Happy Holi 2019: 5 Must-Visit Places in India to Celebrate the Festival of Colours

The festival of colours is upon us, and we cannot keep our calm. It is March, and the people in India are crazily preparing for the most delightful festival—Holi 2019. As the celebration is nearing and you have a long weekend, you must plan to visit the most popular places across the nation, to witness the celebration of Holi 2019 in different cultures. After all, there isn’t any enough excuse to treat yourself with a beautiful tour during the festival time. From Mathura and Vrindavan to Barsana to Shantikan, pack your bags and let different cultures and legends captivate you during the festival of colours. Love Celebrating Holi? Here are Some Festivals From Around the World That Believe in Getting Messy. 

According to the Hindu calendar, this year Holi begins on March 20, and it will continue till March 21. India wraps itself in a riot of hues and merrymaking in Holi 2019, and it is the best time to experience the variant ethnicities that people indulge during the two-day festivity. Diverse ways of playing Holi 2019 are seen across the country, ranging from traditional temple religious ceremony to prevailing parties with dhol, DJs, bhang and lots of colours. Below is a list of one-of-a-kind destinations that will notch up your splashing and smearing experience. 5 Unique Ideas to Present Your Loved Ones This Festival of Colours. 

1. Mathura and Vrindavan

The celebration of Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan is extremely famous throughout the country. Every year, it attracts tourists and pilgrims from all over the world. According to legends, Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and Vrindavan is the place where he spent his childhood. These are the popular places of pilgrimage in India. Delhiites if you have no other plans, you must visit these places on Holi, as it is the nearest to you all. Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura and Banke-Bihari Temple in Vrindavan are the most popular spots to visit during Holi 2019. How to Throw a Perfect Holi Party; 7 Tips to Keep in Mind. 

2. Barsana, Uttar Pradesh

Barsana in Uttar Pradesh is absolutely famous for the Lath mar Holi. Barsana was the home of Radha, where Krishna would come and tease her and her friends. Taking offence at this, the women of Barsana playfully chased him away. The Lath Mar Holi is hence a unique experience. In the first day men from Krishna’s village, Nandgaon will travel to Barsana to tease women there. The women would chase the men and hit them with sticks, where men are allowed to protect themselves with shields. On the second day, women from Barsana go to Nandgaon to play Holi with the men of that place.

3. Shantiniketan, West Bengal

Holi is celebrated as Basanta Utsav (Spring Festival) in Shantiniketan was started by famous Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Inspired by the colours of Holi, he introduced the occasion as an annual event in his Vishva Bharati University. Students adorn themselves in spring colours and arrange for a vast cultural program for visitors, including dances to Tagore’s songs, which is followed by the usual throwing of colours. If you want to ditch the traditional chaotic celebrations of Holi, Shantiniketan is a must place to visit. The calm atmosphere will give you beautiful memories to cherish. WhatsApp Stickers, SMS, Facebook Images and GIF Messages to Send First Greetings of The Festival of Colours. 

4. Anandpur Sahib, Punjab

The celebrations of Holi in Punjab by the Sikhs differ from the entire nation in so many ways. Instead of throwing colours, people demonstrate physical agility that includes martial arts, mock sword fights, acrobatic military exercises, wrestling and turban tying. They have fun with colours later in the evening. Delicious halwa, puris, gujias and malpuas are eaten and served to others during the festival of colours. It is yet another place to definitely visit to experience yet another different version of Holi 2019.

5. Udaipur, Rajasthan

Holi celebrations in Udaipur is no less than Mathura and Vrindavan. The festival is celebrated in the most imperial and grand manner where the royal family takes active participation in the rituals. The following morning, people step out on the streets and narrow lanes of Udaipur with their buckets full of coloured water and water cannons. Locals and visitors participate with great enthusiasm. From Holika Dahan, fireworks to spraying colours, Holi celebration in Udaipur is an enchanting experience, and all of it makes the city a great place to play Holi 2019 in India.

There is no other festival as vibrant and free-spirited as Holi. The celebration of life, love and the onset of spring have so many variations in India, and you cannot miss the above places to experience the different cultures of the country. Travel to one or two or maybe all for the crazy Holi 2019 celebrations. Happy Holi!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2019 05:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).