Puskhar in Rajasthan to host unique Holi for foreigners on March 13

Yash Goyal

Pushkar, March 9

Pushkar is set to hold the ‘Kapda Phad Holi’, especially for foreigners, at Varah Chowk here on March 13.

For the past five years, the Festival of Colours is celebrated with gulal and water colours in which foreigners from Europe and other countries enjoy tear off the shirts of one another, without resorting to vulgarity.

Foreigners and Indian tourists have already started pouring in the holy city and the number of participants this year is expected to be around 2, Hanuman Sharma, a local journalist, said.

There would be separate blocks for men and women at Varah Chowk near a ghat of Pushkar Lake, where a DJ would play songs, Sharma said. 

Organiser Ashutosh has sought permission from the district administration to organise the festival, Pushkar SHO Dulichand said.

“Police keep an eye on the way foreigners celebrate Holi and no vulgarity is allowed,” the SHO said, adding that permission from Ajmer administration was yet to be had. 

“Such a gathering of foreigners is good and helps them understand the importance of Holi and Indian traditions,” Somanand Maharaj, a priest at Varah Ghat said. No liquor or drugs would be allowed on the day, he said, adding that the Ajmer district administration would deploy cops in plain clothes to maintain order.