Holi Festival in Bali Highlights India-Indonesia Cultural Ties

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Holi, widely known as the Festival of Colors, was celebrated in Bali on March 8, 2026, at Nusa Dharma Island in Nusa Dua. The event underscored the close cultural ties between India and Indonesia, bringing together expatriates, tourists, students, diaspora members, and local residents in a vibrant gathering.

Holi is a Hindu spring festival that marks the arrival of the season and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, the renewal of relationships, and the spirit of unity and joy. The celebration is characterized by participants throwing colored powders, dancing to music, and sharing festive traditions.

India’s Consul General in Bali, Shashank Vikram, emphasized the festival’s significance as a platform for strengthening cultural connections between the two countries.

“Holi symbolizes joy, inclusiveness, and the celebration of diversity, values that align with the long-standing cultural relationship and friendship between India and Indonesia,” Vikram said in Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, on Sunday, March 8, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The Bali celebration reflected those values by bringing together diverse communities in a festive atmosphere filled with colors, music, dance, and cultural exchange. Organized by the Consulate General of India and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) Bali, in cooperation with the state-owned Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) The Nusa Dua, the event turned Nusa Dharma Island into a vibrant canvas of color and joy.

General Manager of The Nusa Dua, I Made Agus Dwiatmika, said the festival reflects the spirit of unity and cross-cultural friendship. “This momentum positions us as a world-class destination that is inclusive and adaptive,” Agus Dwiatmika said.

He noted that the celebration aligns with the positive trend of Indian tourist arrivals, which now rank among the top five visitor markets to Bali’s premium tourism area.

According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Bali, nearly 6.95 million foreign tourists visited Bali in 2025. Indian tourists ranked second with almost 570,000 visits, an increase of 3.4 percent compared to 550,000 visitors in 2024. ***