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Holi, known as the 'festival of colours', is a festival celebrated with great enthusiasm in India which marks the victory of good over evil and the advent of spring. Though Holi is an important festival all over India, it holds greater significance in Mathura and Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna was born and played during his childhood.
For those who want to touch the realm of India's devotional traditions, it is important to feel the soul of India on the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, which manifests as Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan. It is not just limited to bursting balloons filled with colors, it is a worship of love, devotion and the bond between Radha and Krishna.
If you are interested in spirituality, and are passionate about different cultures, or want to wander towards some other looking for unexpected things, holi celebration in mathura and Vrindavan will make you overwhelmed.
The history of Holi celebration is linked to ancient Indian mythology, where the most famous story associated with this festival is that of Prahlad and Holika. Hearing the above story from his grandfather, young Prahlad escaped from the clutches of his evil aunt Holika, who was a devotee of Lord Vishnu but was resistant to fire. Holika who wanted to burn Prahlad also met the same end and was burnt and this can be seen as a symbol of victory of good over evil.
Facts related to this story are celebrated one day before Holi through Holika Dahan, in which people burn wood to signify the destruction of evil.
One more important aspect of Holi is that it is related to Lord Krishna and Radha. It is believed that Krishna, being mischievous, splashes colored water and colors on Radha and gopis that are milkmaids. This is well demonstrated in Mathura and Vrindavan because the people here enjoy the festival as a way of life.
Holi is also joyous because it coincides with the arrival of the next pleasant and joyous season i.e. spring. It is a social celebration with no discrimination of caste system or status as everyone participates enthusiastically in the spirit of the festival by wearing colours, enjoying music or dancing.
Mathura and Vrindavan cities of Uttar Pradesh are noted for being the main celebrations of the Holi festival in the country. These cities have great significance in the life and mythology of Lord Krishna that is why Holi infuses spiritual enlightenment in the festival.
This festival is colorfully celebrated here by some of the peoples of Nigeria with cultural features which appear to have been inherited from their ancestors.
Among the religious values of holi festival at mathura, Vrindavan one can mention that Holi is attributed to Krishna who likes to play jokes on his going astray, and his affection with Radha. This beautiful bond of love is further depicted during the festival, and the entire environment seems to be a reflection of Love.
In terms of culture, Holi is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm in Mathura and Vrindavan. There are special processions, songs and dances on the street while religious places perform special rituals and festivities. On the social aspect it unites the people and enhances the issue of brotherhood during the festival.
More specifically, one of the most famous customs that is inherent to the Holi festivity in this part of the world is the ‘Lathmar Holi’, which was practiced in Barsana and Nandgaon. In the mythical narrative, when young Krishna went to the village of Barsana where Radha lived, he frolicked with the girls.
As an argument, the women drove him away with sticks in an effort to defend themselves. It is annually performed which makes this tradition rather interesting and full of humor.
Thus, while Holi is celebrated throughout the world, it continues for a week in Mathura and Vrindavan, with each day having a significance of its own. The following are some of the common Holi being observed in the region:
1. Lathmar Holi in Barsana and Nandgaon
Lathmar Holi is yet another famous and quite specific to Barsana and Nandgaon. The young women imitate the way of chasing one another with sticks, as portrayed in the episode where Radha and her companions chased a young Krishna. The men, on the same note, attempt at protecting themselves as much as they sing and dance. It is an entertaining and enlightening exercise that draws thousands of tourist troupes annually.
2. Phoolon Ki Holi at Banke Bihari Temple
Phoolon Ki Holi is also known by the name of the ‘Holi of Flowers’. This version of the festival takes place in Vrindavan at Banke Bihari Temple. The devotion is expressed through an exchange of sweet scented flowers instead of other colors between the devotees or among themselves. For those people who want to avoid the wild, drunk and rude Holi, this celebration is a must visit event. So you can easily enjoy flower holi in Vrindavan 2025 at your choice also.
3. Widow’s Holi at Gopinath Temple
Widows Holi at Gopinath Temple is held as a form of rebellion against social culture. In the past, widows were prohibited from celebrating the festival, but this activity allows them to spend time enjoying the colors. It is a joyful and inspiring image and certainly symbolizes acceptance and the message of Holi.
4. Traditional Holi at Dwarkadhish Temple, Mathura
It must be noted that Holi is celebrated in the Dwarkadhish temple, Mathura in which people go to play with colors and listen to the bhajan. The premise is resonating with the melodious bhajans and the colorfully vibrant gulal.
5. Huranga Holi at Dauji Temple
Huranga Holi at Dauji Temple is a fun festival, where men particularly are fortunate enough to be colored by women. This exotic is a part of Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan and fills the atmosphere with joy and merriness.
Read More: Things To Do In Mathura Vrindavan During Holi
To explore some of the historic and traditional significance of Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan, the following are best place to celebrate holi in mathura that one should visit:
Barsana is famous for its Lathmar Holi where enthusiasts revived the Lathmar Purbia Holi at the premises of Radha Rani Temple. Intertwining of the chase, chants and songs, and dancing between the men and women is quite entertaining.
The Lathmar Holi is carried forward with as much zeal in Nandgaon, Krishna’s village as well. It is colorful, vibrant, featured by music and dancing all over the place.
Phoolon Ki Holi is celebrated at the Vrindavan Bihari Ji Temple that is its spiritual core. This indicates that flowers surround the temple grounds and the sweet scent from the flower empowers the visitors with positive energy.
As for Mathura, the Dwarkadhish Temple is one of the places where ‘desi’ Holi is intensely celebrated. There is a Mela at the temple and people dance and sing using colors and listen to songs to rejoice the spirit of the occasion.
The Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan today is famous for having performed a revolutionary action of celebrating the ‘Widow’s Holi’. This event is an instance that through them we can debunk the myths about sexual minorities and embrace everyone.
The chief Huranga Holi is of Dauji Temple of Baldeo, in which males are splashed by females with multicoloured water. This tradition is also among the most bizarre but it is very recommended for tourists.
Mathura and Vrindavan do not lack any transportation facilities as they are very much connected to almost all the major cities of India. It is possible to get to those holy cities through any of the following ways:
By Air
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the nearest airport located approximately 150 km away from Delhi. From the airport, one can arrange a taxi or take a train to Mathura.
By Train
Mathura Junction is one of the prominent Railway Stations connected to almost all the cities of India including Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, Mumbai etc. Daily and usually this is a positive factor since the train provides regular services for transportation.
By Road
Mathura and Vrindavan are easily approachable via National Highway NH2 from Delhi, Agra and other cities. The mode of transport available is one’s own four wheeler, tempo traveler, or a bus.
Local Transport
With e-rickshaws, autos, taxis are available to circulate within Mathura and Vrindavan city which is good to travel.
March 3-4, 2025 – Lathmar Holi in Barsana and Nandgaon.
March 10, 2025 – Phoolon Ki Holi at Banke Bihari Temple.
March 12, 2025 – Widows' Holi at Gopinath Temple.
March 14, 2025 – Holi celebrations at Dwarkadhish Temple.
March 15, 2025 (Main Holi Day) – Grand Holi celebrations in Mathura & Vrindavan.
March 16, 2025 – Huranga Holi at Dauji Temple.
Starting off the celebrations are the Lathmar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon villages, on 3rd and 4th of March. This is a prospect where women gently thrash the men with sticks all over the body as the men attempt to defend themselves, which forms a happy atmosphere.
On the 10th March, you get to experience Phoolon Ki Holi during Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, where the priests throw colors made of flowers at the devotees.
A more serious although a joyous event that will occur on March 12th is the occasion of Widows’ Holi, at Gopinath temple. Here, women who are mainly neglected in society widen and participate in the festivities, removing colors and violating cultural norms.
After this, Holi will be celebrated at the Dwarkadhish Temple on 14th March and the grand celebrations of Holi are observed only in Mathura and Vrindavan on 15th March, which is the actual Holi day. The whole area translates into music, dance and colours of Gulal and gives out an unforgettable feeling.
The last two days will be celebrated at Dauji Dham Temple starting from March 15, and the next day is Huranga Holi in which men unfrock women or the women unfrock the men and take away the pieces of cloth the men had torn earlier.
Holi at Mathura and Vrindavan is not less than a divine experience where spirituality and colors go hand in hand. It is a color and joyous affair that provides a wonderful chance to see devotion of Radha to Krishna, saltate in cultural troupes & rejoice in the spring season.
For those who are planning on visiting the country in 2025, early booking of hotels, appropriate dressing, and proper safety measures when taking part in the celebration should be observed. If you are a follower of the Hindu religion, or a lover of foreign culture or a passionate tourist, Holi feast in Vrindavan Mathura Barsana cannot be less interesting to you.
To make your trip easy and enjoyable you should look for Mathura Vrindavan Barsana Tour Packages or Mathura Vrindavan Tour Packages that are available at TourTravelWorld. These services are planned without any hassle and also organized in such a way, so that the tourist feels like he has joined the festival of Holi.
You would not want to miss the opportunity to see the divine and cultural sites during this biggest festival of colors in 2025. Now you know everything about planning a trip and soon you will be able to be a part of this wonderful holiday.
