| Date: | 1st March 2010. |
Rituals of Holi: There are many such rituals of the Holi that is performed every year with the full enthusiasm. The day before Holi people start collecting woods for lighting the bonfire which is called as Holika which ensures the celebration of the festival Holi. On the next day people play with colors and the day is marked with the celebration of Holi. There is no tradition of holding any pooja and on this day the people play with the lots of enjoyment and enthusiasm. The celebration of Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan cannot be compared to any other city as it is celebrated with the lots of excitement and fun. During the celebrations people used to drink Thandai which is the most important part of the celebration of the Holi festivity.
Highlights/ Special Attractions: The special attractions of the Holi is the colors, the bonfires, the pichkaris. The cuisines that are specially made during the festival are Gujiyas, Mathris and the Papris. At some places the women folks also makes papads and potato chips. There is also a tradition of consuming the Bhang which is intoxicating in nature. It is the most energetic festival thats celebrated with the immense enthusiasm and excitement. Holi is one of the major festival that is celebrated with the full enthusiasm on the full moon day of the Phagun which falls in the month of Marchas per the Georgian Calendar. The festival is celebrated in many ways in different states. The country looks colorful during the festival. The markets are flooded with the hues of gulal and abeer.
Celebrations: The Holi celebration takes place with the lots of joy and enthusiasm in the country. At the time of the festival the enthusiasm and the excitement of the people reaches to the peak. There are different styles of playing Holi like drowning the colored water of Holi to the other people and to play like animal. To enhance the festive mood people also follows the tradition of Bhang and that makes the people total wild as people dance to the rhythm of dholak and sing the traditional folk songs at the loudest pitch. Children also enjoy the festival by throwing the water filled balloon at the passersby.
