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Hello. I’ll be in India in a couple weeks during the Holi festival. I see that this year Holi is March 20-21. On the 20th I’ll be in Jaipur and on the 21st I’ll be in Delhi. How do I go about finding someplace to celebrate? Will there be celebrations in temples, on the streets, or are most events private? Thanks for any insight.

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There should be celebrations in any crowded residential Hindu neighborhoods. Many businesses will be closed. There are some safety concerns you should be aware of. You can search online for safety tips on Holi.
Holi can be a bit overwhelming for some, so I suggest you find a hotel nearby. Don't wear anything you can't afford to have ruined. If you plan to shoot photos take precautions to protect your camera from dust and rain.

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In response to #0

@drgarthon

On the 20th I’ll be in Jaipur and on the 21st I’ll be in Delhi.

Hmm. Your travel times actually matter - what time will you leave Jaipur? What time will you arrive in Delhi?

On 20 March in Jaipur, you should see some bonfires under construction and these will be lit later that night. At the bonfire site some families, especially the children, may 'play Holi' (ie throw colour) amongst themselves during the day. Typically there will be more of that later at night when the bonfire is lit.

There may be other festivities you notice - where I was last year the local taxi stand was partially cleared and all the drivers were having a very loud party through the afternoon.

On 21 March - in the morning only - is the time when coloured powder and water is thrown. If you decide to participate in this then you (as a foreigner) will be especially targeted. If you are a female then the prospect of being assaulted and harrassed is signficant. The coloured powder is very likely to be toxic, and the water used in water guns is definitely not the bottled water you should be drinking.

How do I go about finding someplace to celebrate?

You should be able to identify the bonfires without much problem. Ask your hotel / guest house.

Will there be celebrations in temples, on the streets, or are most events private?

All of the above. With your health, safety and welfare in mind the best advice for the colour throwing is to watch from a hotel window a couple of floors above. Your accommodation may arrange Holi celebrations for guests.

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Thanks for the info. To answer your question about timing. On the 20th I will be staying in Jaipur overnight. On the 21st I will be traveling to Delhi by train and will not be In the city until early afternoon.

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If you go to the Jaipur train terminal during daylight hours early on the 21st, there's a pretty good chance some person/people will attempt to color you. But being on a train for most of the morning you'll miss most of the "colors" part of Holi celebration.

If going out in public, it's a good idea to apply oil to your exposed body parts, so that the paint will easily wash off.

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5

You are in Jaipur on the day when Holi is celebrated using water and colors. If you have some time and interest then you can go to the Holi celebration organized by the government of Rajasthan. Its pretty safe as there are all security arrangements done by the government. Many foreigners attend this program with locals.
To reach this holi place, you can either ask your hotel/guest house or call Uber/Ola.
Regards

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@SalamNamasteIndia Do you happen to know where that will be taking place in Jaipur?

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7

Khasa kothi
Regards

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8

I hope the OP reports back...

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