When it comes to festivals in India, Holi is easily one of the most popular ones simply because of the vibrant nature of this festival. With gulaal in your hair and the aroma of gujiya in the air, the exuberance of Holi celebrations is hard to miss. Since our country is diverse, it provides us with some of the best places to celebrate Holi and other important festivals.
It goes without saying that every state celebrates Holi in its own way and with so many opportunities to celebrate Holi in 2023, as people wait for the festival of colors with unparalleled enthusiasm, waiting all year to gorge on delicious pakora and refreshing thandai, it can be hard to choose from all the best destinations to celebrate Holi in India.
And since this year, Holi is falling just in time for a long weekend, it is the perfect opportunity to explore different customs and traditions associated with Holi in different states, all over India and take a closer glimpse at the rich culture of our country.
To make things easier for all travel enthusiasts who are looking for the best places to celebrate Holi in 2023, we have curated the perfect list to sort your Holi weekend where you will find all the awesome destinations where you can go to.
1) Kinnaur valley, Himachal Pradesh
Many people are unaware that Holi in Kinnaur valley is celebrated with just as much vigor as anywhere else. However, the festivities of Holi in Kinnaur commence as a part of the Faguli festival in Sangla Valley.
Fagli or Faguli is a four-day festival and Holi is celebrated on the third day with snow and dry colors. On the first day, a dish made of roasted barley flour and buttermilk called Totu is prepared and distributed as prasad.
The Holi festivities in Sangla valley of Kinnaur consist of music, wine distribution, and a reenactment of a few scenes from the epic Ramayana. The most fascinating part is that the Faguli festival is celebrated by lighting oil lamps as is done during Diwali.
In a way, the Faguli festival is a blend of two of the most popular festivals i.e. Diwali and Holi making Sangla valley a must-visit during Holi in 2023.
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2) Pushkar, Rajasthan
The Pushkar Holi festival is as grand as the forts of Rajasthan itself. Holi celebrations are almost synonymous with Pushkar due to the zeal and excitement with which the people celebrate this festival here.
Tourists from all over the world come to Pushkar to celebrate Holi and you’d be able to find people from different corners of the world throwing colors at each other.
On the main chowk, you would see people bathed in color dancing to cheerful music. Pushkar is easily one of the best places to celebrate Holi in 2023 and if it wasn’t on your bucket list before, you should definitely add it now.
Suggested Read: Best Weekend Getaways from Delhi
3) Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
For all adventure enthusiasts who want to celebrate Holi in 2023 in a completely different way, Rishikesh is perfect.
Festivities of Holi here come with the added bonus of rafting, bonfires, and camping by the banks of the Ganga while the scent of Gulaal lingers in the air.
A blend of traditional customs with the excitement of adventure activities is the best kind of way to celebrate Holi for travelers who love riding the adrenaline high. The Holi celebrations in Rishikesh will begin one day before with the Holika Dahan continuing the next day with the music festival where people gather to play with colors.
4) Udaipur, Rajasthan
The city of lakes known for its regal nature celebrates Holi in a royal way as well. The Holi celebrations in Udaipur consist of participation by the royal family itself making it all the more of an important affair. The celebrations commence with the traditional Holika Dahan, where the local Maharaj ignites the Ritualistic fire in the palace’s courtyard. The act is symbolic and is known as Mewar Holika Dahan.
The locals then dance around the bonfire and perform the folk dance ‘Gair’ to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
A royal procession also takes off afterward where the royals are seated on elephants, horses, and camels that are adorned with jewels. The royal yatra starts from Shambhu Niwas Palace and concludes at Manek Chowk royal residence. The celebration is concluded with a display of fireworks. The next day people play with colors as is the usual custom for Holi.
There are many places to visit during Holi in 2022 and the choice is ultimately yours. You can never go wrong with Holi celebrations in India because the festival itself is a promise of fun and joy. But celebrating it in a destination away from home as you go on a Holi weekend getaway will surely make the festival all the more memorable. Wherever you wish to celebrate Holi, do let us know in the comments.
