his father’s anger. Hiranyakashipu decided to kill Prahlada and enlisted the help of his sister, Holika, who was immune to fire.
Holika tricked Prahlada into sitting on a pyre with her, intending to burn him while she remained unharmed. But due to Prahlada’s unwavering faith and devotion to Lord Vishnu, he emerged unscathed, while Holika was consumed by the fire. This event symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
The story of Radha and Krishna is also associated with Holi. It is believed that the mischievous Lord Krishna, known for his playful nature, would apply colors on his beloved Radha and other Gopis (cowherd girls), leading to the tradition of playing with colors during Holi.
Holi also has roots in the legend of Kamadeva, the god of love. It is believed that Kamadeva sacrificed himself by shooting a love arrow at Lord Shiva to awaken him from deep meditation and save the world. On Holi, people pay homage to Kamadeva’s sacrifice and celebrate love and romance.
Over time, Holi has evolved into a festival that transcends religious boundaries and is celebrated by people of various faiths and cultures.
How Holi is Celebrated
Typically Holi is celebrated as a two to three-day holiday. Starting with the first night where the locals burn fires and dance. The next day is full of colors; people flood the streets while rubbing powder dyes on each other’s face and neck ( which eventually covers their entire body).
Where to Experience
Holi is a nationwide holiday, celebrated in almost every big city and even in small villages. The biggest cities known to celebrate Holi are Mathura, Vrindavan, and Jaipur. I was lucky enough to be in Jaipur on the exact day (look at me go).
During our stay in Jaipur, our tour guide Sima took us to a local public festival called Dhulandi Festival. This is a very tourist-y way to experience Holi but personally, I didn’t mind because it was much safer than going out into the city which was 90% men. They had everything from traditional dancing, free color powder, local food, live music, and even character performers.
Safety
Throughout my trip in India, I never felt completely uncomfortable.. except for Holi. The locals were more than thrilled to share their holiday with us and made an effort to include me in so many unforgettable experiences.
My main problem was the men (surprise). During Holi the only people out on the streets were men; I probably saw around 2 local women for every 30 men I saw. From the second I got out of the car I was grabbed, hugged, and filmed by a different man about every 3 minutes. Because a big part of Holi is wiping colors on each other’s faces, many men took this advantage to then lean into a hug and hold me until I had to push them off. I felt bad because I wanted to be kind, because, you know, this was their holiday; But after a while, they became more aggressive and touchy. My tour guide Sima luckily came to the rescue and got the drunk guys to leave.
This did make it hard to experience Holi BUT in the end, I think it was 1000% worth dealing with the drunk people.
The only thing I would have done differently is going in ready to say no and push my way past people who didn’t have good intentions. Like every big holiday there will be crazies no matter where you go you just have to be ready to avoid and hold your boundaries.
In the end YES YOU SHOULD GO, It’s extremely different from American holidays but there are so many good things to Holi that out-way the cautions.
How to prepare
I was EXTREMELY under-prepared for Holi. For one thing, your clothes will be DESTROYED. Don’t even think about salvaging it. I had to throw away my entire outfit at the end of the day so plan to wear something cheap and white (so you can see all the colors).
Another thing I was extremely grateful for was sunglasses. I cannot express this enough WEAR THE GLASSES. My eyes would have been full of color powder if it wasn’t for my sunglasses.
Also for my girlies wear your cheap bra. Just trust.
At the end of the day, Holi is worth the experience and the trip. Despite some challenges and safety concerns, the experience of participating in Holi is an unforgettable one. So, if you have the opportunity, embrace the vibrant colors, and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of Holi!
I’ll See you
