Braj (Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh)
Known as Lathmar Holi, Phoolon wali Holi
Braj celebrates Holi over many days. In Barsana, Radha's village, men from Krishna's village Nandgaon arrive to play, and the women playfully drive them back with long sticks (lathmar) while the men shield themselves; the next day the roles are reversed in Nandgaon. Barsana's Radha temple also holds a Laddu Holi where sweets are thrown as prasad, and Vrindavan temples hold a flower Holi (Phoolon wali Holi) in which petals are showered on devotees. After Holi, the Dauji temple at Baldeo holds the Huranga, where women pull and splash the men.
Why it matters there: Every celebration re-enacts the play between Krishna's friends and Radha's companions, and pilgrims come to experience Holi where the stories are set.
East India (West Bengal and Odisha)
Known as Dol Jatra, Dol Purnima, Basanta Utsav
In Bengal and Odisha the main colour festival, Dol, is held on Phalguna Purnima itself, the same day as Holika Dahan elsewhere. Images of Radha and Krishna are placed on a decorated swing or palanquin (dola), offered powdered colour (abir) and carried in procession, after which people smear each other with abir. At Santiniketan, Basanta Utsav, begun by Rabindranath Tagore, welcomes spring with students in yellow singing and dancing. The day is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of the saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Gaura Purnima).
Why it matters there: The swing festival expresses joyful devotion to Radha and Krishna, and the link with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu makes it especially important for Bengal's Vaishnava tradition.
Punjab (Anandpur Sahib)
Known as Hola Mohalla
Hola Mohalla is a Sikh observance held around the day after Holi at Anandpur Sahib. Nihang Sikhs display martial skills such as mock battles, the traditional martial art of gatka, horse riding and archery, followed by large processions. Community kitchens (langar) serve free meals to the many visitors, and poetry and music gatherings are held.
Why it matters there: Guru Gobind Singh started Hola Mohalla as a day for martial training and community strength, turning the season's festivity into a celebration of courage and discipline.
North-East India (Manipur)
Known as Yaosang
Yaosang is a five-day spring festival beginning on the Phalguna full moon. On the first night a small thatched hut is burned (Yaosang meithaba), and children go from house to house collecting small donations (nakatheng). The evenings are filled with Thabal Chongba, a folk dance in which young men and women hold hands and dance in a circle by moonlight. Vaishnava devotees also sing devotional songs at temples and play with colour.
Why it matters there: Yaosang blends Meitei folk traditions with Vaishnava devotion, and is also a time for sports and community gatherings.
Goa and the Konkan coast
Known as Shigmo
Shigmo is the Konkani spring festival, marked in villages with folk songs and dances, drums and the playing of colours. Village deities are honoured with processions, and in towns like Panaji, Mapusa and Margao parades of decorated floats and troupes of folk dancers draw large crowds. Village celebrations and town parades continue for several days.
Why it matters there: Shigmo celebrates the return of spring and the harvest, and keeps Goa's folk dance and music traditions alive.
Uttarakhand (Kumaon)
Known as Kumaoni Holi
In Kumaon, Holi is above all a festival of song. Weeks before the day, people gather in homes for Baithki Holi, sitting together to sing Holi songs set to classical ragas. Closer to the festival comes Khadi Holi, in which groups of men in white sing and dance standing in circles as they move through villages, and women hold their own gatherings (Mahila Holi). A pole tied with strips of cloth (cheer) is set up and later burned on the night of Holika Dahan.
Why it matters there: The singing tradition, rooted in both devotional and classical music, makes Kumaoni Holi a celebration of community and culture as much as colour.
Kerala (Konkani communities around Kochi)
Known as Manjal Kuli
Among the Konkani-speaking communities of Kerala, especially around Kochi, Holi is celebrated as Manjal Kuli, the turmeric bath. People splash each other with water mixed with turmeric, often near their community temples, and celebrate with music and traditional food.
Why it matters there: Turmeric is valued for its purity and auspiciousness, so the turmeric bath brings the festive spirit while keeping a link to tradition.
