India is many things — overwhelming, beautiful, chaotic, soulful, and deeply layered. But if there’s one time when all those layers rise up and burst into the streets, it’s during a festival. And trust me, you haven’t really felt India until you’ve celebrated one of its festivals. Especially Holi.

I lived in Delhi for two years, and Holi — the Hindu festival of colors — was an annual event that completely took over the city. Not just the city, actually. The entire country transforms into a kaleidoscopic carnival where joy, chaos, and color mix in a way that’s uniquely Indian.

🌈 Holi: India’s Most Joyfully Unhinged Celebration

Forget what you’ve seen on Instagram. Holi is not a cute filter — it’s full-contact, full-spectrum, full-volume madness. It starts days before with this electric energy in the air. Kids start pelting water balloons at strangers from rooftops. You walk down the street and hear the whoosh of something flying at your head — if you’re lucky, it misses. If not, you’re drenched. Either way, you laugh.

By the time actual Holi arrives, all bets are off. Strangers smear neon-colored powder on your cheeks like you’re an old friend. Music blares from every corner. People dance barefoot in the streets, paint-slick and grinning. And yes — someone hands you a cup of bhang (a traditional cannabis-laced milkshake), and suddenly you’re very warm, very happy, and slightly confused in the most delightful way possible.

It’s not sanitized or Instagram-perfect. It’s sweaty, messy, wild, and absolutely unforgettable.

🪔 But It’s Not Just Holi…

India has festivals literally every month, in every region, often multiple at once. And each one feels like a completely different universe. Here are just a few you should consider timing your trip around:

Diwali (Festival of Lights) – Cities glow with millions of oil lamps, firecrackers light up the sky, and sweet shops overflow with delicacies. It’s like New Year’s and Christmas and Fourth of July rolled into one.

Durga Puja in Kolkata – Ten days of art, celebration, goddess worship, and community magic. The whole city becomes a living museum.

Pushkar Camel Fair – Yes, this is an actual thing. Thousands of camels, decorated in beads and tassels, converge in the desert while locals trade livestock, perform stunts, and sell everything from bangles to mustache wax.

Eid in Old Delhi – Walk through Jama Masjid during Eid and you’ll be offered food by strangers, surrounded by families dressed in their best, the air thick with the smell of kebabs and celebration.

💥 Festivals as a Window into India’s Soul

Travelers often come to India chasing enlightenment, yoga, or the Taj Mahal. And while those are cool, nothing will show you the heart of India quite like being pulled into a local festival. You see how people celebrate, how they come together, what they believe in, what they dance to.

It’s a raw, unscripted experience. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, yes. Sometimes it’s hot and crowded and loud and confusing. But it’s real. It’s India unfiltered.

💡 Tips for First-Timers

Don’t wear anything you love for Holi. It will never be the same again.

Be cautious but curious – some festivals, especially Holi, can get rowdy in certain areas. Stick with locals or guesthouse-organized groups for a safer, more fun experience.

Bring an open mind and a hungry stomach. You’ll be offered sweets, snacks, and sometimes street food that looks like it’s from another planet. Eat it. You won’t regret it.

Ask questions – locals love explaining the meanings behind the rituals and customs.

Book accommodation in advance – during big festivals, everything fills up fast.

🌍 From Mardi Gras to Holi – Celebrating the Human Spirit

I’ve done Mardi Gras in New Orleans, too. It’s got that same wild energy — the music, the costumes, the chaos. But celebrating Holi in India? It’s deeper. It’s ancient. It’s spiritual and playful and untamed. And for a brief moment, you feel like you’re not just traveling through India — you’re part of it.

So if India is on your bucket list, do yourself a favor: time your visit with a festival. Any festival. And let it shake you up in the best way possible.

You’ll leave messy, sun-soaked, maybe a little high on bhang — and you’ll never forget it.