The festival of colors spreads happiness and vibrancy around the world when it comes. Indians all over the world wait for Holi for days to skip the monotonous schedule and fill their lives with color and joy. In 2022, Holi would fall on Friday, March 18. This festival is celebrated all over India and Indians all over the world. However, two places in India are best known for their spectacular celebrations. People from all over the world visit Mathura and Vridnavan to witness this grand celebration.
Why Mathura and Vrindavan?
Holi is celebrated in a grand manner in these two places and to know the reason behind it, we have to look into the history of this festival. Mathura is the birthplace of Sri Krishna. It is said that when Sri Krishna was young, he once went to his mother Yasoda Maa complaining that she was dark while Radha was beautiful. Yasodha Maa advised Lord Krishna to apply color to Radha and the other Gopis so that there would be no difference in anyone’s complexion afterwards.
When they did, Radha and the other Gopis began to playfully beat Lord Krishna with their Lathis. And so came the custom of applying colors and playing with lathi on the auspicious occasion of Holi.
In Mathura and Vrindavan, Holi is celebrated for a whole week. Each temple holds the event on a different day. People travel miles to witness and be a part of this great event. As per the customs set by Radha and Krishna, the boys playfully but subtly apply colors to the ladies. Colors may include normal gulal or gulal mixed with water. And the ladies beat them again, playfully of course. This is one of the few places where Lathmar Holi is observed where Holi is played with Lathis along with colours. Even some lathi competitions are held here. It is this that attracts tourists from places. Many other forms of Holi are observed here.
Things to visit in Mathura and Vrindavan during Holi week:
Lathmar Holi at Barasana and Nand Gaon:
Lathmar Holi is celebrated in full swing at these two places. People come from different parts of the world to witness this great event. The playful atmosphere around the women coloring and then the women in turn using the lathi on the men gives the environment a celebratory joyous tone.
Scope of Bharni Ekadashi:
Lathmar Holi is also observed in Krishna’s birthplace, Mathura. Here, the celebrations are presented in a plethora of colors at the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan.
Phoolon Waali Holi:
This is celebrated in Vrindavan. Here, along with traditional colors, colorful petals are also used to celebrate the festival and spread joy. People rejoice among the colorful flowers as they are showered.
Widow’s Holi:
Widows are generally asked to avoid colours, which are celebrations according to Indian custom. But a special Holi is organized for them here in Mathura. They gather in the widow’s club and paint each other. This is one of the important events because people who have suffered a great loss deserve some joy and happiness in their lives.
Holika Dahan:
Found everywhere in Brijmandal. This festival is sometimes observed by priests crossing the holy fire at Phalen village in Kosi, Mathura. Apart from this, the largest effigy is also burnt in the Holi Ghat.
Apart from the traditional coloring of the people, many other festivities are held in Mathura. It is not surprising that it is becoming the most attractive tourist sport at this time.
Rang Panchami:
This event marks the end of the Holi festival. It is celebrated in a grand manner in Braj Mandal temples. So you can see Holi celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan are unlike any other in the world. In Mathura and Vrindavan, this festival is celebrated in a way that is a step higher than in the rest of India. To experience the true traditional Holi, you must spend the festival in these two cities at least once in your lifetime.
