What are some famous festivals in Mathura?

There is a list of famous festivals in mathura: Janmashtami, Holi (Nandgaon Lathmar Holi, Widows Holi), Braj Yatra In Mathura, Govardhan Puja,Radhashtami,Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra Mathura.

When is the best time to experience festivals in Mathura?

To experience the ideal time to visit Mathura is during Krishna Janmashthami (August/September) and Holi (March). However, keep in mind that the city’s have a flood of tourists during these festivals, so be prepared for the crowd.

Are there any iconic festivals unique to Mathura?

Holi, the festival of colours, holds a special significance in Mathura, a city nestled in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, India. Known as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura’s Holi celebrations are steeped in history, tradition, and vibrant culture.

How can I find out about upcoming festivals in Mathura?

You can check on Google about upcoming festivals in Mathura before planning your trip. However, some are Jagannath Rath Yatra, Janmashtami, Radha Ashtmi, and many more.

A Guide To The Most Famous Festivals in Mathura.

It is home to some of the world’s most amazing sites. According to legend, it was here that Lord Krishna spent his childhood 5000 years ago. Lord Krishna’s pastimes like stealing butter, killing various demons, lifting Govardhan, dancing with the gopis under the moonlight are described in folklore. There are so many famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura. Explore more like these attraction spots in India with our India Travel Packages.

You can encounter wide festivals to enjoy in Mathura. There are many ancient temples and places to visit in Mathura Vrindavan. The Yamuna River that Krishna sported in, is a witness to his eternal love for the residents of Braj. It is just a quiet weekend getaway from Delhi.

Popular festivals to celebrate in Mathura

1. Janmashtami Celebrations in Vrindavan

Janmashtami is one of the popular festivals to celebrate in Mathura. It is the festival celebrating the appearance day of Lord Krishna. It is one of the most important festivals in Vrindavan. Janmashtmi is the best Mathura festivals and cultural events. This is one of the best festivals in Mathura. It is amongst the popular festivals to attend while in Mathura. While revealing famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura, devotees observe a day-long fast and throng temples throughout the night. During the celebration a ceremony known as ‘Abhishek’ where the Lord Krishna is bathed with various items like honey, milk, curd, fruit juices and scented waters. Then Krishna is kept on a beautifully decorated swing and all the devotees take turns to swing him. It is one of the best festivals in Mathura. At midnight, crowds participate in the arati of Krishna’s appearance by participating in kirtans by singing and dancing. Then prasad is distributed to devotees who then break their fast. The celebrations reflect Vrindavan’s eternal devotion to their most beloved Krishna.

2. Holi in mathura

Holi is a festival of colour which is also one of the best festivals in Mathura, the most significant historical place in India. It is celebrated as the festival of the end of sorrow and happiness entering into life. This is one of the most popular festivals to celebrate in Mathura and the nearby areas of the city such as Brij, Barsana, Nandgaon, etc. If you are looking for festivals to enjoy in Mathura, then this is the best festival. It is amongst the popular festivals to attend while in Mathura. The celebration of this festival is carried out in a traditional style and several cultural activities are performed during this festival. There is a difference in the way of celebration of Holi in Mathura and in the other parts of India. It is known for the “lathmar Holi”. It is situated about 50 kilometres northwest of Agra, the city renowned for its offbeat places.

This is the most famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura, a colourful day in the city where the streets and people are covered by colours. Holi is amongst the best Mathura festivals and cultural events. In this festival several events are conducted which includes devotional songs, dramas that are carried out in a traditional way.

3. Sharad Purnima

Sharad Purnima is one of the important and most popular festivals to celebrate in Mathura. It is a harvest festival that marks the end of the monsoon and the beginning of Kartik month. It is one of the best festivals in Mathura. The Deities in all the temples of Vrindavan are decorated in moon-white coloured robes on this auspicious day. Devotees sing melodious bhajans composed by great Acharyas on rasa lila and other intimate pastimes of Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna.

4. Radhastami

This is the day when Lord Krishna’s eternal consort, Srimati Radharani appeared on this Earth. If you are looking for festivals to enjoy in Mathura, then this is the one. It is amongst the popular festivals to attend while in Mathura. This important and famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura is celebrated with great fervour in Vrindavan. The Deities of Sri Sri Radha Krishna are given a festive bath with milk, yoghurt, honey and rose water amidst Kirtans and Vedic chants. Their clothing and ornaments are carefully decorated with fresh flowers. Throughout the day, melodious kirtans glorify Their divine pastimes. This is one of the most popular festivals to celebrate in Mathura.

5. Govardhan Puja

This is the auspicious day when Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill to protect the residents of Braj from the wrath of Lord Indra. Lakhs of people come to do parikrama of Govardhan on this day. If you are looking for festivals to enjoy in Mathura, then this is the best festival.

After the puja, arati and parikrama, the prasadam is distributed to all. The festivities culminate in kirtans and a feast served to all devotees.

6. Karthik Utsav

This is one of the best festivals in Mathura. It is amongst the popular festivals to attend while in Mathura. A special prayer known as the “Damodarastakam” is offered to Lord Damodara (baby Krishna) throughout the month. Several plays are performed in the temples showcasing Krishna’s childhood pastimes. In the evenings, cultural programs like kirtans are held on street corners and temple grounds. Every year during Kartik, Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir celebrates a boat festival on the river Yamuna. Where the Lord is taken on a boat on river Yamuna surrounded by all His devotees in various boats. This is one of the famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura.

7. Deepavali in Mathura

This is one of the most popular festivals to celebrate in Mathura. If you are looking for festivals to enjoy in Mathura, then this is the one. It is amongst the popular festivals to attend while in Mathura. It is amongst the most famous festivals celebrated in India. This festival is the biggest festival of Hindus all across the country and among the famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura. It is the festival of lights where all the streets, houses and temples are lightened. Sweets are distributed within friends, relatives and neighbours. This is one of the best festivals in Mathura. It is the festival of victory and happiness entering life.. Personal disputes are ignored.

8. Guru Purnima in Mathura

Guru Purnima is celebrated in the form of offering prayers to their gurus. Gurus are the teachers who teach all the aspects of life and shape our future. Therefore, they are the people who should be worshipped in the same pattern as God. Besides famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura, this festival is celebrated on purnima between the months of June and July. This day is a crowded day where pilgrims offer prayers along with taking parikrama of Govardhan hill.

9. Braj Yatra in Mathura

This yatra is also celebrated in the form of a festival. Braj Yatra takes around 50 days and is celebrated in Mathura. This is one of the best festivals in Mathura. This is one of the most popular festivals to celebrate in Mathura. If you are looking for festivals to enjoy in Mathura, then this is the best festival. This is held just after the famous festival of Janmashtami. This holy Yatra is believed to relieve people from their sins and is one of the famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura. This yatra is known as the Chaurasi kos which is 84 kos and covers nearby areas of Mathura including 25 groves, 12 vans, hill of Govardhan, river Yamuna, etc. It occurs in the month of Bhadon which includes heavy rain which adds special charm to the yatra.

10. Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra Mathura

This festival is the greatest entertaining festival where several activities are performed during the Rath Yatra. It is one of the important and most popular festivals to celebrate in Mathura. It starts by the devotional songs and then the ritual way of commencing the Rath Yatra from the temple to the city and then back to the temple. On the way devotees contribute in the rath journey in which the idols of Jagannath along with Lord Balbhadra and Goddess Subhadra are carried out. This is one of the best festivals in Mathura. It is amongst the popular festivals to attend while in Mathura.

If you are looking for festivals to enjoy in Mathura, then this is the best festival. The preparation of rath takes several months to be completed and efforts are made to make it better than the previous years. On the way several songs, dramas are carried out.

11. Basant Panchmi

It is the festival of enjoyment which occurs at the time of Basant. At the celebration of this festival the idols of Lord Krishna are decorated and dressed in traditional and ritual pattern, they are covered with yellow dress as per the environment and the temple is also decorated with yellow and different other flowers and ornaments. If you are looking for festivals to enjoy in Mathura, then this is the best festival. This yellow colour is the specification of the festival along with special dishes and sweets such as kheer, yellow rice and other dishes which are specially prepared in yellow colour. This is the time when most pilgrims visit this city to explore famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura and enjoy the pleasant monsoon. It is amongst the popular festivals to attend while in Mathura.

12. Kansa Vadh

Image Source : Adotrip”

During this festival there are special dramas conducted which are based on the killing of Kansa (the maternal uncle of Krishna) by Krishna. There is a biggest fair which is conducted where people visit to see the dramatical representation of the act. It occurs on the 10th day of Shukla Pakchha in Kartik month.

13. Maha Shivratri in Mathura

This festival is related to the Hindu Lord Shiva, which is celebrated on the 13th night of Maagha as per Hindu calendar. It is amongst the popular festivals to attend while in Mathura. It is the day when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati get married. Special prayers and aartis are offered whole night by the pilgrims and activities of the marriage are the centre of attraction. If you are looking for festivals to enjoy in Mathura, then this is the best festival. It is one of the important and most popular festivals to celebrate in Mathura.

14. Gopashtami

In this festival cows are worshipped in every temple of Mathura. This is the day when Krishna became an independent cowherd during his childhood. It is celebrated in the month of Kartik. It is amongst the popular festivals to attend while in Mathura.

Explore the Spiritual Essence of Mathura

While festivals provide a vibrant introduction to Mathura and Vrindavan’s spiritual landscape, Vrindavan Packages encourage you to delve deeper. Mathura is one of the oldest and offbeat places to visit in India. Throughout the year, we offer a variety of immersive experiences, including:

Temple Darshan: Celebrates the Mathura festivals and cultural events of the temples of Mathura and Vrindavan, including Banke Bihari Temple, Govind Dev Temple, Radha Raman Temple, and Iskcon Temple.
Yamuna River Aarti: Witness the mesmerising evening aarti ceremony performed on the banks of the Yamuna River while covering the famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura. Particularly in the evenings, the ethereal sounds of hymns and devotional songs fill the air during sandhya aarti (evening prayer ceremonies).
Vrindavan Parikrama: Embark on a sacred walk through Vrindavan, visiting significant landmarks associated with Lord Krishna’s life.
Spiritual Retreats: Immerse yourself in yoga, meditation, and discourses led by experienced teachers.
Aarti: Daily aarti (prayer ceremonies) are a cornerstone of religious life here. Witness the mesmerising aarti at ISKCON temple.
Bhajan and Kirtan: Bhajans and kirtans (devotional singing) are vibrant expressions of faith.
Katha: Throughout Vrindavan, spiritual discourses or kathas are held, where learned scholars delve into scriptures and stories related to Lord Krishna and Radha.
Guru Purnima: This annual event honours spiritual teachers and gurus.
Chhath Puja: Celebrated primarily by people from Bihar, Chhath Puja involves offering prayers and obeisance to the Sun God, Surya, near water bodies like the Yamuna River.

Conclusion

To conclude on famous festivals to celebrate in Mathura, Mathura Vrindavan is made vibrant and colourful by the festival celebrations that take place throughout the year in respect of Lord Krishna. While exploring these festivals, don’t miss to check the local food of Mathura. There are so many photography spots in Mathura, do check that as well. You will be amazed to see the warm hospitality of local people. Every single festival will bring you closer to lord Krishna and Indian mythology.

So! Hurry Up and plan your trip today to explore more amazing festivals.

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A Comprehensive Guide to Famous Festivals to Celebrate in Mathura