Holi in Madhya Pradesh: Where Colours Meet Culture

By Dr Vanita Srivastava

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Holi in Madhya Pradesh is not just a splash of colours - it is a celebration layered with history, spirituality, music, and cultural vibrations. As spring arrives, towns, temples, forests, and villages across the state resonate with traditions, offering travellers an immersive cultural experience.

In heritage towns such as Orchha, Holi unfolds against the backdrop of beautiful palaces and temples. Here, colours mix with devotional songs, temple rituals, and processions that blend faith with festivity. The calm Betwa River, the sandstone architecture, and the rhythm of the town lend Holi a timeless, almost poetic quality.

In Ujjain, one of India's holiest cities, Holi carries deep spiritual resonance. Celebrations around the Mahakaleshwar Temple combine ritual, reverence, and joy. The air is filled with chants, music, and gulal, creating a unique harmony between devotion and celebration-making Holi as soulful as it is vibrant.

Bhagoria Beats

In the tribal heartland of western Madhya Pradesh, the Bhagoria festival adds a distinct rhythm to the Holi season. Celebrated by Bhil and Bhilala communities in districts such as Jhabua, Alirajpur, and Dhar, Bhagoria is marked by colourful haats, traditional music, vibrant dances, and the symbolic exchange of gulal. Rooted in harvest celebrations and community building, the festival reflects the region's intricate connection with nature, courtship narratives, and resonating joy, offering travellers a rare window into the tribal heritage.

Colourful Canvas 

Rural and tribal regions of Madhya Pradesh offer a serene and enriching Holi experience. In villages across Malwa, Bundelkhand, and the Satpura belt, the festival is marked by folk songs, traditional dances, communal feasts, and age-old customs passed down through generations. Visitors are welcomed as participants rather than spectators, gaining a glimpse into community life and living traditions.

Food plays a central role in Holi celebrations across the state. From gujiyas and malpuas to regional savouries and festive drinks, each region brings its own flavours to the festival, turning every gathering into a shared culinary celebration.

What sets Holi in Madhya Pradesh different is its sense of balance - between joy and grace, celebration and sustainability, tradition and warmth. Whether experienced in a historic town, a sacred city, or a rural village, Holi here feels authentic, grounded, and human centric

This Holi, Madhya Pradesh invites travellers to explore beyond colours - to experience stories, rituals and landscapes that echo long after the festival ends.