Colourful, joyous, cheerful – these are the adjectives which are aptly associated with Holi, one
of the most important festivals in India. Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated on a grand
scale across the length and breadth of the country. On the day of holi, the whole of India
represents a beautiful picture that is riot of colors. The faces painted with myriad colors are
a cynosure to the eye. The festival is associated with fun and frolic and the preparation for it
starts well in advance before the festival day. The festival also marks the onset of spring, a
There are different interesting stories associated with origin of the festival as well as the way
it is celebrated in different states. Some of the various ways in which Holi is celebrated in
different parts of India are discussed below:
Bengalis celebrate Holi as ‘Basant Utsav’, which literally translates to Spring Festival in the local
language. The locals celebrate the festival as a way to welcome the new season; people of
all age group celebrate with great fanfare and they make merry by singing, dancing and the
hymns in Shantiniketan. Another major highlight of Holi celebration in Bengal is Dol Purnima.
On this day youngsters wear saffron coloured clothes and also wear flower garlands. Unlike
other parts of India, Holi in Bengal is celebrated in a very dignified manner. A procession of
Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha is taken around the local area, where the idols of the Gods
are decorated in a grand way and are placed on the palanquin.
Holi in Maharashtra
Just like any other states in India, people of Maharashtra associate Holi with colors and they
celebrate it as ‘Rangpanchami’. The festival is very prominent among the Koli or fishermen
community in the state. On the day of the festival people join the celebration with others
and play with colours. A day before the festival a bornfire is made, which in a symbol of the
demoness Holika. The effigy is burnt to symbolize the victory of good over evil.
True to their bold personality, the Sikh community in India celebrates Holi with grandeur and
elan. In Punjab, Holi is known as ‘Hola Mohalla’. People celebrate by shouting on top of their
voices in a very peculiar and rhythmic way. Men exhibit their strength and power by playing
kushti. As the sun begins to go down the celebration takes a different turn as people play with
Holi in Andhra Pradesh
Holi celebrations in the southern parts of India are much different than the celebrations in the
North. Though, it is not celebrated in a grand way it is quite interesting and charming in its own
way. In Andhra people celebrate Holi as a way to promote communal harmony. People of all
age group participate in the public merry making and play with dry colors. The youngsters seek
the blessings of the elders by putting gulal (colour powder) on the feet of the elderly members
in their family. The Banjara communities from Andhra Pradesh celebrate holi by performing
traditional dance.
Just as the festival itself is colorful, the celebration too is colorful across the country. It spreads
joy and cheer everywhere.
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