Holi celebrations in Mathura & Vrindavan

Want to know how to make your Braj Ki Holi celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan stand out in 2023? Onward!

Almost time for the festival of colours! Holi has a special place in all of our hearts because of the sweet taste of coming home, the balloons filled with colours instead of air, and the big feast with family. And if you're looking for new ways to celebrate it this year, this blog is for you! Read on to learn more about this unique way that people in North India celebrate Holi.

We are talking about Mathura and Vrindavan, the places where Lord Krishna lived. Holi in Mathura is a great time for anyone who loves this festival. It is beautiful and fun for people to visit because of all the colours and chaos. Celebrations are still going on in Vrindavan and other nearby places, making it a fun event that lasts for more than a week. Holi is called Braj Ki Holi in Vrindavan, Mathura, Nandgaon, Barsana, and other nearby places.

Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, and Barsana are all in Braj. In each of these places, there is a story about Lord Krishna and his love for Radha. Lord Krishna was born in the city of Mathura, but he grew up in the city of Vrindavan. Radha, his wife, was from Barsana.

People come to these towns all year long to sing along with the bhajans and remember Lord Krishna's funny stories. But during the holiday of Holi, a lot of people visit these towns because they are holy places.

The origin tale of Braj ki Holi

The story goes that when Krishna was a child, he often told his mother Yashodha that he was too dark. On the other hand, Radha was honest. He used to throw colours at Radha to even out their skin tones because he was jealous of how fair she was. Krishna and his friends would go from their village, Nandgaon, to Barsana to playfully colour Radha and her friends. Because they didn't like what they did, the women drove them out of town with sticks or Lathis.

People in Barsana still tell this story and celebrate it as "Lathmar Holi" During Holi, the men of Nandgaon go to Barsana, where the women throw sticks at them. Men use shields to keep from getting hurt when they are hit. Some of the men dress up as women so they won't get hit with things. The people who live there take all the necessary safety measures to make sure no one gets hurt. People sing popular folk songs and dance to tell old stories in a way that has been done for generations.

The next day after the parties in Barsana, similar parties happen in Nandgaon. After spending a day taking in the colours of Nandgaon, devotees go to Vridanvan. A week-long Holi party is held at the Banke-Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. People use natural colours like gulaal, flowers, and kesar to play. People who love God dance to the bhajans and give each other sweets and dry fruits as gifts. You could hear people chanting "Shri Radha" and "Shri Krishna" everywhere as they drank the traditional Braj ki Holi drink, Thandai, and had fun.

Holi Celebrations at different places of Mathura and Vrindavan:

Banke Bihari temple, Vrindavan

People often play Holi with flowers, which is called Phoolwaalon ki Holi. You can do this at the Banke Bihari Temple. People who go to the temple get together to play with flower petals near the temple. This day's view is a feast for the eyes. Catch this one-of-a-kind party, which lasts about 30 minutes. Come to the temple around 4 p.m. to join in the festivities.

Mathura, Vishram Ghat

Vishram Ghat is where the Holi parade takes place. During this, young boys and girls dress up as Lord Krishna and Radha and ride on vehicles with the group of devotees taking part in the procession. People sing and dance as they get covered in paint. Around 3 p.m., the parade starts at Vishram Ghat.

Huranga

After Holi, go to Huranga, which is about 30 km from Mathura. The party starts here at about 12:30. Expect a crazy party near the Daoji temple, where men will be stripped and hit to imitate Lathmar Holi. When you come here, you might be able to jump in the temple pond of colours.

Holi celebration in Braj

Shun taboo at Pagal Baba Widow Ashram

During Holi, you can go to this ashram to see widowed women playing with colours, which goes against the old belief that widows shouldn't wear colours. This is a strong and forward-thinking step that will help women have a better future.

Shop at the local shops. Handmade jewellery, idols, and other items are available.

In the shops and markets of Mathura and Vrindavan, you can find a lot of old things. Shop at Holygate, Lal Bazaar, and Krishnanagar Market when you're in Mathura. The shops in the area are decorated for Holi.

Do something nice for your taste buds

Try some of the tasty street food in Braj. Chaat, Samosa, and Kachori are some of the most well-known snacks in the area. Make sure to try the famous Makhan-Mishri in front of any of the big temples.

Braj Bhoomi: The land of Lord Shri Krishna

According to mythological tales, the regions of Braj is where Lord Krishna grew up. Some of the popular locations of Braj Bhoomi are –

Maan Mandir

This temple is on top of the Maan Garh hill. From what the stories say, this is where Lord Krishna talked to his beloved Radha when she was mad at him. Visit the temple early in the morning or late at night to hear the prayers of the gods. Help them with their "Daily Prasad Seva," where people give out "prasad." Locals will tell you about the divine love story of Lord Krishna, and you can buy souvenirs to bring a piece of the holy land back with you.

Mor Kutir Mandir

The holy Mor Kutir Mandir is another temple dedicated to the love of Radha and Krishna. Devotees visit this temple a lot all year long. On the grounds, you will see a lot of peacocks. People say that peacocks get together to celebrate Radha and Krishna's love. Nearby shops are known for their sarees and other items that are hand-woven.

Rangeeli Mahal

Rangeeli Mahal, which opened in 1996, is one of the best things to do in Barsana. There are beautiful gardens and peaceful waterfalls on the grounds of the palace. People say that Radha used to live here about 5,000 years ago. Don't forget to go to Kirti Mandir, which is close to Rangeeli Mahal and is dedicated to Radha's glory. Outside the palace, at Shri Radha Chaat Bhandar Shop, you can try the famous chaat of Barsana.

Nand Bhawan

Lord Krishna's foster parents, Nand and Yashoda, are only worshipped at Nand Bhavan. At the top of the Nandishwar Hills is where the temple is. The temple is also known as the Chaurasi Khamba temple because it is held up by 84 pillars. Hindu scriptures say that there are 84 million different kinds of living things in the world.

Braj Bhoomi's most popular foods

If you go to Braj, you should try the "Bhog" that is served in temples all over the cities. "Mathura ke Pede" is a well-known sweet made with milk, khoya, and cardamom. This sweet is available everywhere in Mathura. Chana Chiwda, Moong Dal ke Pakode, Kachori Sabzi and Jalebi, Malai Lassi, and Thandai are some other dishes you can't miss.

How to get there

Join this year's Braj Ki Holi celebrations! Mathura is only 12 km from Barsana-Nandgaon. Here's how you can get to these places –

By Air:

The nearest airport is the Agra Airport, which is about 60 km from Mathura. You could also fly to Delhi and then take a train or bus to Mathura. The airport is almost 172 km away, in Delhi. From the Delhi airport, you can book a taxi that will take you to any part of the Braj region.

By Rail:

Mathura has good rail connections to the major cities. Mathura is where you can find the closest train station.

By Road:

There are many roads that lead to the holy pilgrimage in the Braj region. From any big city, it's easy to book a taxi to Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, or Barsana.

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