Think of Holi and every heart is filled with colors and joy. While the essence of Holi remains more or less the same, it is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the country. As the festival is just around the corner, let us take a look at what it means for different people of India.

Holi by the Ganges

Banaras (Varanasi) welcomes Holi with a blend of spirituality, devotion, and revelry. Vibhanshu Mishra, Founder & CEO of Chalu Apna Desi Chinese & Banaraswala, shares, “Banarasi Holi is a sacred festivity that commences with the spiritual ecstasy of Rangbhari Ekadashi when devotees play gulal inside the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The ghats of Banaras, particularly Assi Ghat, Panchganga Ghat, and Dashashwamedh Ghat, come alive with music, colours, and echoes of damrus. On these ghats, Holi is also played with beautiful flowers and gulal, creating an enthralling display by the sacred Ganges.”

The city reverberates with the sound of Hori, Thumri, Dadra, and Kajri, played by classical musicians, while revellers indulge in Bhang Thandai, kachori-jalebi, and gujiya. The electrifying Lathmar Holi and Huranga add to the fervour, culminating in the climax of Dulhendi. Banarasi Holi is not just a festival—it is a soul-touching experience that intermingles devotion, music, laughter, and the timeless traditions of this holy city.

Fusion of colours & cultures

Bareilly’s Holi is an energetic mix of Brij, Awadhi, and local traditions. They mirror the vibrancy of Brij Holi but with a local twist. Streets are filled with joyous processions, where people sing traditional folk songs and dance to the beats of dhols.

Ankit Choudhary, 29, who was born and brought up in Bareilly shares, “Holi in Bareilly is celebrated a little differently. A Toli of Boys get on the streets and plays with colours till everyone on the streets is filled in the colours of Holi. We sing. We dance. We wait for his tradition every year. It’s super fun.”

In Bareilly, Holi is also a time for indulging in festive delicacies like gujiyas, thandai, and the region’s famous seekh kebabs. The festival embodies unity, where neighbours and friends, irrespective of backgrounds, come together to celebrate witcoloursrs and laughter.

Melodic celebration

According to Dharamveer Singh Chouhan, Co-founder & CEO of Zostel, Holi in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand is a harmonious blend of music and tradition. The festival has three unique forms:

Baithki Holi: Melodic gatherings where traditional songs composed by poets like Surdas and Kabir are sung in classical ragas.

Khadi Holi: A standing celebration where men visit homes, singing and dancing to folk beats.

Mahila Holi: A women-only musical celebration fostering companionship and unity.

In the Garhwal region, Holi concludes with Holika Dahan, where villagers carry a wooden idol of Holika in a grand procession, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.

Iconic Lathmar Holi

Mathura and Vrindavan, the legendary lands of Lord Krishna, host one of the most iconic Holi celebrations in India. Here, Lathmar Holi is played in Barsana and Nandgaon, where women playfully chase men with sticks, re-enacting Radha and Krishna's divine love story. The town is drenched in vibrant colours, devotional music, and joyous chants, making it a must-visit destination for Holi enthusiasts. Shubhii Verma, 29, Delhi, shares, “I was once there in Vrindavan during the time of Holi and was stunned to see the city filled with flowers, colours, devotional songs, and lots and lots of love. That year was my favouritee Holi.”

Patriotic Holi

International Bharatnatyam artist Apeksha Niranjan shares a unique Holi experience from Sikkim, where she celebrated the festival with Indian soldiers at Nathula Pass.

"Celebrating Holi with the soldiers at Nathula Pass had been deeply meaningful for me. The shared colours, laughter, and festive spirit served as an unforgettable reminder of the warmth that united people, even in the most remote and challenging places," she recalls.

This experience highlighted the deeper emotions of togetherness and national pride, transforming Holi into a moment of honour and reflection.

Cultural Holi

In West Bengal, the festival is known as Basanta Utsav, a tradition initiated by Rabindranath Tagore. Here, students and locals wear floral attire and celebrate with folk dances, cultural programs, and poetry recitations, adding an artistic touch to Holi. Arnesh Ghose, the digital creator, shares that this doesn’t happen in Shantiniketan but also in West Bengal. “Whether it is in small groups or in large gatherings, people come together play music, dance, bring out their instruments such as sitar and celebrate,” Ghose shared.

Hola Mohalla

In Punjab, Holi is celebrated as Hola Mohalla, a tradition established by Guru Gobind Singh. The festival is marked by impressive displays of martial arts, horseback stunts, and weaponry skills by the Nihang Sikhs. Unlike other Holi celebrations, Hola Mohalla is a show of strength, courage, and Sikh valour.

Seema Kochhar, 55, Delhi, shares, “We used to visit our grandmother’s home in childhood in Punjab and used to experience Hola Mohalla. It was something else. None of what we could experience in Delhi. The city was filled with strength and valour. As kids, we used to enjoy that a lot.”

Nishank Soni, a Communication Specialist, beautifully sums up saying, “I've been lucky enough to celebrate Holi in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Kashi, and it's truly changed me. It helps us connect with others, release our emotions, and be present in the moment.” His experience of Samshan ki Holi in Kashi, where colours are played with ashes, left a profound impact: “It reminded me that life is short and that we should live in the present.”