Every year during Holi, India transforms into a hub of colour and music, but when it comes to Rajasthan, there is a lineage, ritual and architectural grandeur. Be it the royal courtyards of Udaipur, Jaipur or Jodhpur, all get transformed into a royal festival.
City Palace, Udaipur: A Royal Prelude
In Udaipur, the Holi celebration starts with rituals at Shambhu Niwas Palace and then after the festival, it moves toward Manek Chowk, where people are seen wearing traditional outfits, with well-decorated horses and traditional musicians. This journey offers a glimpse of the ceremony that has been in place for decades. After the daylong celebration, at dusk, Holika Dahan occurs within the palace courtyard. During this time, the members of the Mewar royal family come together to light the holy fire, which symbolizes good over evil. The next day, the Dhulandi (or colour) celebration unfolds. Over the years herbal gulal has replaced the harmful synthetic colours.
City Palace, Jaipur: Elegance over Exuberance
The ceremonial bonfire tradition remains alive in the City Palace Jaipur. Residents have carried the embers from the Holika Dahan to their homes for years as a gesture of symbolic continuity. In the morning, a grand celebration unfolds, which is a visual treat: people wearing white garments and colourful safas and flower petals are showered all over, making this an experience that shapes order and aesthetics. At Rambagh Palace, once a royal residence, curated Holi events are now hosted that combine rituals, folk performances and festive cuisine.
Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace
When it comes to the royal celebration in Jodhpur, then the Holika Dahan within the grounds of Umaid Bhawan Palace is a visual treat. In the evening, guests come to the palace’s designated space, where they play with colour in a controlled manner. The celebration is accompanied by cultural performances, including the traditional Gair dance.
When it comes to Holi celebrations in Rajasthan, it isn’t just the festival, but the royal scale that makes it worth attending. From natural colours to dress codes that blend heritage and rituals, the experience becomes immersive.
Celebrations in Rajasthan are so much in demand that booking at royal properties like the Taj Lake Palace and other heritage venues starts a month before. Even though Holi typically falls in the month of March, yet early reservation has become a ritual. For those who are looking for traditional customs, colours, and a historical touch, they definitely opt for celebrations in Rajasthan.
