If you are on a relaxed vacation in Delhi any time in the month of March, just reschedule your itinerary. For March-April or Phalgun by the Indian lunar calendar is the month of Holi! If you happen to be romantically inclined, wanting to spend a day in unmitigated revelry, try Braj Ki Holi!

Holi is celebrated across two days called Holi and Dhuleti or simply chhoti holi and badi holi. On this day, after the customary puja and smearing color on the idols of Lord Krishna and Radha, people smear each other with colored powder or 'gulal' and 'abeer'. People spray coloured water with pichkaris targeting each other with gubbare, balloons filled with gulal water.

The celebration begins on the eve of the actual day. Dry leaves and twigs are gathered around the house and a bonfire is lit. In rural India, the Rabi crop is harvested just prior to Holi. The mood is one of contentment. Various produce such as rice, ghee, til, sesame, neem leaves, etc. is thrown into the bonfire.

There is a customary puja where the eldest member of the family smears color on all the members. The next being the big day! In Vedic times, the bonfire was set alight in a simple ceremony with the chanting of Raksoghna mantra from the Rigveda (4.4.1- 15; 10.87.1.25, etc.). Gujjia tops the Holi desserts and intoxicant bhang is the order of the day.

Myths and legends
Nowhere else is Holi as beautiful as in Braj, the land eponymous with Lord Krishna. The places associated with the Krishna folklore are Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon and Barsana. The festivities of Nandgaon-Barsana draw tourists by hoards.

The festival is at its festive best in Northern India, though it is celebrated in almost all parts of India. Modern day India has embraced the Krishna-Radha episodes and the festive, gay mood of North Indian Holi has taken roots in all of urban and semi urban India.

Legends associated are many. The most prevalent is that of the demon Holika and her nephew Prahlad. The boy, an ardent worshipper of Lord Vishnu was at loggerheads with his father, Hiranyakashyapu. The king wanted everyone in his kingdom to worship him instead of Lord Vishnu.

But Prahlad, his own born, refused to budge an inch. To punish him for his impudence, the king asked his demon sister Holika to walk through fire with Prahlad in tow. Now Holika had a boon which immuned her to death by fire. On the day of judgement however, it was she who was burned to death.

Thus Holi, which derives its name from the demoness, is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. On the eve of Holi, people make bonfires, which symbolise this spirit.

Bhil tribesmen of North West India
The Bhils in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have retailed many of their pre-Hindu customs. They light a bonfire on the eve and worship the goddess. Villagers bring kesudo and mango spring flowers and grains signifying new life. The young form liaisons leading into marriages. When the fire is lit, loud cries of Holimata rend the air.

Madhya Pradesh
This state celebrates Holi like the rest of North. However, in Indore, Holi is celebrated five days later called the Pancham Holi. Probably, after the Maratha Holkars came conquering and brought with them Marathi tradition.

Punjab
The Sikh community celebrates this day as Hola Mohalla. A day when the various martial traditions of the community such as wrestling are exhibited. A peculiar bombne or 'shouting your hearts out' is also celebrated. The Hindus of Punjab do not light bonfires but simply celebrate it as a festival of colours. On the day, traditional sweets such as gujjia and halwa, puris, a preparation of raw jackfruit and malpua are prepared.

Goa
Holi, the festival of spring is called Shigmo in Goa. Celebrated mostly by the masses in the close religious association of religious rites, the festival is accompanied with by fanfare of drumbeats and epic enactment of mythology. Vivid and vibrant colours of gulal and neel are abundantly used. Today, Shigmotav is highlighted with performances of troupes in the form of parades and cultural dramas. At dusk, huge effigies are taken in processions and prizes given away.

Tamil Nadu
The Tamilians celebrate Holi around the legend of Kama Deva. On this day, songs are sung that tell the pathetic tale of Rati and her lamentations. Holi here is known by three different names - Kamavilas, Kaman Pandigai and Kama-dahana.