Culture and Colors in India: A Journey for Women Travelers during Holi

It’s not every day that you see a group of adults walking single file, evoking memories of preschool. For our small group of women travelers in India during the Holi festivities, it was part of something much more meaningful. Led by confident women with local knowledge, we weaved through the vibrant streets of Delhi. We passed by tuk-tuks, cows, rickshaws, and vendors selling everything from fragrant spices to stacks of dates for Ramadan. A constant chorus of horns was our soundtrack, as we waited at the Jama Masjid Metro Station to board the women-only car. 

We were 14 women, traveling together to experience India through the eyes of its women on an immersive 8-day journey. Designed as a seamless, safe, and enriching introduction to India, it included partaking in the vibrant Holi festivities, offering a deeply meaningful way to witness the country’s soul through the lens of history, spirituality, artistry, and the powerful voices of women shaping India today.

A Collaborative Vision for Women’s Holi Travel in India

This journey, curated by Global Family Travels in partnership with Wanderful, was designed to honor women’s perspectives and celebrate India’s traditions through immersive cultural exchange. Both organizations are committed to travel experiences that promote self-reflection and cross-cultural learning and exchange, in the many ways those lessons come.

While the vibrant Holi festivities were a centerpiece of the trip, our Delhi adventures marked just the beginning. Over ten days, we experienced India through a female lens—welcomed into temples and gurdwaras, making offerings to Durga, trying on the iconic saree, and observing ritual bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganga. Each experience, facilitated by our intergenerational guides, gave us the opportunity to witness the many ways women make their way in North India, deepening our cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of India’s living traditions.

Witness to Faith: Embracing India’s Spiritual Traditions Through a Feminine Lens

While many religious sites around the world close their doors to outsiders during sacred rituals, we were humbled to learn that many in India remain open. For us as women travelers in India during Holi, these visits added another dimension to our cultural immersion—showing that faith, like celebration, is woven into everyday life.

Arriving early in Delhi prior to the trip start date, a few of us had the opportunity to visit three significant religious sites, where we witnessed women from all walks of life and regions of India on pilgrimage, each engaging with their faith in deeply personal ways.

One of the most memorable was Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, a spiritual center for the Sikh community. Though I had minimal exposure to Sikhism beforehand, I deepened my understanding through our guide’s thoughtful explanation and our participation in shared rituals.

We respectfully removed our shoes, covered our heads, and walked the parkarma (the circular path around the Guru Granth Sahib) with others in the prayer hall. The sense of welcome was profound and no one questioned our appreciation of the intergenerational free meal and meal preparation in the massive food hall and kitchen, called a langar, underscoring Sikhism’s focus on community and equality. 

Witness to Entrepreneurship: Women’s Empowerment Through Cultural Heritage and Artisanal Craft 

We had the privilege of learning from young women entrepreneurs in Delhi, who are shaping the city’s future while preserving its past. We met female entrepreneurs and artisans of diverse backgrounds devoted to highlighting Delhi’s cultural heritage and empowering their communities through craft.

We were hosted by women from the Insha-e-Noor initiative, a program dedicated to women’s empowerment through training in heritage art practices, business support, and artisan cooperatives. We tried our hands at the intricate paper-cutting art of sanjhi and admired the fine crochet and embroidery produced by the women’s collective—each piece reflecting skill, creativity, and resilience.

The Insha-e-Noor initiative is part of a larger effort to support youth in the Nizamuddin Basti neighborhood, creating jobs and preserving the area’s deep history. Their guided heritage walks bring to life the 14th-century monuments to Sufi saints and poets, as well as the dargah complex, while also fostering pride and sustainable livelihoods.

For us as women travelers in India during Holi, seeing the country through the entrepreneurial spirit of younger women was welcoming, thought-provoking, and energizing—another reminder of how culture, community, and empowerment are deeply intertwined.

Witness to Celebration: The Joy of Holi in India

Our cultural immersion reached its peak with India’s vibrant Holi Festival. Thanks to careful trip preparation, our group of women travelers arrived ready in white clothing, eager to embrace the symbolism, rituals, and joy of this festival of colors.

The night before Holi, we were welcomed to Dera Mandawa, a family-run heritage hotel in Jaipur, where tradition and hospitality came alive. The family shared the story of Holi as a celebration of good triumphing over evil before lighting the Holika Dahan bonfire. Guided by Yuvragi Rathore, we danced in a circle under the stars, draped in traditional attire.

The next morning, we dove into color and community, wandering lively yet less crowded Jaipur streets where music, dance, and color-throwing brought the city to life. Back at Dera Mandawa, no white clothing remained untouched, henna was applied, and the festivities carried on with hours of laughter and dancing.

Photo Credit: Dera Mandawa Jaipur

This immersive Holi experience was deeply rooted in Indian tradition and cultural exchange—made all the more meaningful by being invited to participate as welcomed guests rather than mere observers.

Weaving Culture, Connection, and Meaning in India

The diversities that make up India are expansive, and we were fortunate to experience many of them—and hear about others. We encountered the ancient, the historical, and the modern, sometimes all at once, leaving us with a richer understanding of tradition, spirituality, and community. 

As women travelers, we witnessed India’s diversities in vivid ways—from Delhi’s spiritual traditions to Jaipur’s joyful celebration of Holi. This journey was not only about color and festivity, but about listening to women’s voices, supporting communities, and embracing traditions that transcend borders. We left India with more than colorful clothes and vibrant memories—we carried home a deeper understanding of community, tradition, and womanhood that connects us across cultures. 

Celebrate Holi in India: A Journey of Women, Culture & Community

Global Family Travels invites you to join us on our next Women’s Holi Travel Experience in India, February 24 – March 7, 2026. This unforgettable 12-day journey coincides with the joyful Festival of Colors and includes engaging visits with inspiring NGOs leading change for women and communities. From connecting with Breakthrough Trust in Delhi and supporting widows through Ahaana in Vrindavan, to sharing meals with the courageous women of Sheroes Café in Agra and learning about education initiatives at Ladli in Jaipur, travelers will witness empowerment in action.

Alongside these meaningful encounters, participants will celebrate Holi in vibrant Jaipur, marvel at the Taj Mahal, explore Jaipur’s royal palaces, and experience other cultural treasures that reveal India’s enduring spirit of courage, culture, and color. Click here to reserve your spot!