Vibrant Holi of Vrindavan and Barsana— India

‘Bura na mano, Holi Hai’ (please don’t mind, it is Holi)

Holi Celebration

The festival of Holi is celebrated as goodness prevailing over the evil, a time for celebration, for worship, for youthful flirtations and for letting oneself go. It’s a game of smearing, splashing, and spraying coloured powder and water on everyone you see.

Holi is a boisterous affair celebrated with equal fervour and gaiety in both urban and rural India. The legend of Holi draws its inspiration from Indian mythology and the playful flirtations of Radha and Krishna. This phenomenon of celebrating life, love, goodness and the onset of spring have many variations across India.

According to one more mythology, in an attempt to punish his son Prahlad for worshipping Lord Vishnu, the demon-king Hiranyakashipu asked his sister Holika to hold him in a blazing fire. Holika had a boon that meant she could never be burnt, however she was burnt to death in this act and Prahlad was freed unharmed.

In India Holi is celebrated in all over country, but in Muthura,Vrindavan and Barsana ,it is celebrated on astonishing level.

Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon and Govardhan are collectively called ‘Brajbhoomi.

Holy in Mathura

Festivities begin as early as two weeks before on the ghats of Mathura — the birthplace of Krishna where Holi is celebrated in the most wild, yet colorful and sane revelry. With sticks, shields, colors and canons of water, Holi celebration here is a must-have experience. Legends tell tales of how Lord Krishna and Radha’s love blossomed in the suburbs of Mathura.

Mathura (Holi Celebration)

Holy in Barsana

The Holi-celebration at Nandgaon and Barsana takes place approximately a week before the actual date for Holi. There are two villages close to Vrindavan. One is called Nandgaon and the other one is known as Barsana. Nandgaon is Lord Krishna’s birthplace and Barsana is Radha’s (his beloved).

Here, the women of Barsana use sticks to beat men, who come from the adjacent village of Nandgaon. The ritual recreates the time when Lord Krishna visited Radha, who stayed in Barsana, and played mischievous pranks on her and her friends on the occasion of Holi. In turn, the Barsana women took offence and chased him away with sticks. After the beating, Lord Krishna is said to have fled to Nandgaon.

This re-enactment happens every year, where men from Nandgaon visit Barsana to play Holi and splash colour on the women, only to be playfully beaten up with sticks. The following day, men from Barsana go to Nandgaon to drench the women in water and colour. This unusual celebration is a huge attraction for tourists, making Lathmar Holi a must-experience item on your travel itinerary.

Lathmar Holy Celebration

Main event of Holy — Vrindavan

If you’re ready to take the game a few notches higher, head to the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan on Holi, It is the absolute best places to have the true Holi experience, one which you will remember for a lifetime. Vrindavan was where Radha and Krishna met for their secret rendezvous at the garden of Krishna Leela. This is where it all began. Vrindavan celebrates Holi with great candour. The festival is observed here over a week’s time. Thousands of devotees coincide on this occasion. Tourists from all over the world are also drawn to Vrindavan to catch a glimpse of India in all its colourful vibrancy. The celebrations also include parades, performances of “Raas-Leela” and cultural shows.

Widows in India have been treated with great apathy through the ages. In a heartening development, Vrindavan recently broke the shackles of this stifling tradition by including widows in Holi festivities. Hundreds of widows now participate in the grand Holi festivities of Vrindavan, throwing colours and flowers on each other.

Vrindavan(Holi Celebration)

List of attractions:

• Lathmar Holi in Barasana
• Lathmar Holi in NandGaon
• Phoolon wali Holi — Only flowers are used ,celebration in Banke Bihari Temple.
• Range Bharni Ekadashi — Lathmar Holi in Krishna Janmabhoomi, Mathura; Colorful Holi celebration in Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
• Widow’s Holi — Lathmar at Pagal Baba Widow Ashram in Vrindavan that is a strong step against the traditional convention that widows in India are not allowed to wear colorful clothes or play with colors
• Holika Dahan in entire Brijmandal; priests crossing holi fire in Phalen Village, Kosi, Mathura
• Dhulandi Holi — colored water holi in Brijmandal, color Holi celebrations in Mathura Vrindavan temples
• Huranga — famous Huranga Holi celebration in Dauji temple, Baldeo, Mathura
• Rang Panchami — end of Holi celebrations in Braj mandal temples

Phoolon Ki Holi

Must know things

1. Dress appropriately. Cover your head with a scarf, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, wear proper footwear — preferably shoes, so you don’t slip.

2. Do not carry any valuables with you

3. If you’re a photographer, protect your camera lens from water and colour.

4. Beware of miscreants. Girls are advised to travel in groups with male members shielding them at all times.

5. Do not consume bhaang if you cannot handle it.

6. Stock your hotel room with food, lest you starve on the day of Holi.

7. Pick a hotel close to the venue so you don’t have to travel much on the day.

How to Reach

The distance from Delhi to Mathura is around 141kms (by train) and 162kms (by road), and Mathura to Barsana is around 50kms. Vrindavan is about 12 kms and a 30-minute cab ride away from Mathura.

You can drive your own car, hire a taxi or take a bus or train to Mathura. On reaching Mathura, take a cab to Barsana.

Where to stay

From locals opening up their homes for visitors to luxury resorts and hotels — there are options available for every budget.

Caution: Book in advance.

Visit us at www.worldpeddle.com