The ultimate season of colours and fun is here, and this surely gives you a reason to travel during your Holi 2024 break. Let’s celebrate Holi 2024 in a Treebo way this time. Go wherever the colours are splashing and we bet you will get the best ‘Rang Barse’ experience on the special day of the most celebrated festival of India.
Holi is a vibrant festival that epitomises the country’s cultural attractiveness. Many tourists who visit India are captivated by Holi’s vibrant festive atmosphere, traditions, and rituals.
Picture Credit: TOI Holika Dahan, Udaipur
With so many ways to celebrate Holi 2024, as people eagerly anticipate the festival of colours, waiting all year to gorge on delectable pakora and cool thandai.
Here are a few things you need to know about the festival’s historical context, delicious cuisines and fun-filled celebrations!
Introduction to Holi 2024
Holi 2024 signifies the strength of unity and creates unbreakable bonds between people. It is believed to be the day when good triumphed over evil and the gloomy maelstrom of darkness was chased away by the vibrant light of righteousness.
This is the day when people splash colours and water on each other, irrespective of their caste, creed and social differences. It is the right time for forgiveness, reconciliations and renewing relationships that have passed the test of time.
Holi 2024 also marks the arrival of the harvest season or the spring season, making it one of the most important festivals for farmers in the country.
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Holi 2024 Date and Muhurat timings
According to the Hindu calendar, Holi is usually celebrated on the full moon day of the Falgun month. Holi 2024, also called Rangwali Holi, falls on Monday, 25th March. However, Holika Dahan happens a day prior. The auspicious timing for Holika Dahan will be 7:19 PM to 9:38 PM on 24th of March, Sunday.
The Origin and Mythology Behind Holi
The Legend of Holika and Prahlad: Triumph of Good Over Evil
Hiranyakashipu was a demon king who meditated to please Lord Shiva and gained five boons that could save him from death. He believed himself to be invincible and ordered everyone to worship him. However, his son Prahlad, refused to bow down and continued to worship Lord Vishnu. Angered by his son’s insolence, he ordered his demon sister Holika to kill Prahlad. Fire cannot burn Holika. The demon sister lit a pyre, sat down in the middle of it and made Prahlad sit on her lap. In a surprising turn of events, Holika burned down to ashes while Prahlad emerged out unscathed. Later, Lord Vishnu embraced his Narasimha avatar and killed the demon king Hiranyakashipu.
Radha and Krishna: Divine Love and the Essence of Holi
Lord Krishna had very dark skin that almost looked a deep shade of blue. Yet, he was considered to be the most charming man to walk on earth. Radha, on the other hand, was a fair young lady with a beautiful countenance. Insecure with his colour, Lord Krishna asked his mother Yashoda for a few tips to look as splendid as Radha. His mother told him to paint Radha with any colour that he liked so that they both could appear similar and charming. This is when Lord Krishna took a bunch of colours and applied them to Radha, impressing her with his love and determination to stay together forever.
Cultural significance across regions and religions
Holi 2024 is celebrated across different religions and the customs are slightly different from the usual colour-splashing celebration.
The Sikhs celebrate Holi 2024 as ‘Holi Mohalla’, a day to demonstrate martial arts and military exercises to promote courage and valour among the Sikh community. Jains believe Holi 2024 to be the day when Lord Mahavir spread the knowledge of ‘Nirvana’. They offer prayers, meditate and embrace compassion and non-violence on the day. The Mahayana Buddhists consider Holi 2024 to be the onset of spring and celebrate to thank Mother Nature.
Celebrations of Holi 2024 Across India and the World
Rituals and Practices: From Holika Dahan to Dhuleti
The Holi 2024 rituals begin with Holika Dahan on the 24th of March. Individuals collect wood and light it up to create a spectacular display of fire. Holika Dahan signifies the end of evil, paving the way for light and happiness. People wear new clothes and dance around the fire with joy and merriment, eradicating the negative thoughts from their lives. This is also called Jalanewali Holi or Chhoti Holi. Usually, colours are not involved in this celebration.
The next day is the main festival of Rangwali Holi 2024 or Dhuleti. People bring a lot of colours, water balloons and even flowers to throw at each other. It is a time of extravagant celebration when people start playful throwing and smearing coloured powders and water on friends, family, and strangers alike. They also indulge in eating savouries, and snacks and drink beverages like thandai. The two-day festival ends with people offering prayers on the evening of 25th March.
Regional Variations in Celebrations: North to South, East to West
Though Holi 2024 mainly involves smearing each other with colours, sharing food and offering prayers to God, there are a few variations in how some Indian states celebrate Holi 2024.
North India
In cities like Vrindavan and Mathura, people celebrate ‘Lathmar Holi’. Women take sticks and playfully chase men, just like Radha used to chase Krishna when he teased her.
East India
People in Odisha and West Bengal celebrate Holi as ‘Dol Purnima’. They have processions carrying images of Radha and Krishna on elaborately decorated palanquins, accompanied by singing, dancing, and smearing of coloured powders
West India
In Maharashtra, five days after Holi 2024, people gather to celebrate ‘Rang Panchmi’. They play with colours, take part in folk dances and eat traditional sweets like ‘Pooran Poli’. In Gujarat, ‘Ras Garba’ is celebrated. They dress up in traditional costumes, dance in circles with sticks and have loud music to chase away negativity.
South India
In the southern part of the country, people celebrate ‘Kama Dahana’ during Holi 2024. This commemorates the day when Lord Shiva burned Kama, the God of love, because of the curse Lord Brahma put on the deity. It signifies letting go of materialistic desires and embracing moksha.
Holi in the Global Context: Celebrations Beyond the Indian Subcontinent
Nepal celebrated Holi 2024 as ‘Phagu Purnima’. They also smear colours on each other, sit down for meditation, share food and offer prayers in monasteries. You will also see Indians celebrating Holi 2024 in the US, UK, and Australia, usually with the locals there. They promote the idea of world unity and harmony. Countries like Mauritius, Fiji and Tobago also have Holi 2024 celebrations, involving their local food and cuisines.
Practical Aspects of Holi
Preparing for Holi: Safety, Clothes, and Colors
Here are a few things to keep in mind while celebrating Holi 2024.
Safety Precautions
- Use non-toxic colours, the ones that are skin-friendly and non-irritating.
- Avoid throwing colours directly in the eyes, ears or mouth of the other person.
- Apply a thick layer of oil on your skin before playing with colours. This will help in washing them off easily.
- Always stay hydrated as March is a summer month and staying out can dehydrate you.
- Ensure that your hands are clean and devoid of colour before munching on the Holi 2024 delicacies.
Clothing
- Opt for full-sleeved shirts and pants to protect your skin from the colours.
- You can wear a scarf or cap to keep the colours from damaging your hair. You can also apply oil or leave-in conditioner to create a safety barrier.
- Avoid wearing jewellery as the water and colours may react with the metal and cause irritation.
- Prefer wearing cotton clothes.
Colours
- Use herbal colours made from natural sources like fruits, vegetables and flowers.
- Perform a patch test on your skin to see if the colours suit you.
- Prefer using colour sprays or water guns instead of emptying buckets of water directly. This will ensure controlled fun, especially when children are present.
Traditional Foods and Delicacies: Gujiya, Thandai, and More
The most commonly prepared delicacies during Holi include –
- Gujiya – A deep-fried sweet dumpling made with milk solids, nuts and sugar syrup
- Thandai – A cool drink made with milk, water, nuts, cardamom, saffron and fennel seeds
- Puran Poli – Traditional lentil flat bread stuffed with a blend of jaggery, nutmeg and cardamom.
- Dahi Vada – The lentil dumplings dipped in yogurt, and seasoned with spices. It is usually topped with tamarind and mint chutney.
- Pakoras – Deep-fried fitters of chickpea flour
- Samosas – Triangular deep-friend snacks that have generous stuffing of mashed potatoes and masala. They are served with tomato sauce or tamarind/mint chutney.
- Malpua – Flatbread made with milk and flour, dipping in sugar syrup.
Environment and Health Considerations during Holi 2024: Natural vs Synthetic Colours
While celebrating Holi, try to choose colours that are safe for your skin and respiratory health. Go with herbal colours that do not cause harm to the environment. These are devoid of synthetic chemicals and are made from natural sources like vegetables, fruits and flowers. People should be mindful of water wastage. Prefer to play dry Holi and if you want to use water, do not resort to throwing water with buckets or splashing it with pipes. Go with the water balloons or water guns. People planning to put up loud music should keep the decibels at a limit to not disturb others and also not scare the street animals. Lastly, dispose of the waste and remaining colours carefully without leaving them on the streets and sidewalks.
Embracing the spirit of Holi!
Places like Mathura, Vrindavan and Rajasthan have the best Holi 2024 celebrations in the country. You can book your stays at Treebo Hotels in Mathura or Treebo Hotels in Vrindavan to enjoy the most eventful Holi ever!
As the spirited splashes of Holi usher in the spring, we carry that same spirit forward to the autumnal splendour of Diwali 2024. Both festivals, while uniquely captivating, share the common threads of joy, tradition, and the warmth of community.
We’re super excited to host you wherever you plan to travel to celebrate the festival. Come let’s fall for the Phaghun season and enjoy the holi-day!!
