Holi – the festival of colors is one of the most anticipated festivals in India. It is India’s way of bidding adieu to the cold and welcoming spring. This year, the festival falls on 13th and 14th March and is set to be celebrated in a grand, festive way across India. If you too are going to celebrate Holi this year, knowing its significance might be interesting, and also some famous places where it is celebrated!
Holi 2025: A Brief Overview
Significance Of Holi 2025
The legend of Holi is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. Its story traces back to Bhakt Prahland and his father Hiranyakashyapu. While Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, his father despised him and had plans to kill him.
One day, Hiranyakashyapu asked the help of his sister Holika to kill his son. She had a boon that made her immune to fire, and she used that boon to cause harm to Prahlad. Accordingly, she lured Prahlad to sit on her lap in a raging fire, but Lord Vishnu saved his devotee through a miracle. The fire completely devoured Holika but caused no harm to Prahlad. This way, devotees celebrate Holika Dahan (dahan = destruction) on the first day of Holi to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
Apart from the Holika Dahan legend, there are different stories from the life of Lord Krishna about Holi. These stories talk about how Lord Krishna used to play holi with Radha and other cowherd girls in Vrindavan.
Best Places To Celebrate Holi 2025 In India
Now that you know about the significance of Holi, let’s know more about some places in India where you can get the best Holi experience.
Mathura
Though Holi has a fixed date, the celebrations start from Basant Panchami in Mathura. The town has great significance in Lord Krishna’s life as it is believed that he was born here. Celebrations begin way before actual Holi, and on the day of the Holika Dahan, the town has a grand procession that starts from the Vishram Ghat. In the evening, an effigy of Holika is burnt and devotees pray for a happy, prosperous life.
Closest railhead: Mathura Junction
Nearest airport: Agra Airport [61.8 kilometers (km)]
Vrindavan
Holi of Vrindavan is especially popular amongst Indians and foreigners alike. The Banke Bihari Temple of Vrindavan opens its doors so that everyone can enjoy Holi in the temple. If you visit the holy town during Holi, you’ll find it completely drenched in vibrant hues of pink, yellow, and other colors. Vrindavan is also popular for its Widow’s Holi, where thousands of widows participate in the celebrations – something that was looked down upon in the ancient times. This makes us especially excited for Vrindavan Holi 2025!
Closest railhead: Mathura Junction (16.9 km)
Nearest airport: Agra Airport (76.8 km)
Barsana And Nandgaon
The town of Barsana is thought to be the birthplace of Goddess Radha, Krishna’s divine lover. There is an interesting story from Krishna’s life about the holi in Barsana and Nandgaon. When Radha lived in Barsana, Krisha used to live in Nandgaon and would visit her during Holi. He would playfully tease her during the festival, which is why Radha and her friends would chase him with laathis (staffs). The story led to the celebration of the famous Lathmaar Holi of Barsana.
Closest railhead: Mathura Junction (53.5 km)
Nearest airport: Agra Airport (108 km)
Jaipur
The Pink City of Rajasthan continues to be a Holi hotspot since ancient times. This city used to host a grand elephant procession, however, it got banned citing animal welfare concerns. You’ll find many temples and the palaces in Jaipur celebrating Holi with traditional Rajasthani music and art performances, so make sure you don’t miss out on Jaipur’s Holi!
Closest railhead: Jaipur Junction
Nearest airport: Jaipur International Airport
Pushkar
Pushkar in Rajasthan is known for its numerous ghats and temples, and especially for its grand camel fair. However, the town is also famous for its Holi celebrations where thousands of locals and tourists throw gulaal and flower petals at each other. The Holi in Pushkar is definitely an exciting event that you shouldn’t miss out on!
Closest railhead: Ajmer Junction (15 km)
Nearest airport: Jaipur International Airport (148 km)
Most of these cities are well connected to major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Indore, Pune, Bangalore, and Hyderabad by train, road, and air.
Essential Tips For Holi 2025
If you are visiting any of these places for Holi 2025, here are key tips that you must keep in mind:
- Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, Mathura, and Barsana are especially popular today, so expect a large crowd.
- When visiting any of these places, we recommend keeping your close friends and family informed of your itinerary and GPS location.
- If you are a solo traveler, especially a girl, then we highly recommend being cautious of your environment. Avoid highly crowded places or playing Holi with complete strangers.
- Wear a cap or tie a scarf around your hair to protect it from chemicals and water.
- If you’re carrying professional camera gear to document the festival, try to avoid water or color exposure as much as you can to prevent damage to the equipment.
- Carry plenty of extra clothes with you, as the ones you’ll wear on the day of Holi will be practically useless after the festival.
- If you’re having bhaang, we recommend that you consume it only as per your tolerance. Do not overconsume the drink!
- Most importantly, many people participating in the celebrations will automatically assume your full consent and might even directly drench you in colors and water. If you aren’t fond of it, try to avoid crowded places or simply refuse as much as you can.
- When participating in Holi, do not carry any valuables such as watches or jewelry with you. We recommend keeping them in your bag at your hotel to avoid misplacing or theft.
- Keep a handy list of emergency contacts on speed dial, such as the police, important family members, or friends for safety reasons.
Summing Up
Are you too excited to participate in Holi in 2025? Well, we too certainly are looking forward to this year’s Holi! From Mathura and Vrindavan to Barsana and Pushkar, Holi is not just a celebration of colors here – it also celebrates the good triumphing over the evil.
FAQs
Where Is The Best Place To Celebrate Holi?
Vrindavan and Mathura are some of the most popular destinations for celebrating Holi in India. The cities witness lakhs of tourists and locals during Holi.
Why Is Barsana Holi Famous?
According to legends, Lord Krishna used to visit Radha in Barsana to play Holi with her. Radha and her friends would chase him with laathis (staffs), leading to the famous Lathmaar Holi in Barsana.
What Is Another Name For Holi?
Across India, Holi is known by various names such as Dol Purnima, Dhuleti, Dhulwad, Shigmo, Ukuli, and Yaosang.
