This song turns into an anthem during Holi in North India. From every nook and corner, all you hear is Big B crooning to this chartbuster all day long. Gubbaras and gulaal fly thick and fast. It’s the only day when you can get away with any form of chutiyaapa by saying, “bura na maano, Holi hai”. Our teachers have always taught us that this festival doesn’t discriminate between people, and rightly so. Here are 20 photos that show how people from all walks of life in different parts of India celebrate Holi.
“O rang barse, bheege, chunar waali rang barse.”
1. Barsana, Uttar Pradesh
It doesn’t get more exciting for the women of Barsana. Why? Because they get to beat the shit out of the men.
2. Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Mathura offers the best photo ops during Holi. This one is a photographer’s delight.
3. Udaipur, Rajasthan
True to its quintessence, Udaipur likes to keep it royal. Where else would you get to celebrate Holi with a royal family?
4. Nasik, Maharashtra
Soaked in euphoria and gulaal ka paani , Holi in this city promises to be a colour riot.
5. Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
The land of Big B. ‘Rang barse’ blares from speakers on loop all day long.
6. New Delhi, Delhi
Delhites don’t necessarily need gulaal to play Holi. They can make do with anything… eggs, grease, paint, anything that’s sticky.
7. Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Who said South Indians don’t play Holi?
8. Jaipur, Rajasthan
Probably the only place in India where there’s something that’s more colourful than the people during Holi. All thanks to the Jaipur Elephant Festival.
9. Kolkata, West Bengal
This City of Joy just needs a reason to erupt in joy. And how!
10. Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Holi always begins with a high (bhang) almost everywhere in India, but it ends in one, only in Hyderabad. Courtesy, the Hyderabadi dum biryani! Pure heaven!
11. Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
Holi for the holy city of Anandpur Sahib is more than just colours. It’s about a show of physical strength through daring acts like mock-battles, sword-fighting displays and exercising on speeding horses. And nobody does it better than the Nihang Sikhs.
12. Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh
The widows of Vrindavan lose all inhibitions and groove as if no one’s watching.
13. Siliguri, West Bengal
The only other time, apart from Durga Puja, when the city is immersed in a splash of colour.
14. Shantiniketan, West Bengal
Started by Rabindranth Tagore, the celebration at Shantiniketan University, every year, draws hordes of people from across the state to witness the festivities. Song and dance is followed by coloured-powder smearing.
15. Goa
Holi (read Shigmotsav ) in Goa is marked with colourful p rocessions, traditional folk dances and modern floats.
16. Guwahati, Assam
Did anyone assume that Holi is not celebrated in the North East? Well, they’re so wrong.
17. Bengaluru, Karnataka
All work and no play makes Bengaluru a dull place. These IT professionals know how to have some fun.
18. Imphal, Manipur
Yes, people from the North East also celebrate Holi. No wonder we say that this festival transcends the length and breadth of the country.
19. Indore, Madhya Pradesh
If all the nooks and corner of the country are playing Holi, how can the state that’s bang in the centre be left out?
20. Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
In a war-torn state, it is festivals like Holi that bring some relief and joy to the people.
And you thought Holi was just about gulaal, gubbara and gujiya.
