Holi days in Braj bhoomi

Head to Mathura and Vrindavan to experience the traditional fervour and appeal of Holi just like it used to be celebrated during the time of Lord Krishna

With spring in the air, can the festival of colour and mischievousness be far behind? Holi continues to capture the imagination of the West (most recent case being Pop singer Ke$ha's music video Take It Off, where people throw colour powder on each other). We decided to re-visit the roots of this festival in Mathura (Uttar Pradesh).


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The spring festival is celebrated with gusto in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Known to be natkhat (naughty), Lord Krishna is also believed to have initiated the festival. According to a legend, when Lord Krishna was a young boy, he wondered about the dark colour of his skin since Radha was quite fair. His mother, Yashoda, humoured him by saying that if he smeared colour on her face, he could change her complexion to any colour he wanted and thus, the festival of Holi originated.

This Holi (March 20), you can become Lord Krishna, Radha and the gopis (cowgirls) for a day by celebrating Holi at Mathura and Vrindavan (Lord Krishna played pranks over the gopis in its forests). In Mathura and Vrindavan, week-long celebrations are held to celebrate Holi. Visit the Banke Bihari temple at Vrindavan.

Built in 1864, this temple is one of the most revered Vaishnavite shrines and on Holi, the wentire town comes out to celebrate the festival painting the landscape in bright colours. During your visit, you can listen to folk songs (Hori) and watch enactments of the legends of Radha and Krishna (Raas-Lila).

If you like more action and can spare a week in Mathura, reach Barsana by March 14. Here, witness the Lathmar Holi tradition where women beat up men with lathis (sticks) amidst chanting of Holi songs in the background. It is done to celebrate the legend that says Lord Krishna paid a visit to his beloved Radha's village and teased her friends leading to the womenfolk chasing him away.u00a0

If all this revelry tires you, sip on cool Thandai, a milk-based drink best associated with the festival. A word of caution, this drink might be laced with intoxicating bhang!

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