Thousands Join Holi Celebrations in Guwahati

GUWAHATI-  Thousands of revellers gathered in Fancy Bazar on Wednesday as Guwahati witnessed vibrant celebrations marking the festival of Holi.

The city’s bustling commercial hub transformed into a colourful spectacle as participants smeared each other with gulal, danced to the rhythm of dhol beats and exchanged festive greetings. The celebrations were organised by the Holi Friends Club, whose annual event has over the years become one of the most prominent Holi gatherings in the city.

Large crowds, many dressed in white attire, filled the streets of Fancy Bazar, creating a lively atmosphere with music, colour play and water balloons. The event drew participants from different communities and age groups, reflecting the festival’s spirit of social harmony.

Speaking during the celebrations, Holi Friends Club organiser Vivek Sanganeria said the event has long been associated with a message of unity and collective joy.

“There is no king, no rich or poor, no caste, no religion here. People from every community and every class come together to celebrate collectively. Our only goal is to spread happiness,” he said.

Sanganeria also acknowledged the absence of some musicians and performers who had been closely associated with the celebrations in previous years, noting that they were remembered during the event.

While the celebrations remained largely festive, some residents expressed concerns about safety amid the growing scale of public gatherings. Authorities deployed police personnel in the area to ensure orderly festivities and crowd management.

Local vendors also reported brisk sales of organic colours and sweets during the celebrations. Over the years, the Fancy Bazar Holi event has evolved into a major cultural gathering in Guwahati, symbolising the city’s diverse and inclusive social fabric.

Devotional Celebrations at Kamakhya Temple

In Guwahati, the historic Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill emerged as a major centre of celebration. Devotees gathered at the temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya to participate in rituals honouring Krishna as Gopal. The celebrations included Holika Dahan, devotional singing and a ceremonial procession where the deity’s idol was carried in a dola (palanquin) around the temple premises.

Temple priests, known as shebaits, performed traditional songs unique to the shrine while devotees offered prayers and participated in colour play within the temple complex. Thousands of visitors attended the rituals, seeking blessings for prosperity and harmony.

India celebrated the festival of Holi on Tuesday with vibrant displays of colour, music and community gatherings, marking the arrival of spring and the symbolic triumph of good over evil. The festivities followed the traditional observance of Holika Dahan on March 3, when bonfires were lit across the country to signify the burning of evil.

Across cities, towns and villages, people smeared each other with gulal, danced to traditional music and shared festive delicacies such as gujiya and thandai. In northern India, historic towns associated with the legends of Lord Krishna and Radha, including Mathura and Vrindavan, witnessed large gatherings of devotees reenacting traditional Holi rituals.

While Holi is celebrated across the country, the festival in India’s Northeast is marked by distinctive local traditions. In Assam, the festival is widely known as Doul Utsav or Phakua, blending Vaishnavite practices with local customs and community celebrations.