Holi, the festival of vibrant colors,joy ,happiness,vibrancy symbolises sysmbolizes the advent of spring season in India.Well known for its beautiful traditions ,it is considered as one of the most vivid celebrations of country & as it is the favourite festival of Lord Krishna , so where can be the better place to celebrate this festival other than Mathura & Vrindavan.
It is certainly the ideal place to be in during this season.With colors and fun in the air, lingering smell of sweets and happy colorful faces greeting each other, everyone wishes to be a part of this amazing extravaganza.
It is a month long fiesta beginning in February and ending with the grand Mathura Holi celebrations in March. It covers the whole Brij Bhoomi, from Gokul, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon to Mathura.
Month long events at these places leave you mesmerized and every year Celebrated Dignitaries, Photographers & Tourists from all continents come to Mathura to see this spectacle.
Mathura Holi Dates & Events
Laddu Maar Holi | 3rd March, 2020, Tuesday | Barsana Laddu Holi in Sri Ji Temple |
Barsana Holi | 4th March, 2020, Wednesday | Barsana Lathmar Holi |
Nandgaon Holi | 5th March, 2020, Thursday | Lathmar Holi in Nand Bhawan |
Mathura Vrindavan Holi | 6th March, 2020, Friday | Holi in Banke Bihari Ji Temple |
Gokul Holi | 7th March, 2020, Saturday | Holi in Gokul |
Dwarkadheesh Holi | 8th March, 2020, Sunday | Holi in Dwarkadheesh |
Holika Dahan | 9th March, 2020, Monday | General Holi in Braj |
Dhulendi | 10th March, 2020, Tuesday | Colorful Water Holi in Braj |
Baldev Holi | 11th March, 2020, Wednesday | Baldev Holi |
1-Barsana Phool Maar & Laddu Holi in Sriji Temple
03 March 2020, Tuesday
At Shriji Temple devotees gather in large numbers and Laddu(sweet) are thrown at them. They have great fun and accept the sweets as a blessing with much devotion.
They also shower flowers on the idols of Shri Krishna and Radhaji reminding How Krishnaji played Holi with Radhaji and showered her with flowers. The colors used during the celebration must be natural, made from flowers to avoid any harm.
2-Barsana Lathmar Holi ( Main Holi Barsana )
04 March 2020, Wednesday
Lathmaar Holi has its uniqueness in own aspects.In this men from Nandgaon visit Barsana and the ladies shove them off with bamboo sticks. It is a fun game which is immensely enjoyable. So during Holi women get to demonstrate their power freely with a dash of fun and men feel blessed to get a light hit of the stick.
In ancient times Shri Krishna used to come to Barsana with his friends to play Holi with Radhaji but she and her friends took bamboo sticks (lath) to chase them away.Now the tradition has taken the form of a ritual.
3-Nandgaon Lathmar Holi
05 March 2020, Thursday
The next day the Barsana boys come to Nandgaon to immerse the women in a splash of colors but the Nandgaon women use their bamboo sticks shun off the men and the ritaul takes the form of a grand celebration which is famous worldwide.
4-Holi in Vrindavan and Banke Bihari Temple
06 March 2020, Friday
Also known as Rangbharni Ekadashi it signals the advent of the great day and naturally it is celebrated with much fervor and excitement in one of the oldest and world famous temples of Vrindavan the Banke Bihari Temple. The natives and Shri Krishna followers assemble there and play with colors. It is a beautiful demonstration of the feeling of love, brotherhood and happiness.
Holi at Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan isn’t only a celebration. It is, in fact, a festival of life. Many individuals crowd to this delightful town every year to observe the festival at the temple devoted to Lord Krishna and play Holi with God himself.
5-Mathura Holi at Krishna Janmabhoomi ( Birthplace of Lord Krishna)
6 March 2020, Friday
The Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, the main temple in Mathura hosts a grand holi celebration.
Devotees from all round the world gather in huge numbers and pay respects to Shri Krishna and Radhaji and play Holi together. They also indulge in the Lathmaar Holi on this occasion.
The air is filled with colors, colors and colors all around,a cultural program is also organized to mark the event. There is also a big celebration held at the famous Shri Dwarka Dhish Temple at Mathura.
6-Holika Dahan
9 March 2020, Monday(Muhurat 6:16pm-8:47pm)
Holi Dahan is the ritual of great importance in the celebration of Holi festival. It is the tradition of the Holi festival that depicts the death of Holika and magical the evacuation of Prahlad from fire.
Story:In accordance to those historical explanations Holika was booned by Brahma for not getting any harm from fire or never getting burnt in fire. Following the order of his Brother Hiranyakashyap ( father of Prahlad) Holika sat on fire with Prahlad in order to burn him in fire and let to death.
It was Prahlad’s prayers to Lord Vishnu that saved him from burning in fire. It was the protective shawl of Holika that flew to cover Prahlad’s body from Holika who was having it. This is the story behind the celebration of Holika Dahan that is still followed by the people of India.
7-Dhulandi Holi (Colorful Water Holi in Brij)
10 March 2020, Tuesday
Now comes the Big day..Holi Dhulandi represents Color play…!!!The whole Braj area gets united to celebrate Holi.People enjoy throwing of colorful powders with watered balloons on each other. People play this colorful festival with full enjoyment irrespective of problems between them.
So friends if you are willing to be part of this breath taking extravaganza ..pack your bags this Holi & witness joy & experience only Mathura & Vrindavan can offer this Holi.
Happy Travelling….!!!