People are preparing to celebrate the ecstatic festival of colors, Holi, with their friends and family, which is arriving soon. I agree that the celebration of Holi is common in every part of the country, but one of the exceptional celebrations occurs in the divine land of Radha-Krishna, Braj which is located in the center of Vrindavan-Mathura. Let’s divulge in details about Braj Holi 2023.
The people of Braj start to play Holi a month before the actual day of Holi and enjoy the pastimes of Krishna and Radha Rani. In spite of that, it’s not enough for these people, they urge to play more and more.
The festival is the ‘Braj Ki Holi’ as the entire village of Braj Bhumi celebrates it. Here, the celebrations generally begin from Basant Panchami and extend till 2-3 days after the last day of Holi!
At this festival, people apply colors to each other’s faces, without having any hatred for each other. Also, the beat of Dholak and the chimes of Maziras are there for unforgettable moments.
Pickaari Ki Dhaar, Gulaal Ki Bauchaar,
Apno Ka Pyar, Yehi Hai Holi Ka Tyohaar !!
Are you feeling too excited while reading this? Planning to see and experience the real and traditional form of Holi celebrations? Contact any tour company for a tour package to Braj to get the magnificent experience of Braj Holi 2023.
Faag Amantran:
Brajbhoomi cheers up with the festivities of Holi as the Fagun Month arrives. The whole Braj region dances to the tunes of folk songs like ‘Holi Aayi Re Kanhaiya’ and ‘Faag khelan aaye hain Natwar Nand Kishore’.
On the Ashtami date of Shukla Paksha of Phalgun month, Radharani’s village Barsana sends invitation (fag amantran) to Lord Krishna’s village Nandgaon.
A maidservant from Barsana goes to Nand Bhawan in Nandgaon alongwith an invitation to play Holi. She reaches Nandgaon with perfume, flowers, betel leaf, gulal, prasad etc. in her pot, where she receives a grand welcome. The gulal that came in the Fag invitation goes to all the houses in Nandgaon. The importance of this Holi invitation is because only on this invitation, the Hurrayas of Nandgaon go to Barsana to play Holi, which is famous as Lathmar Holi.
Laddu’s Holi, Barsana:
Other than colors, Holi of laddoos is an exceptional event you can enjoy in Braj. Holi of laddoos falls on the Ashtami date of Shukla Paksha of Phalgun month. The culture of enjoying Holi with laddoos is prevalent from Dwapar Yuga.
There are many legends that connect with the celebration of Laddoo Holi. We will just let you do that research!
Lathmar Holi, Barsana:
Along with Holi of colors, Lathmar Holi is yet another festival full of zest and amusement. You can play it in Nandgaon, Barsana, Mathura, Vrindavan. A large no. of people from overseas come to Braj to see this Holi and experience Lathmar Holi. Lathmar Holi is performed on the Navami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Phalgun month in the city of Radharani, Barsana.
On this day, females of Barsana take up sticks or lathis and chase guys away from the area. This practice comes from the story of Lord Krishna, who one time visited Radha’s village to tease her and her friends.
At the time, gopis of the village took offense to this and chased him away with sticks. After the celebrations in Barsana, Lathmar Holi is celebrated in Nandgaon on the next day.
Holi of flowers and Rangbarni Holi:
At Lord Krishna’s birthplace, Mathura, Phool ki Holi or Rangbarni Holi takes place. Here, the idols of Radha-Krishna are served with stunning and freshly bloomed garlands. Local monks and dwellers solely use plant life and petals to play with every different at some stage in this Holi celebration.
It is believed that Lord Krishna used to begin enjoying Holi from this place. That’s why Holi in Braj started out with Holi of flowers in Ramanreti. Here Krishna and Radha are totally hidden under flowers
Gulal’s Holi for widows, Vrindavan:
Culturally, widows are devoid of any colours after their husband’s departure, mostly used to wear white sarees but on this auspicious day, they wear colours with their own will and also celebrates Holi with others. However, on this day, they get to defiant the rules of the preceding tradition. On this day, we see widows smearing gulal on one another and portraying each other with shade and liveliness.
Falain Panda (On Holika Dahan):
The victory of goodness over evil, celebrated in Phalen, Nandgaon and Barsana with the burning of the divine bonfire on full moon night.
It is generally carried out the night earlier than the Rangwali Holi.
Falain, positioned close to Mathura, is viewed to be the village of devotee Prahlad. Here even nowadays a Panda (priest) comes out from the center of the burning Holi on Holika Dahan, however the fireplace does not burn him. This miracle or we could say tradition has been observed right here for centuries via the Panda family of Falain. People gather from all over the world to see it. A fiesta is held in the village.
For this culture carried out during Holika Dahan, the member of the Panda household who has to cross from the burning Holi, leaves the residence a month in advance and begins residing in the temple. Staying there, he worships, chants mantras and fasts. Only after this Holika Dahan takes place. Burning Holi does not damage any panda, a large number of people from all over the country and the world attain Falain village to see this miracle.
Holi With Gulaal:
Just like the rest of the world, Mathura-Vrindavan will celebrate Rangwali Holi with vibrant organic gulal as it is generally made with flowers.
Huranga, Nandgaon:
Nowadays, every next temple celebrate its own Huranga but the most famous one is Dauji Gaav Huranga.
It is observed a day after the Holi of Gulaal. This is a slightly violent social gathering as it includes girls thrashing and stripping guys off their clothes. This exceptional ritual takes place in the courtyard of the temples. The practice is regarded to be a way for females to take revenge on guys for teasing them and playing pranks on them
For your information, alongside the Lunar and every now and then the Solar calendar, the actual date is sooner or later determined by way of the High Priests of the Hindu religion. Thus, keep your tour flexible for viable changes. Travel with a tour company for a worry-free and flexible Holi tour.
In the end I would like to provide you with this lovely shayari for Holi wishes….
Poornima Ka Chand, Rango Ki Doli,
Chand Se Uski, Chandni Boli,
Khusiyo Se Bharein, Aapki Jholi,
Mubarak Ho Apko Rang Birangi Holi !!