Get ready to paint the town (and your friends) with vibrant hues and celebrate the triumph of good over evil at Holi – the festival of colours! This Hindu festival is celebrated every year in the month of Phalgun, marking the end of winter and the arrival of summer in India. This year, Holi falls on March 8th, but the festivities begin on the previous night with Holika Dahan.
On this joyous occasion, people of all ages come together to play with colours, water, and flowers, smearing each other with powdered colour. Mouth-watering delicacies such as gujiya and thandai are served, and younger members of the family seek blessings from the older members with gulal.
As India is a land of many cultures, different states celebrate Holi in unique ways. In Maharashtra, people start the festival by burning a pyre of firewood to symbolise the victory of good over evil. In Goa, people come out on the streets to dance together to folk music and play with colour.
In Kerala, the Kudumbi and Konkani communities celebrate with folk songs and watercolours using turmeric. In Udaipur, Rajasthan, the royal family of Mewar organises a procession with bands and royal horses, and a model of Holika is set on fire in a traditional bonfire.
Holi is a festival that brings people together from all walks of life. It may not be your typical luxury event, but it’s a unique, memorable and highly Instagrammable experience that everyone should have on their bucket list. Join in the fun and celebrate the beauty of this colourful festival!
