Holi – the festival of celebrating good over evil and smearing colours on each other isn’t just one festival. The festival changes its colours (pun intended) depending on the region you visit. This is why there are so many different types of Holi celebrations across India.
Do you too wish to know more about it?
For that, you must keep reading!
7 Types of Holi Celebrations Across India
1. Lathmar Holi, Barsana And Nandgaon
We’re starting the list with a rather violent-sounding Holi played in India. The Lathmar Holi is celebrated in Barsana, a small town in Uttar Pradesh. This type of Holi is deeply rooted in stories from Krishna’s life.
It is believed that when Lord Krishna was staying in Nandgaon with his friends, he would visit Radha in Barsana to tease and throw water and colors at her.
In retaliation, the girls would chase Krishna and his friends with sticks and staff and if caught, would playfully beat them. This story is believed to be the origin of Lathmar Holi.
Even today, the tradition has been kept alive by the locals. Men from Nandgaon visit the women in Barsana on the first day, followed by the men from Barsana visiting women in Nandgaon the next day.
This playful banter and celebration is a popular event here and tourists flock in great numbers to witness this unique Holi.
2. Hola Mohalla, Punjab
The Sikh community in India celebrates Holi in its own way with Hola Mohalla. It was first envisioned by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru. This 3-day festival celebrates Sikh valour, martial arts, devotion, and community service.
Many followers of Sikhism gather at Anandpur Sahib, a popular place for the festival. While Holi symbolizes celebration and joy, Hola Mohalla celebrates courage, determination, and devotion.
During this 3-day festival, there are different kinds of displays and shows held, including equestrian displays, sword fighting, spear fighting, religious processions, kirtan and poetry recitals, as well as community food service.
Overall, the festival is a celebration of Sikh principles of courage, justice, and serving the people selflessly.
3. Phoolon Ki Holi, Vrindavan
Who said Holi can be played only with colors?
The Phoolon Ki Holi in Vrindavan is famous all over the country for its unique ritual of being played with flowers. It is celebrated on the Ekadashi (11th day of the full moon cycle) before Holi.
Some legends say that when Krishna visited Radha after a long time, he tried to please her by gently throwing flowers at her. Radha reciprocated his actions and that is how this unique ritual is thought to have originated.
On the day of this Holi, priests open the doors to the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. They then shower the devotees and the idols with flowers, signifying the celebration of Phoolon Ki Holi.
The event only lasts for up to 20 minutes, but the spiritual energy and enthusiasm during this time reaches an all-time high!
4. Shigmo/Shimgo, Goa And Konkan Maharashtra
The people of Goa and the Konkani people in Maharashtra share a lot of cultural similarities, including festivals and cuisines.
While Maharashtra’s Konkan region celebrates Shimga/Shimgo, Goa celebrates Shigmo. The two festivals are quite similar, yet have their own distinct rituals in their respective states.
In Maharashtra, Shimgo is celebrated for almost a week, with people cleaning and decorating their houses and also decorating the palanquins for processions. The fourth day is celebrated by burning Holika’s effigy like in many other cultures.
On the fifth day of Shimgo, Rang Panchami (or Holi as we know it) is celebrated. People wear elaborate costumes and dance and sing folk songs.
They also set up the village deity in palanquins and parade around the village to ensure that they remain safe and prosperous.
On the other hand, in Goa, Shigmo is celebrated to welcome warriors and men away from their homes. Shigmo has two types – Dhakto Shigmo (smaller Shigmo) and Vadhlo Shigmo (larger Shigmo).
People celebrate the festival by participating in grand, colorful parades and singing and dancing to folk songs.
5. Dol Utsav, West Bengal
Moving on to the East Coast of India, the Dol Utsav/Dol Purnima/Dol Yatra is celebrated in Brij, West Bengal, some parts in Central India, and in some parts of Assam and Tripura.
The festival gets its name from the word ‘Dol’ which translates to a ‘swing’. It is celebrated by placing idols of Krishna and Radha in a special palanquin and carrying out their processions around the town.
People also apply Phag or Abir powder to each other and the photos of their deceased family members. The Dol Utsav in Shantiniketan is also quite popular and if you’re in West Bengal during the Holi season, you must not miss out on Dol Utsav.
6. Sangla Holi, Sangla Valley
In the Kinnaur region of Himachal Pradesh, Sangla Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The festival shows similarities with both Holi and Diwali.
It is a part of the 4-day Faguli Festival that is also celebrated in the Spiti, Tirthan Valley, and Kullu regions. Villagers dress up in straw and brass costumes and carry elaborate masks.
Villagers distribute a food offering by the name of Totu, made of roasted barley and buttermilk. On the day of Holi, people light up diyas and visit the local Nag Temple to seek blessings.
They also dance together in the Phagli dance known for its intricate footwork and graceful movements. The Sangla Holi isn’t just about celebrating with colors, but also about coming together and respecting the environment.
7. Manjal Kuli, Kerala
While Holi celebrations aren’t as grand in South India as they are in North India, Guruvayur in Kerala is known for its Manjal Kuli celebrations.
This type of Holi isn’t celebrated in your traditional colors, but rather only with a turmeric paste. Yes, you heard it right! Turmeric is mixed with water and people apply it to each other.
The people of the Konkani and Kudumbi communities celebrate the festival here by singing folk songs and performing traditional folk dances. People dress up in bright yellow clothes and the entire atmosphere turns into a cheery yellow hue!
Summing Up
Holi has different names throughout India – be it Rang Panchami, Manjal Kuli, Dol Utsav, or Sangla Holi. However, the underlying traditions, fervor, and spirit remain the same.
These different types of Holi are unique in their own way yet similar in the broader sense – they’re all about celebrating each other.
Which kind of Holi are you the most excited about?
FAQs
How Many Types Of Holi Are There?
There are different types of Holi in India, some of which are mentioned below:
- Manjal Kuli
- Shimgo/Shigmo
- Dol Utsav
- Ukuli
- Rang Panchami
- Faguli
- Dhuleti
- Yaosang
Is Dhulivandan And Holi The Same?
In Maharashtra, Holi is usually referred to as the day when Holika Dahan (burning of the Holika effigy) takes place. The day after it is usually referred to as Dhulivandan or Rang Panchami as people celebrate with colors and dust of the burned effigy.
What Are The Different Types Of Holi In Brij?
Here are the different kinds of Holi in Brij:
- Lathmar Holi
- Phoolon Ki Holi
- Laddu Holi
- Mathura Ki Holi
