The festival of colours, Holi has its own hues
in the region of Brij, which comprises the city of Mathura and surrounding
places like Vrindavan, Gokul, Barsana, Dauji, Mahavan and Nandagaon. The Holi
festivities in Brij begin on Vasant Panchami and conclude with famous Huranga at Dauji temple on the
Dwitiya Tithi of Chaitra Krishna Paksha. These 40 days from Vasant Panchami to
Dauji Ka Huranga is known as Faag Mahotsava in Brij region.
This year’s Faag Mahotsava began on January 29 and will conclude on March 11. People from around the
world will flock these ancient towns of Brij to revel in the festivities of the
world-famous Lathmara Holi and Laddu Holi of Barsana and Huranga at Dauji
temple.
Not just these unique ways of playing the Holi,
but the use of organic and dry colours also set the Holi of Brij apart from that
of other parts in India. Yes, the temples in the Brij region use the organic
colour made from Tesu (Palash) flowers to play the Holi with their beloved Thakurji.
Additionally, huge quantities of dry colours called Gulal are procured from
across the country for the festival. The Holi festivities in Brij are
complemented with traditional Holi songs, called Holi Geet and Rasiya and are sung
in Brij Bhasha, a regional dialect of Hindi. Songs like Aaj
Biraj Mein Hori Re Rasiya, Hori
Khelan Aayo Shyam, Phag
Khelan Barsane Aaye Hain not just multiply the fervour of Holi but also
introduce visitors with the rich ancient culture of Brij region.
With the onset of Faag Mahotsava, temples in the
Brij region begin to offer Abeer-Gulal to Thakur Ji during their daily Puja and
Aarti. After each Aarti, this Sewit (offered) Gulal is thrown on devotees as
Prasad. Mind you, it is one the most anticipated events of the year in Brij,
and thousands of Krishna Bhakts arrive in there just to have themselves smeared
in the Prasadi Gulal of Thakur Ji. During
Faag Mahotsava, women folks are referred to as Huriyarin while men are
called Horiyare in Brij.
Holi Events during Faag Mahotsava
March 03 – Laddu Holi in Barsana
Shree Radha Rani Temple, also known as Ladliji
temple, in Barsana will host Laddu Holi on March 03. To mark the occasion, temple
priests will adorn the idol of Shree Radha Rani with beautiful attire and ornaments.
The official priests who are called Goswami in Brij region will sing Holi Geet
in Chhanda form depicting the playfulness of Radha-Krishna during the Holi
festival. In the evening around 5-6 pm, the fun of Laddu Holi will commence as
the thousands of attendees jamming the temple premises waiting for the event to
begin, will start throwing Besan Laddu, Boondi Laddu and Khoya Laddu on one
another. Devotees are advised to take Laddu with them for the occasion.
March 04 – Lathmar Holi in Barsana
Lathmar Holi will be played on March 04 in
Barsana. Prior to Lathmar Holi, people of Barsana play Rang and Gulal Holi in
the morning. Men are often clad in a colourful ensemble of traditional attire
which comprises headgear Pagadi, Kurta and Dhoti. Women wear Lahanga-Chunari.
After playing Holi with Rang and Gulal, men and women gather to play Lathmar
Holi. The celebrations start around 5 in the evening, where women beat men with
sticks and men defend themselves with a shield in their hand while singing Holi
Rasiya in Brij Bhasha. Lathmar literally translates into beating with sticks,
as Latha means stick and Mar means to beat.
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| Women beating men with wooden sticks during Lathamar Holi in Barsana |
How to reach Barsana
Barsana can be reached via Mathura by train
and air. Mathura is well-connected with the rest of India through rail network.
Nearest International airport to Mathura is Indira Gandhi International
Airport, Delhi while the nearest domestic airport to Mathura is Kheria airport
in Agra. Those who want to travel by road have several options. One can reach
directly to Nandagaon or Mathura and take local transport for Barsana.
March 05 – Lathmar Holi in Nandagaon
The
event of Lathmar Holi will be held in Nandagaon on March 05. Huriyarin, the
local word for women folks during Holi events, from Barsana village will visit Nandagaon
to play the famous Lathmar Holi with the men of Nandgaon, locally called as
Horiyare. The event will be held at Nanda Baba’s Raj Bhavan and Rangili Chowk
in Nandagaon. Everyone will revel in the festivities amid the beats of
traditional percussion and Holi songs called Rasiya.
How to reach Nandagaon
Nandagaon
can be reached via Mathura by train and air. Those who want to travel by road
will either get a direct bus to Nandagaon or can book a taxi. Another option
includes reaching Mathura first and then taking local transport from Mathura
for Nandagaon.
March 06 – Holi celebrations at Krishna Janmabhumi, Mathura
Amalaki
Ekadashi that falls just before Holika Dahan is commonly known as Rangabhari or
Rangbharani Ekadashi in Mathura. One of the major temples dedicated to Lord
Krishna, Janmabhumi or Krishna Janmabhumi temple will host grand Holi celebrations
on Rangbhari Ekadashi. Various cultural and religious events will be organized to
mark the occasion. Mahamandleshwar of the temple will officially begin the
celebrations by conducting special Puja and Aarti of Shree Radha-Krishna. Afterwards,
local artists will depict Holi of Radha-Krishna through various acts that also include
the famous Charkula dance of Brij. In the evening between 5 and 6, people from
across Brij region will play the famous Lathmar Holi in the temple premises. Clad
in traditional attire, a group of men and women from village Raval, the
birthplace of Shree Radha Rani will also reach Janmabhumi temple to participate
in the celebrations.
How
to reach Mathura
Mathura,
being an important religious destination is well-connected via road and rail
network with all the major cities of India. Those who wish to reach Mathura by
air will have options like Delhi and Agra airports. Nearest International
airport which is in Delhi is 147 km from Mathura while the nearest domestic
airport is Agra airport which is 49 km from Mathura.
March 06 – Phulonwali Holi at Banke Bihari temple, Vrindavan
On
Amalaki Ekadashi, locally known as Rangbhari Ekadashi, the world-famous temple
of Shree Banke Bihari Ji will host Phulonwali Holi. Devotees from across the
world will flock the ancient town of Vrindavan to play the Holi with Rang,
Gulal and flower petals with Lord Krishna. After the morning rituals and Sewa
at the temple, priests will smear devotees with the Prasadi Gulal of Shree
Banke Bihari Ji. In the evening, after 4:30 pm, temple priests will shower
flower petals and colour made from Tesu flowers from silver water guns on thousands
of people gathered for festivities to start.
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| Phulonwali Holi at Banke Bihari Ji temple, Vrindavan |
March 07 - Widow Holi in Vrindavan
One
of the ancient temples in Vrindavan, Shree Radha Gopinath temple will host Holi
event for the widows of Vrindavan. It should be noted that there are thousands
of widowed and abandoned women reside in the holy town of Vrindavan and lead a
life of a social recluse. The event will be organized by Sulabh International
Sansthan. This celebration is fast becoming popular and thousands of tourists
arrive in Vrindavan just to become part of this special event. The festivities
will start with the women offering flowers and Gulal to their beloved Thakur
Radha Gopinath. Following this, they will play Holi by showering flower petals
and splashing each other with the beautiful yellow colour made from Tesu
flowers. The celebrations will also include singing and dancing on traditional
Holi songs in Brij and Bengali languages.
*Widow Holi scheduled for March 07 has been cancelled in light of recent coronavirus threat.
Local
administration of Mathura will also host a Holi event for widows of Vrindavan
on March 04. This is the first time when such an event will be hosted by a
government body. The event Brij Rang Mahotsava will be held at Mahila
Ashraya Sadan, Chaitanya Vihar in Vrindavan. The Gulal that will be used to play the Holi
has been made by the women residents of the Mahila Ashraya Sadan by using the
discarded flowers procured from various temples.
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| Widows playing Holi in Vrindavan |
How
to reach Vrindavan
Train
travellers can reach Vrindavan via Mathura. People travelling from Delhi by
road can reach Vrindavan directly through Yamuna Expressway. Those who will be
travelling from Agra can reach Vrindavan via Mathura. Air travellers have two
flight options, Delhi and Agra.
March 07 – Chhadimar Holi in Gokul
While
Barsana and Nandagaon are famous for Lathmar Holi, the village of Gokul where
Lord Krishna spent his childhood has its own flavour of Holi – Chhadimar Holi.
The event will be organized at Nanda Chowk in Gokul where local men and women wearing
traditional attire will play Chhadimar Holi with one another. As women will try
to beat men with Chhadi (stick), men will defend themselves while singing folks
songs.
How
to reach Gokul
The
only option to reach Gokul is via Mathura whether you are travelling by air,
road or rail network.
March 09 – Holika Dahan
Like
other parts of India, the event of Holika
Dahan will be conducted on the Purnima of Phalguna Shukla Paksha. For Holika
Dahan, the wooden pyre will be worshipped by women in the morning. The pyre
then will be burnt in the evening as a symbolic burning of demoness Holika.
March 10 – Dhulandi
The
day following the Holika Dahan is called Dhulandi
or Rangwali Holi. On the day of Dhulandi, people will play Holi with each other
at their homes, Ashram and temples across the Brij region till noon. In temples,
Rangwali Holi will be played with Thakur Ji till Rajbhog Aarti.
March 11 – Dauji Ka Huranga
On
the Dwitiya Tithi of Chaitra Krishna Paksha, thousands of people will flock the
town of Duaji near Mathura to witness Holi festivities famously known as Dauji
Ka Huranga. Local men and women bring bucket and mug from their homes to splash
colours on one another. The colour made from Tesu flowers is stocked in huge quantities
in gigantic tanks for the occasion. The atmosphere becomes so charged up that women
tear up the shirts of men and use them to splash colour on men. During the
event, thousands of people throw water and colour on the Holi players from the temple
terrace. The event concludes with the Parikrama of Dauji.
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| Dauji ka Huranga |
How
to reach Dauji
The
only option to reach Dauji is via Mathura whether you are travelling by air,
road or rail network.
