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Holi is a vibrant Indian festival celebrated in India that marks the arrival of spring. It's known as the “Festival of Colors” because people throw coloured powder and water at each other to celebrate. While it’s celebrated all over the country with great enthusiasm, each region has its unique way to celebrate Holi. Holi has many different forms, depending on where it is celebrated throughout India. If you want to celebrate Holi in 2023 in India then here are some unique types of Holi celebrations you should know about:

 

Lathmar Holi

The most popular and unique type of  Holi celebration is celebrated in the state of Uttar Pradesh, known as Lathmar Holi. It is celebrated in the town of Barsana, which is the birthplace of Radha, the consort of Lord Krishna. The Holi festival in India is celebrated for seven days, starting on the first day of the month of Phalguna. On the first day, known as Holika Dahan, a bonfire is lit in which effigies of Holika, the demoness who tried to kill Prahlad, are burnt. The second day is known as Rang Panchami and is when people start spraying colours on each other.

The third day is known as Madhoshi and is when people smear each other with colours and water. The fourth day is known as Dhulendi and is when people play with colours and water all day long. On the fifth day, known as Parvat Parvat, people climb to the top of a mountain or hill and spray colours on each other. The sixth day is known as Gulal and is when people exchange coloured powders with each other. The seventh and final day is known as Haldi and is when people apply turmeric paste on each other. This is done to cleanse the body and soul and to prepare for the next festival.

 

Dola, Odisha

Dola re Dolajatra is a  unique type of Holi celebration mainly in Odisha with great enthusiasm by people from all walks of life. On this day goddess Lakshmi visits each house for blessing them with prosperity during which young girls dressed as maidens are taken out on palanquins accompanied by music bands playing traditional instruments like dholak, mandala etc., along with singing devotional songs dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. People exchange sweets & gifts among themselves while sprinkling water & gulal(coloured powder)on each other as a part of the Holi celebration in India.

 

Phagunwa, Bihar

Phagunwa or Phagu Purnima is another unique type of holi celebration observed primarily in Bihar where it’s known as ‘Chhath Puja’ - an ancient Hindu ritual performed on the sixth day after Diwali Festival for seeking blessings from Sun God Surya Devta symbolises power, energy & health. In this Holi Festival in India, devotees stand waist-deep in the holy river Ganges offering prayers, and chanting mantras throughout the night followed by breaking fast the next morning and having fruits, milk etc. This puja has been given UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status recently due to its immense popularity among locals here for ages. 

 

Basant Utsav, West Bengal

A colourful version of the Holi Festival in India is played especially in West Bengal where people celebrate it wholeheartedly every year around February/March when the spring season arrives there marking the end of the winter season!! During these days streets get filled up with crowds carrying drums playing melodious tunes while smearing coloured powders called ‘Abir’ all over faces making the entire environment look so beautiful!! Special delicacies like pit made using rice flour mixed with ghee/coconut flakes are also prepared during these times adding a more fun festive mood around!!

 

Shigmo, Goa

It’s an ancient Hindu spring festival celebrated by both Hindus and Christians alike with colourful processions through villages featuring traditional music, dance performances from local troupes as well as religious rituals honouring various gods and goddesses associated with the season like Lord Vishnu or Lakshmi Maa. The highlight is definitely when participants throw coloured powder on one another - creating quite a spectacle!

 

Yosang, Manipur

People gather around bonfires lit up during the night before the Holi celebration in India itself while singing folk songs about love & peace accompanied by drums & other instruments; these fires symbolise burning away bad omens & starting anew for better times ahead (which makes sense given how much we need that right now!). On top of that, there are also competitions among teams who compete against each other in tug-of-war games or playing sports such as football or volleyball - so plenty to keep everyone entertained throughout their Holi celebration in India here too!

 

Baithaki/Khadi Holi, Uttar Pradesh

It takes place mainly across north Indian states like Uttar Pradesh where women dress up in vibrant outfits adorned with jewellery while dancing to devotional songs praising Lord Krishna; men join them later during evening hours after taking ritualistic dips into nearby rivers followed by lighting lamps near temples dedicated specifically towards him too! This type also involves throwing colour powders onto one another just like Shigmo does but without any musical accompaniments nor competitive events involved making it more focused solely on devotion instead - something truly special indeed! 

 

Rang Panchami

This unique type of Holi celebration is mostly observed in Maharashtra where people play with colours on Rang Panchami day which falls five days after Holika Dahan (the night before). People wear white clothes as a symbol of purity while playing with natural dyes like turmeric or henna mixed with water solutions to create beautiful patterns on their bodies and clothes.

 

Dol Jatra

Dol Jatra takes place during Phalgun month (March-April) when idols representing Lord Krishna & Radha are taken out in a procession around town accompanied by singing & dancing by devotees who shower them with flowers along their route. During this Holi Festival in India sweets such as tilgul ladoos made from sesame seeds & jaggery is distributed among family members & friends signifying togetherness during this festive season!

 

Manjal Kuli or Ukuli, Tamil Nadu

This type of Holi celebration in India takes place mainly in Tamil Nadu where people use turmeric powder instead of any other colour to apply on each other's faces as part of the fun activities associated with this Holi Festival in India! The yellow colour signifies prosperity for one another throughout the year ahead - so much happiness packed into just one tradition! 

 

Pakuwah, Rajasthan

Pakuwah is an ancient folk dance performed mainly by women from Rajasthan state wherein they dress up traditionally wearing ghagra cholis adorned with heavily beaded jewellery pieces called ‘tikli’ along the neckline area – these ladies move gracefully swaying body parts according to the rhythm created through clapping hands creating mesmerising effect everyone present at the event! It's believed that performing pakuwah wards off evil spirits protecting families living nearby villages against misfortune happening near future time frame to fascinating isn't it? 

 

Hola Mohalla, Punjab

This type of Holi celebration in India takes place in Punjab and involves kirtan (devotional singing), mock battles, wrestling competitions, poetry recitations and more! It also includes a special procession with floats carrying images from Sikh mythology.

 

Dhulandi Holi in Haryana

In this form of the Holi celebration in India held mainly around Delhi NCR region, people gather together to sing traditional holiday songs while throwing colours at one another - making for an exciting atmosphere! People also make delicious sweets like gujiya or pakora which they share with their family members & friends during this time. 

 

Phoolon Ki Holi in Vrindavan

This unique type of holi celebration celebrates Lord Krishna's childhood prank when he would playfully steal butter from homes nearby the Mathura-Vrindavan area by smearing colour on his face so no one could recognize him! During Phoolon ki holi locals go around town playing music & spraying flowers instead colouring each other with gulal (coloured powder).

 

Royal Holi in Jaipur

Holi celebration In India annually by Rajasthan royalty since ancient times, this royal version features elephants dressed up for the occasion along with camels decked out too. The royal family themselves partake in festivities such as dhol players playing traditional tunes & folk dancers performing colourful dances. They even have fireworks displays! 

 

Kaman Pandigai, Tamil Nadu

Held every year near Madurai Tamil Nadu, its believed that Lord Shiva himself started this tradition after winning over Kaama Devi – who was sent down to earth by Indra Deva(king Of Heavens). On Kaman Pandigai day locals decorate their houses and streets with colourful lights & rangolis while women dress up like gods wearing jewellery made out of gold silver etc. There are processions involving horses chariots decorated bullock carts accompanied by drummers singers etc. All these things come together creating a beautiful spectacle worth seeing!

These were some interesting ways how different regions celebrate holi in 2023 in India differently but still manage to keep alive the spirit of unity amongst citizens belonging to the same nation despite cultural differences existing between them – now wouldn't we call that true patriotism? Let us join hands and embrace our diversity to make the world a better place to live happily ever after Happy Holi everyone!!!