How to Celebrate Holi Festival in India: Everything You Need to Know

Travelling to India during Holi, the Festival of Colours, is a true bucket-list experience.

You've likely come across photos of this festival on your social feeds before. With the multi-hued powders and smiling revellers splashed from head to toe with a rainbow of colours, this is one of the most photogenic and fun festivals in the world.

Holi is a major Hindu festival, not only in India, but in cities across the globe. But if you want to experience Holi at its most authentic, there's no better place than in the country where it all began. If you're dreaming of travelling to India and participating in Holi - or "play Holi", as locals say - then this guide is for you.

From the origin stories behind the Festival of Colours and the best Indian cities to celebrate to a rundown of local Holi traditions, what to wear, and other practical tips, get ready to pack your bags for a magical spring trip to India.

Holi is usually celebrated in early March. However, the dates change each year according to the Hindu lunar calendar.

In most places, Holi is a two-day festival, starting on the evening of the Purnima (full moon day) of Phalguna (the last month of the Hindu calendar) and continuing through the next day.

However, in cities like Vrindavan, the festivities can last an entire week.

Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates both the beginning of spring and the triumph of good over evil. There are two main Hindu mythologies explaining the origins of the Festival of Colours. The first is the divine love story of Krishna and Radha, and the second is the triumph of Vishnu over Hiranyakashipu.

In this sweet love story, Krishna (the Hindu god of love, compassion, and wisdom) was always self-conscious about having dark blue skin compared to the fair complexion of his divine consort, Radha (the goddess of love and devotion).

In response, his mother suggested that he paint Radha's face with different colours. And so he did. This playful gesture came to embody the love between the two deities and is the reason why people paint each other's faces with colours during Holi.

As this legend goes, the demon king Hiranyakashipu demanded to be worshipped as a god. His son, Prahlad, refused and remained fiercely loyal to Vishnu instead.

In response, Hiranyakashipu asked his sister, Holika, to kill her nephew. Donning a magical fire cloak, Holika sat on a pyre with Prahlad, intending to kill him, when suddenly the cloak flew off Holika, saving Prahlad from the deadly flames and causing Holika to burn. 

This is why Holi celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

Holi is an official holiday in India. It officially begins with a bonfire on the evening of the full moon. The main Festival of Colours happens the following day.

Holika Dahan, or Choti Holi, takes place the night before the main festivities. During this "Small Holi," revellers gather around a massive burning pyre while singing, dancing, praying, and throwing chickpeas, popcorn kernels, and other symbolic offerings into the bonfire.

Harkening back to the burning of Holika, the tradition acts as a sort of cleansing ritual, a way to get rid of negative energy from the past and usher in new beginnings. 

The following day is when the powder-filled fun begins. 

Rangwali Holi is the main day of Holi. This is when people dress in white and douse each other with colourful powders (gulal) and dyed water.

You can expect total strangers to paint your face with their fingers, pelt you with water balloons, and soak you with water guns and buckets of water.

Expect plenty of music, dancing, and celebration well into the night - embrace the chaos. 

The colours used during Holi all signify something different. Here are a few prominent colours: 

Red: Love and fertility

Yellow: Health and happiness 

Blue: The Hindu god of Krishna

Green: Spring and new beginnings

If you're participating in a Holi celebration, get into the festivities by trying these traditional foods:

Gujiya: A deep-fried pastry stuffed with a thickened milk and dried fruit or nuts.

Thandai: A refreshing summertime beverage of nuts, spices, seeds, and rose petals.

Dahi bhalla: Lentil dumplings drenched in yoghurt and served with chutneys.

If you plan on "playing Holi," prepare to get messy - there's no way around it. With that in mind, it's always best to wear old clothes that you'll either throw away afterwards or keep as a colourful, tie-dyed souvenir.

Many tourists choose to wear white clothes for the best photo ops. But it's totally up to you. Wearing lightweight and breathable materials, like linen, will also help your clothes dry quickly. When in India, women should always cover their knees and shoulders and avoid skimpy outfits. 

If you'd like to prevent your hair from dyeing, it's best to wrap your hair in a bandanna. This is especially true if you have blonde hair. A face mask might also be useful if you prefer not to breathe in the powders.

And finally, sunglasses or even goggles will help prevent water and powder from getting in your eyes. 

Not all powders are created equal. When purchasing your powders (gulal) for Holi, always get natural dyes. The synthetic versions may not only irritate your skin and eyes, but can also be much harder to remove.

It's important to understand that the colourful powders will not only stain your clothes, but they'll dye your hair and skin, too. Don't worry too much. The stains will fade in a few days.

But if you want to give your skin and hair some protection from the dyes, it's best to rub a thin layer of oil on your skin and hair.

Remember that the dyes will soak through your clothes, so apply the oil everywhere. 

Depending on where you celebrate, the crowds can be intense - it's all part of the experience, but worth being prepared for.

Due to the crowds, it's always recommended to celebrate with a group of friends. Better yet, hire a local guide to help you make the most of the Holi experience. 

Contrary to popular belief, Holi isn't celebrated everywhere or by everyone in India. Instead, the festivities are more heavily concentrated in the north.

While there are celebrations in places like Karnataka, you'll find fewer festivities in the south.

With that in mind, some of the most popular Indian cities to play Holi are:

Mathura and Vrindavan: Visiting these sister cities during Holi is the best option for a truly local experience. Because Mathura is the birthplace of Krishna and Vrindavan is where he spent much of his life, these holy cities host the most traditional Holi celebrations. Vrindavan also happens to be famous for its seven-day Holi celebrations.

Because you'll find fewer tourists in these cities, this also means information is hard to come by. You might want to consider hiring a guide if you plan to celebrate in Mathura and Vrindavan. 

Udaipur: The city of Udaipur is known for its elaborate Holika Dahan ceremony which takes place at Manek Chowk in the City Palace.

Goa: The beach city of Goa is a popular pick if you're looking for a high-energy Holi party scene. Every year, venues across the city throw raging parties and music festivals at Goa's most popular beaches, bars, and clubs. 

Delhi, Jaipur, and Mumbai: All three of these cities (Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai) offer plenty of traditional and non-traditional Holi festivities for visitors to take part in, including Holi music festivals, parties, community events, and so much more.