Holi Festival & Holla Mohalla, March 4 - 15, 2017
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$5,200.00
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Tour Cost $6,200 – Trip Deposit $500 Single Supplement $750
Holi is the Hindu festival that welcomes the Spring and celebrates the new life and energy of the season. Although Holi has religious roots, not much religious activity is involved in its celebration. Holi is the most energetic Indian festival, filled with fun and good humour; even the strict rules of separation between castes are abandoned. Holi is also called 'The Festival of Colors', and people celebrate the festival by smearing each other with paint, and throwing coloured powder and dye around in an atmosphere of great good humor. Holi is seen by some as the Hindu festival that is nearest in spirit to St. Valentine's Day.
Tour Cost $6,200 – Trip Deposit $500 Single Supplement $750
Holi is the Hindu festival that welcomes the Spring and celebrates the new life and energy of the season. Although Holi has religious roots, not much religious activity is involved in its celebration. Holi is the most energetic Indian festival, filled with fun and good humour; even the strict rules of separation between castes are abandoned. Holi is also called 'The Festival of Colors', and people celebrate the festival by smearing each other with paint, and throwing coloured powder and dye around in an atmosphere of great good humor. Holi is seen by some as the Hindu festival that is nearest in spirit to St. Valentine's Day.
HOLI FESTIVAL & HOLLA MOHALLA, MARCH 4 - 15, 2017
The most boisterous of Hindu festivals, Holi waves goodbye to winter and welcomes in spring in a rainbow of colours. In India it’s predominantly celebrated in the north of the country, and is quite rightly known as the Festival of Colors for the raucous events on Holi’s final day, when children and adults take to the streets throwing colourful gulal (powder) over each other. Dyed water is shot from syringes, thrown from buckets and poured into balloons, which are then tossed at people. It’s sanctioned anarchy and, as a visitor, you’ll be a particular target, so expect to finish the day looking like gulab jamun (a red, sticky Indian sweet). – Lonely Planet
Holla Mohalla is a Sikh festival celebrated in the month of Phalguna , a day after Holi. An annual festival held at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, Hola Mohalla was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock battles on the day following the festival of Holi. It reminds the people of valour and defence preparedness, concepts dear to the Tenth Guru who was at that time battling the Mughal empire. On this three-day festival mock battles are held followed by music and poetry competitions. The Nihang Singhs (members of the Sikh army that was founded by Guru Govind Singh) carry on the martial tradition with mock battles and displays of swordsmanship and horse riding. They perform daring feats, such as Gatka (mock encounters), tent pegging, bareback horse-riding and standing erect on two speeding horses.
Holla Mohalla is a Sikh festival celebrated in the month of Phalguna , a day after Holi. An annual festival held at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, Hola Mohalla was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock battles on the day following the festival of Holi. It reminds the people of valour and defence preparedness, concepts dear to the Tenth Guru who was at that time battling the Mughal empire. On this three-day festival mock battles are held followed by music and poetry competitions. The Nihang Singhs (members of the Sikh army that was founded by Guru Govind Singh) carry on the martial tradition with mock battles and displays of swordsmanship and horse riding. They perform daring feats, such as Gatka (mock encounters), tent pegging, bareback horse-riding and standing erect on two speeding horses.
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with Jeremy Woodhouse & Herb Leventon
March 4 - 15, 12 days , 11 nights, max 10 people Day 1: Sat, March 4 — Arrive Delhi On your arrival in Delhi, you will be met by a tour representative who will escort you to your hotel. (Hotel check-in time is from 1400 hrs). The rest of day is free to relax before we all meet for a welcome dinner and overview of the trip. We will talk about the program, photo walks and all the amazing things that we will experience. Overnight at Hotel Day 2: Sun, March 5 — Delhi - Mathura This morning after breakfast, we will start our 3½ hr drive to Mathura, which will be our base for next four days during Holi celebrations. This is a great event to take some stunning colorful images. On arrival you will be assisted with check-in at the hotel. After lunch get ready to photograph some of the most vibrant and striking images as we take you to Barsana to witness the festival of colours—Holi. Thousands of people from across India came together in Mathura and nearby villages where the festival of color is celebrated with great fervor. Holi marks the end of winter and beginning of spring. The festival begins with Lathmar Holi played in Barsana, a small village near Mathura. Lathmar Holi usually begins around a week before the main Holi day. During the Lathmar Holi celebrations, women from Barsana village wait with wooden sticks to beat the men who come from the adjacent village of Nandgoan, the hometown of Lord Krishna. Hindu Mythology says that Lord Krishna along with his friends visited Barsana, Radha's village (Radha was Lord Krishna’s girlfriend), to tease her and other gopis (girls) by throwing colored water on them. In retaliation, Radha and gopis chased him and his friends to beat them up with sticks. Even today, people from Nandgoan and Barsana follow the ritual. Men soaked in colored water arrive in Barsana and tease women by singing provocative songs. The women then beat them with sticks (lathis) and men use shields to protect themselves. Holi is celebrated for more than two weeks in Vrindavan and Mathura, where lord Krishna was born and grew up. Later in the evening, we will return to hotel for dinner and overnight. Overnight at the Hotel Day 3 - 6: Mon - Thu, March 6 - 9 — Mathura We will spend the days taking some amazing images of the Holi celebrations in nearby villages and temples. On the evening of March 9 we will head back to Delhi. Overnight at the Hotel Day 7: Fri, March 10 — Delhi – Anandpur Sahib/Chandigarh Today after breakfast we will be transferred to the Airport to board our flight to Chandigarh. Delhi – Chandigarh Jet Airways 9W 2651 0950 / 1110 Hrs On arrival, we will have lunch at Chandigarh before we start our 2 hrs of drive to Anandpur Sahib where the very dramatic Holla Mohalla takes place. The Holla Mohalla is an impressive traditional display of bravery and valor that is a must-see. The ultimate display of machismo—Holla Mohalla, an annual Sikh festival held a day after Holi, has the drama, the sweat and the incredible colours that Indian festivals are known for. With impressive displays of weaponry, archery and wrestling, there's also music, poetry and prayers, singing and chanting. An important part of the festival is the langar (community food) that is served to pilgrims irrespective of their religion or caste. One of the main attractions at the festival is the Nihangs—a prestigious armed sect of the Sikha who wear a striking blend of blue and orange, with thick twisted moustaches and overwhelmingly large and embellished turbans. They also demonstrate thrilling horse riding shows where the riders gallop bareback, performing tricks like riding astride two horses. Holla Mohalla is held at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, and it is estimated that over 100,000 Sikh devotees attend the festival. This is an amazing festival with great photo-ops! Overnight at the Hotel Day 8 - 9: Sat - Sun, March 11 - 12 — Holla Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib We will start early in the morning to witness and capture the various activities that take place during the festival. We will spend the entire two days here photographing this colorful and amazing festival. Overnight at the Hotel Day 10: Mon, March 13 — Anandpur Sahib/Chandigarh - Delhi - Mathura After breakfast we will drive back to Chandigarh to board the flight to Delhi. Chandigarh – Delhi Jet Airways 9W 2658 1140 / 1300 Hrs. We will have our lunch in Delhi before we drive to Mathura. Overnight at the Hotel Day 11: Tue, March 14 — Mathura This morning after breakfast, we will head towards the Baldev Temple where all the fun will take place. After a week of photographing Holi – this small temple still has to offer some more or we should say some of the best Holi images. We will spend few hours photographing Holi at this energy filled temple. After the shoot, the rest of the evening is free to relax and review your images! Overnight at the Hotel Day 12: Wed, March 15 — Mathura - Delhi and Departure After breakfast we will drive back to Delhi where rooms are booked for wash and change. This will be the last evening of our trip and defiantly calls for a gala and enjoyable farewell dinner! End of Tour |
The tour fee Includes
Paying by check If you would like to pay your deposit and/or balance with a check, please make the check payable to: Pixelchrome, Inc and mail it to: Nicole Woodhouse Pixelchrome, Inc, 605 Rouen Drive, McKinney TX 75070 Tips for a healthy and safe Holi
While Holi is a fun festival to take part in, it's worth noting that, this vibrant and colorful festival can cause damage to your skin and hair or even pose threat to your safety, if you don't take any precautions. To make your Holi a safe and joyful one, check out the following tips:
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