Holi will be celebrated on 18th March 2024 across the country. It is one of those festivals where people come together to enjoy their time and express their love for each other. But when it comes to celebrating holi in the grandest way, then there are certain names that pop in our heads. These cities have the best ways of celebrating the festival of colors. At least we have that thought in our minds, right?
But there is a proven fact that Vrindavan, Mathura, and Barsana are the three major cities where one can enjoy the sight of the best celebration of this festival. So, let’s have a look at the amazing things about Holi in these cities and more about it. So, if you want to celebrate the festival in the grandest way- head to any of these places and enjoy your heart out.
A brief about Holi and its celebration
Holi is one of the first national festivals celebrated across the country in the month of March. This festival is celebrated with a lot of zeal and it marks the beginning of the spring season. Choti Holi which is also known as Holika Dahan is celebrated a day before the main event. This day is considered the end of the winter season according to the Hindu Calendar.
The festival is celebrated on the occasion of Phalgun Purnima falls in the third month of the calendar. Moreover, the festival of colors is also considered to be an indication of victory of good over evil. There are several ways by which people celebrate this festival. And we have listed down a few of many amazing ways for you.
Types of Holi celebrated in Vrindavan, Barsana, and Mathura
If you are planning on celebrating your holi this year in the best way possible then these are the three destinations where you should be heading for. Not only will these places give you an amazing time but also allow you to understand how great it feels to celebrate the festival in multiple ways other than what we did all these past years.
So here are 7 different types of Holi celebrations that are witnessed in these three cities.
1. Holika Dahan
This is the initial day which is also known as the Holika Dahan is the day when people burn a few things like wheat hair, dal and gur.
In different places, there are different things that people do and it is in accordance with their beliefs. The fire that is placed at multiple places symbolises the win of good over evil.
2. Dhulandi Holi
Mathura and Vrindavan celebrate Holi for at least a week and this celebration is grand. Dhulandi Holi is one of the most famous ways of celebrating the event. People from a lot of places have also started celebrating this way.
In Dhulandi Holi close to 10 vehicles are decorated with colorful flowers and processions are carried after that. Some kids are dressed up in Krishna and Radha and they are made to stand or sit on these vehicles. People bow in front of these kids as they resemble Lord Krishna and Radha Rani.
3. Lathmar Holi
Lathmar Holi is one of the most ancient ways of celebrating this festival in Barsana and Vrindavan. In this holi, the men of Vrindavan have a shield (usually made of wood) and women from Barsana have Lath (a beating thick stick).
This holi was initially played between these two cities only because Krishna was from Vrindavan and Radha from Barsana. This way of celebration shows the bond between the two.
4. Phoolon Wali Holi
On the occasion of Ekadashi that falls right before Holi, “Phoolon Wali Holi” is played in Bankey Bihari Temple that’s located in Vrindavan. In this celebration, there is no use of water, color, or anything other than flowers. Therefore, this is how it gets its name.
Phoolon wali holi is a very grand festival and people from around the city and many other parts of the country visit here to enjoy the festival. It is also played with a lot of zeal by the Bhakts.
5. Widow’s Holi
Vrindavan is a religious and pious place and probably amongst the ancient cities of India. There are still a lot of rules followed by the city people that were applicable way before. Even today, widows are supposed to wear white clothes all the time and are supposed to stay away from any kind of make or color.
This widow’s holi is one such festival where these women have all the liberty to fill their hearts and hands in colors. They have no restrictions and they can enjoy the colors of their life. This is a single-day event where women play with colors amongst each other in closed premises. The venue is decided before the event and timings are also allotted at the same time.
6. Rang Panchami
This is the actual holi that we all play in different cities of India. Rang Panchami is the type of holi where people play with colors and only dry colors.
The introduction of water is not done during the event. Vrindavan, Mathura, Barsana, and other neighboring cities enjoy playing this holi throughout the day painting temples, streets, ashrams, and ghats in different colors.
7. Huranga Holi
Huranga Holi is another way of celebrating this festival. Huranga Holi is celebrated in a small temple which is 30 km away from Mathura named Dauji Temple. This holi is celebrated one day after the actual holi celebration. On this day, men are stripped of their clothes and colored inside out by women but men can’t do the same.
The two choices they have include either running away to save themselves or simply sitting down and letting whatever happens. This type of Holi was celebrated approximately 500 years ago for the first time when the Krishna Temple was established in the region.
Best Places to Celebrate Holi Festival in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana
Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana come to life for approximately 10 days, and all these cities have multiple places where you can go and enjoy the different types of Holi.
But if you still want the location, then here are some places where you should not miss the celebration. Usually, the celebration takes place throughout the day so you can visit multiple places, except for the venue of Widow holi.
- Banke Bihari Temple
- Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
- Dwarkadheesh Temple
- Vishraam Ghat
- Gita Mandir
See Also: Best place to celebrate Holi in India
Conclusion
There are still a lot of things that can only be enjoyed or experienced while being at any of the above-mentioned places. If you want to enjoy Holi at its best then heading to any of the above-given places is going to be the right thing for you. So, make an itinerary and head to the locations you wish to celebrate your kind of holi. Just make sure, you are here a couple of days ahead of Holika Dahan. And if you want to be a part of Phoolon Wali Holi then you will have to refer to the Hindu Calendar for knowing the day of Ekadashi. Because that’s the day when it is celebrated!
