Holi is one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals in India. It is also known as “Festival Of Colours” and is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm & warmth all over the country. Although, Holi is celebrated with a unique style and culture in every state of India. However, if you really want to enjoy you must visit Braj Bhumi or Vrindavan Mathura.
Braj is a historical region that covers the area of Mathura, Vrindavan and some nearby places. People from all corners of the world visit this place to enjoy the real flavors of Holi because of its unique customs and traditions. Here, its a 16-day long festival and its preparations usually begin a month before the actual day of Holi. Holi celebration 2020 in Uttar Pradesh will begin on Monday, 9 March and ends on Tuesday, 10 March.
Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and he spent his entire childhood in Vrindavan. Holi is the favorite festival of Lord Krishna, so its a very important significance in Mathura and people play it in such a way if there is no tomorrow. So, if you are thinking to celebrate this Holi in a unique way just pack your bags and be ready for a lifetime unforgettable experience.
The history of Holi dates back to the childhood days of Lord Krishna when he used to question his mother about his dark complexion as compared to her friend Radha who was quite fair. After that his mother (Yashoda) suggested he to color Radha with colors in a playful manner. Lord Krishna liked this thought and often used to go from Nandgaon to Barsana to color Radha and other Gopis. With the passage of time, this tradition converted into the festival and today we all call this festival as HOLI.
Talking about Mathura, Holi is not just a festival it’s an emotion for which people wait the whole year. For Mathura people, the Holi celebration is a chain of events in which they play different types of Holi at different places of Mathura. It starts from Barsana then Nandgaon, Braj, & Vrindavan. Some of the famous types of Holi celebrations are:
Barsana, Nandgaon
Date: Monday, March 9, 2020
he tradition of Lathmar Holi began when Lord Krishna went to the neighboring village of Barsana to color his beloved Radha and other Gopis. In turn, the ladies used to beat him with lathis or wooden sticks in a playful manner. So, on this auspicious day, men travel from Nandgaon to Barsana where they get chased by women with different colored Lathis.
Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
Date: Tuesday, 10 March 2020
The celebration of Flower Holi begins on Ekadashi one day prior to Holi. People celebrate Phoolon Wali Holi at the famous Banke Bihari Temple at Vrindavan. As the name suggests Phool, this type of Holi is all about different colored flowers spread all over the temple. The gate of the temple usually opens at 4 pm and people enjoy this Holi for a small time of 20-30 minutes, However, if you are planning to visit there you must visit the temple 2-3 hours before the gate opens.
Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan
Date: 10 March 2020
Vrindavan is a place where there are strict rules for widows. They were often banished from their homes and were forced to live in ashrams in Varanasi and Vrindavan. However, two years back a group of widows broke this stereotype by visiting the Pagal Baba Widow Ashram. Now, Widows play Holi at the Gopinath Temple every year irrespective of what the world thinks about them. The gate of the temple opens around 12 o clock in the afternoon and widows smear colors on each other’s faces and dance to the tunes of traditional Holi songs.
Vrindavan Mathura
It’s the normal type of Holi which Radha-Krishna used to play during their days. Men and Women drench themselves in different colors enjoying to the fullest. While men throw waters of different colors on women, in return women tear Men’s Kurtas to wipe themselves. This type of Holi is usually played in the houses after spending a day long in the streets of Mathura.
It is the last event of the Holi and is celebrated on the 5th day of Krishna Paksha. You can also call it the mixture of all events in which people completely get mad enjoying themselves in BHANG and enjoying the traditional Holi songs. It relates to five elements that the human body i.e earth, light, water, sky, and wind.
It’s a very special event held on the eve of Holi at Mathura. On this day, people worship the burning fire especially for the welfare of their children. This day is marked to remember how Holika sat in fire and this year it will be celebrated on 12 March 2020 in the evening. People also consider this day as the last day of winter and welcome summer by burning sticks and other wooden material.
It is the hub of Holi festivities in Vrindavan and begins one day prior to the main Holi celebrations. Banke Bihari temple is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The priest of the temple throws colors and holy water on the crowd. Moreover, people chant Krishna’s name together and enjoy the Holi celebration with unique and different colors. The doors of the temple open at 9 am and shut by 1.30 pm.
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