Braj Holi 2025 spans an impressive 40 days of celebrations across its entire region. This includes Holi in Barsana, Nandgaon, Vrindavan, and Mathura. Beginning on February 3rd with Basant Panchami and concluding on March 22nd with Rang Panchami, this festival honours Krishna's playful tradition of colouring Radha.
Holi in Barsana is the most vibrant celebration, famous for a unique ritual. During the Lathmar Holi in Barsana, women playfully beat men from neighbouring Nandgaon with sticks, bringing to life the ancient love story of Radha and Krishna. Whereas Holi in Vrindavan and Mathura continues the festivities with spectacular celebrations at Banke Bihari Temple, where devotees shower each other with flower-based colours while dancing to traditional music.
Let’s delve deep into the origin of celebrating Holi in Barsana, along with the dates 2025.
Suggested Read: Top 8 Holi Events In Gurgaon 2025
The Origin Of Barsana Holi
Krishna was born in Mathura and grew up in Vrindavan. When he was young, he complained to his mother that his friend Radha had fair skin while he was dark-skinned. His mother Yashoda suggested that he could playfully put colours on Radha's face.
After that, Krishna would travel from his village Nandgaon to Radha's village Barsana to playfully colour Radha and the other village girls (Gopis). The girls would teasingly hit him with sticks as part of their game. This playful act between Krishna and Radha became the tradition for the Holi festival celebrations we see today.
Holi Celebration In Barsana
During the Holi festival Barsana, men from Krishna's village (Nandgaon) visit Radha's temple in Barsana. The women of Barsana playfully hit the men with sticks as they try to reach the temple. If a man gets caught, he has to dress as a woman and dance. This fun event represents the playful relationship between Radha and Krishna. This fun Lathmar Holi in Barsana represents the playful relationship between Radha and Krishna.
The next day, the roles switch - men from Barsana go to Nandgaon where women wait with sticks for more playful "revenge."
Besides the playful hitting, people throw natural colours made from Kesudo and Palash flowers. These flowers grow in Jharkhand and Gujarat, and make colours that are gentle on the skin and perfect for the Holi festival.
Holi In Vrindavan And Mathura
The Holi festival continues for more than a week at the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. During this time, the idol of Bihariji (Lord Krishna) is dressed in white clothes and brought out where devotees can play Holi with it. People throw water and gulal (coloured powder made from flowers) at each other. Everyone gets wet with water and covered in colours while dancing to music.
Mathura Vrindavan Holi Dates
March 10, 2025: Phoolwalon Ki Holi & Rangbaharni Holi in Vrindavan’s Bankey Bihari Temple
March 11, 2025: Gokul Holi & Raman Reti Visit
March 13, 2025: Holika Dahan (Bonfire Night) at Dwarkadhish Temple Dola and Mathura Vishram Ghat, Banke Bihari Vrindavan
March 14, 2025: Dhulandi Holi in Vrindavan, Brij
