Holi Festival Tips For Women: What to Expect & How to Prepare

If you’re a woman travelling solo and thinking about celebrating Holi in India, you’ve probably got a mix of excitement and hesitation, and for good reason. 

Holi is colourful, chaotic, and incredibly fun… but it’s also intense and not always what Instagram makes it look like.

I celebrated Holi solo in Udaipur in 2025, and while it ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of my trip (and probably my life), there were definitely things I wish I’d known beforehand. 

Like how important it is to choose the right city, why you should go out early and leave early, what not to drink if you want to remember the day clearly and why you need to oil your skin before you start the celebrations (It’s not as weird as it sounds, I promise). 

This post shares practical Holi Festival tips based on my own experience, so you’ll know what to expect, how to prepare, and how to stay safe while celebrating Holi on your own as a solo female traveller in India. 

Let’s get into it!!

What is Holi Festival?

Now, I’m assuming because you’ve ended up on this blog post that you already have a pretty good Idea of what Holi Festival is, but if you’re not sure, I’ll briefly describe what this festival is and why it is so important in the Hindu religion. 

Holi is often called the “Festival of Colours,” and marks the arrival of spring, as well as the triumph of good over evil.

Although it’s a Hindu tradition, it’s become more of a nationwide celebration that’s extremely popular with tourists visiting India, like you and me. 

The main day of Holi is all about throwing coloured powder, dancing to music, and sharing food and drinks with everyone. 

Holi is usually celebrated in March, but the exact date changes each year depending on the lunar calendar. 

The scale and style of celebration can vary widely between cities, from more peaceful celebrations to 10,000+ people and full-blown street celebrations (so where you choose to celebrate matters, especially if you’re travelling solo).

What To Expect At Holi Festival

If you’ve never been to Holi before, it can be a bit of a sensory overload. 

Here’s what a typical Holi Festival celebration looks like:

• People throwing coloured powder everywhere – on clothes, hair, and especially your face
• Loud music and dancing  – often with DJs or live drummers
• Locals and travellers mixing together 
• Lots of water – sometimes people use water balloons or buckets, so expect to get soaked
• Everyone greeting each other with “Happy Holi!” – often while applying colour to their faces

If you go into this festival expecting to get messy, wet, maybe a little overwhelmed at times, but most importantly to have lots of fun, you’ll have a great time!

Is Holi Festival Worth it? 

Holi is one of those travel experiences that actually lives up to the hype. 

It’s something you really cannot get anywhere else in the world, and so different to what most people have experienced before. 

I’ve actually celebrated Holi Festival in Nepal, but the celebrations in India definitely top it! 

Aside from throwing paint over yourself (and strangers), the day is all about joy and human connection, which is what I think makes it so special! 

Even if you’re travelling solo, Holi can be a genuinely awesome experience, as long as you celebrate in the right setting (like a hostel-organised event) and don’t go out completely alone.

For me, celebrating Holi in Udaipur as a solo traveller was a highlight of my trip. And while there were definitely moments I had to be cautious (more on that later), the experience was absolutely worth it.

10+ Holi Festival Tips For Solo Female Travellers

Choosing the Right City for Holi: It’s VERY Important 

This is probably one of the most important Holi Festival tips I can share with you!

Choosing the right city for your Holi Celebrations is PARAMOUNT as it genuinely makes or breaks your experience (especially as a solo female traveller in India). 

Some cities host massive public street parties that can be overwhelming and, at times, unsafe if you’re on your own. Others have a more relaxed atmosphere that’s far easier to navigate and enjoy.

I chose Udaipur for my first Holi, and I’m really glad I did. For me, it was one of the best places to experience Holi in India (and probably the most chilled city I visited in Rajasthan).

The city has a good reputation for being more laid-back compared to places like Pushkar or Varanasi, which are known for their rowdy, crowded celebrations and, unfortunately, have higher reports of sexual assaults. 

If I’m honest, I found Pushkar to be safe, and I had a really great time in Varanasi, but I didn’t visit during the festival season, because locals had warned me not to (and I’m always inclined to trust a local’s safety advice). 

Udaipur still gives you all the fun that you want from Holi Festival celebrations, but in a much less overwhelming way. 

If you’re travelling solo, I highly recommend finding a hostel that organises its own Holi party and organises a group walk through the Holi street parties. 

This is probably the safest way to do it if you’re travelling in India alone. 

How to Book Accommodation and Transport for Holi Festival

If you’re planning to celebrate Holi in India…DO NOT leave your bookings to the last minute (this is one of the biggest festivals of the year after all). 

Hostels and hotels in popular Holi cities fill up VERY quickly,  especially the ones that organise their own events, which are ideal for solo travellers.

When booking your accommodation for Holi Festival, make sure to look for places that: 

• Have great reviews from other solo women
• Mentions Holi events or parties in their description
• Offers good common areas where you can meet others beforehand

Transport can also be tricky during Holi. Trains and buses often sell out, especially on routes to and from major cities like Delhi, Jaipur, or Udaipur. 

Booking your travel a few weeks in advance will save you stress (and money).

If you do make last-minute plans to celebrate Holi, you’ll probably have better luck booking overnight buses than you will with trains, as these always sell out in advance, whether it’s Holi Festival or not (I’ve learnt this the hard way before). 

Also, be sure to keep in mind that Holi dates change every year based on the lunar calendar.

The main festival day usually falls in March, but double-check the exact date for the year you’re planning to go so you can time your trip properly.

Book Your Stay

Book a stay at Dreamyard Hostel

🛏️Hostels get booked out way in advance during Holi Season. Make sure you don’t miss out on a bed at Dreamyard Hostel and book your stay ASAP.

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What To Wear & Pack For Holi Festival In India 

I have to warn you that packing for Holi Festival requires a bit more thought than what’s required for a standard trip. 

This festival is messy and full on, so you’ll want to come prepared with things you don’t mind getting stained or potentially ruined. 

Here’s a practical packing list for Holi:

Clothing

• Old clothes you can throw away – Pack old, white clothing (this will help the colours pop, but they will be ruined after) 
• Cheap sunglasses – Protect your eyes from powder
• Worn-out trainers – Don’t bring your favourite shoes and don’t wear flip flops, your toes might not make it in the big crowds. 

Protection

• Coconut oil – Apply to skin and hair beforehand to make colour easier to wash off
• Scarf or bandana – Useful for covering your hair or mouth in crowded areas
• Sunscreen – You’ll likely be outside for hours

Essentials

• Waterproof phone pouch or Ziploc bag – Keeps your phone safe while taking photos
• Minimal cash – Just what you need for snacks or drinks
• Wet wipes or a small towel – Helpful post-festival
• Backup outfit – Something clean to change into after

• Micellar water or oil cleanser – To help remove stubborn colour from your face
• Nail polish – Apply clear polish beforehand to prevent staining on your nails

What to Leave Behind

• Passport
• Credit/debit cards
• Expensive electronics
• Anything you’d be upset to lose or break

📸NOTE📸
If you’re a photography lover like me, you’ll probably be desperate to take your kit out to get some epic shots, but I warn you, please do not do this unless you have adequate protection. 

Some of the others I was with did bring their expensive cameras out, but had created a covering for them, and I saw another lady in the crowd with a proper waterproof housing for her Sony camera.

But, I didn’t have anything of the sort and didnt want to risk ruining a very expensive camera, so I left it at my hostel and used my phone instead.
One thing I also really wish I packed with me was a disposable film camera. I think you’d be able to get some epic shots in this kind of setting (so maybe you can consider this too).

How to Celebrate Holi Safely as a Solo Female Traveller: The Do’s and Don’ts for Holi

Whilst Holi is a fun celebration, it can be very chaotic (how many times can I say the word chaotic in one post 😂), so that means there are a few things to watch out for, especially as a female tourist in India.

Oil Up Before You Go Out 

I know the phrase “Oil Up” sounds a little ominous, but it will save you hours in the shower trying to scrub paint off post-festival. 

Locals recommend covering yourself in coconut oil before you head out, as this will help to create a barrier between your skin and the paint. And hopefully will in turn make the post-Holi shower a lot easier. 

If you’re not sure how much to apply, I think a good rule of thumb is the more “sweaty” you look after oil application, the better. 

🎨NOTE: No matter how much you oil up, expect to still have mild paint stains on you for days after. It took about a week for the purple paint to disappear from my chest! I also don’t even know how the paint got there when I was wearing a high-neck t-shirt 😂. 

Celebrate with a group 

Even if you’re travelling solo, don’t celebrate Holi completely alone. Join a hostel that organises group activities or partner up with other travellers. It’s safer, and honestly, it’s so much more fun! 

I made sure that I was always with someone from my hostel, and to be honest, I was never in a group less than 3 people.

It’s also a really good idea to identify a meeting point where you can go if one of you ever gets lost.

Go Early, Leave Early

The energy at Holi celebrations is amazing early in the day. There is lots of music, dancing, colour-throwing, etc. 

But as the day goes on, things can shift. As people get more intoxicated and the crowds grow, the energy can become a bit too intense. 

I went out with my hostel group early in the morning and made a point to head back by early afternoon/mid-afternoon to carry on the party at our hostel rooftop. 

Expect to Get Colour on Your Face

Locals and other travellers will likely approach you and gently smear colour on your face while saying “Happy Holi!”

It’s a common part of the celebration, and in my experience, it’s always been done in a friendly and respectful way (from both men and women)l. 

But make sure you only do what you feel comfortable with. If something feels off or too aggressive, make sure to remove yourself from the situation.

Be Cautious About Physical Contact

It’s important to be aware that not all interactions are respectful. 

Later in the day, I noticed some men getting handsy in the crowds, and I, myself, experienced someone grabbing my bum!! 

Whilst I really want to point out that I didn’t feel unsafe in this situation, and I did give the guy a telling off, it’s still definitely a violation, but unfortunately, something you have to be aware of as a female traveller in India. 

This is another reason why I recommend going early, leaving early and staying with a group at all times! 

Approach Your Post-Holi Shower Strategically

Another good reason for leaving the Holi celebrations a little early (especially if you’re staying in a hostel) is so that you can be one of the first ones to have a shower. 

The longer you’re out, the more likely the queues are to build up, and the longer you have to wait, the longer the paint will seep into your skin. 

And whilst I didn’t know this at the time (I had a bog standard shower), apparently, if you mix lemon juice with curd and rinse off with lukewarm water, the paint will come off much easier. 

I’m not sure where you’re going to get lemon juice and curd from whilst staying in a hostel, but if your accommodation has a kitchen, it could be worth asking! 

Don’t Drink Bhang Lassi

Bhang is a very potent cannabis-infused drink, and whilst a lot of people do it during this festival as part of the “tradition”, it’s not the kind of thing you want to try for the first time in this setting, especially solo. 

You really don’t know the dose or how your body will react.

I actually tried Bhang Lassi during my visit to Varanasi the year before, and it was one of the most unenjoyable experiences of my life, and I vowed never to touch it again.

Some of the other guests at my hostel actually went out to get some Bhang during the Holi Festival celebrations, despite my warning them against it. 

One of the girls came back to the rooftop to say that she wished she had listened to me, and I had to hold her hand through it (I am glad I was there, though, because I knew exactly what she was going through). 

Holi Festival for Solo Women: Final Tips Before You Go

Celebrating Holi Festival solo in India might sound intimidating at first, but with a little bit of prep, you’ll be sure to have a great time, and you’ll be ticking off an experience that’s a bucket-list item for so many people! 

Choosing the right city, staying with a hostel group, and going in with a plan helped me enjoy the day without feeling too overwhelmed, and I genuinely would recommend this experience to anyone and everyone. 

I hope these Holi Festival tips have helped you feel prepared (and not scared) and that wherever you choose to celebrate Holi, you have the best and safest time! 

If you’re planning to visit Holi as part of a longer backpacking trip around India, be sure to look at my 2-Week North India Itinerary and my 4-Week India Itinerary 

Plus, If you have any more questions about Holi Festival, safety or backpacking in India, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

And, if you need more solo travel support. Make sure to check out my solo female travel hub for lots of tips, tricks and advice.