Holi Calendar of Braj, Mathura

The Holi celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan would be on their peak from today. Holashtak have started and it marks the beginning of eight days Holi festivity in Braj region. Braj, which is also spelled as Brij, consists of Barsana, Baldev, Govardhan, Gokul, Nandgaon, Vrindavan and Mathura.

Foreign visitors and local devotees throng temples to watch Holi celebrations which are organized by care takers of these temples. Devotees can watch most of the major Holi celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan as they don’t overlap with each other.

Lathmar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon during 2012

These are the famous events with dates during Holi celebrations 

20^th March, 2013 – Laddu Holi of Barsana

21^st March 2013 – Lathmar Holi of Barsana

22^nd March 2013 – Lathmar Holi of Nandgaon

23^rd March 2013 – Holi of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi, Mathura

26^th March 2013 – Holi at Dwarkadheesh Temple, Mathura

29^th March 2013 – HoliHuranga at Baldev 

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Why Holika is worshipped?

Why Holika, a demoness, is worshipped on Holi? It is quite mysterious to worship Holika during Holi. Even no religious book has detailed explanation of worshipping Holika.

However in Narada Purana, Holika Dahan is mentioned which informs us about worshipping Holika and burning it with woods while singing songs.

It is written in Narada Purana "Some foolish or childish people, due to constant fear of blood sucking demons, created Holika. Hence, I worship you and seek power, wealth and prosperity for myself. Holika is a demoness and she scares Prahalad. Hence we burn her with wood and music. Burning of Holika is also symbolic of burning the year as well as sexual desires."

Women worshiping Holika during Holi Pujan

In the beginning Holika was protective as she was created to ward off all fears. She was symbol of power, wealth and prosperity and could bestow those to her worshippers. However she became harmful and fearsome when she tried to immolate devotee Prahalad. Hence Holika was burnt to ward off any further trouble.

Many scholars give their own explanation of word Holika and reason to worship her. Most of those interpretations zero down to burn evil even if it has power of doing good.

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Phulera Dooj Holi at Radha Vallabh

Today, on 13th March, Phulera Dooj was celebrated at Radha Vallabh temple in Vrindavan. Lord Krishna starts playing Holi with dry colors from the day of Phulera Dooj. Holi with dry colors i.e. with Abeer and Gulal continues till Ranga Bharani Ekadashi and after that Holi with wet colors starts.

Phulera Dooj Holi at Radha Vallabh - 13th March

On the day of Phulera Dooj, Gulal is bundled in a cloth and tied to the waist of Lord Krishna. Devotees throng to the temple to sight Lord Krishna with bundle to Gulal tied to His waist. The deity of Lord Krishna is adorned with white dress. This special sighting of Lord Krishna is available in the evening during Sandhya Aarti.

It should be noted that the Gulal is not tied in front of devotees but during the Shringar which is done behind closed doors. Radha Vallabh is one the famous and ancient temple of Vrindavan which celebrates Holi with all rituals.

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2013 Shivaratri Celebrations

On 10^th March Maha Shivaratri was celebrated all over India. On Shivaratri day devotees visited Shiva temple and perform Shiva Abhishekam with milk and water. The holy items like Bilva leaves, Bel fruit, Dhatura and white flowers of Aak, which pleases Lord Shiva, were offered to Shiva Linga on the auspicious day of Shivaratri.

Most Shiva devotees kept one day fast on Shivaratri as it is considered the most significant day dedicated to Lord Shiva. Since early morning there was huge crowd in most Shiva temples. There were long serpentine queues of devotees waiting for their turn to perform Shiva Abhishekam.

Serpentine queues of devotees waiting for Shiva Pooja

In small towns, devotional songs of Lord Shiva were played throughout the day on loud speakers. At many places including Shri Krishna temple at Janmabhoomi, Shiva Barat was organized through street procession as Maha Shivaratri is also believed to be the marriage anniversary of Lord Shiva.

Many ladies, who recently delivered a baby boy or got married, visited Shiva temple on Maha Shivaratri day as a gesture of thanksgiving to Lord Shiva. This ritual of thanksgiving is famously known as Jehar (जेहर) in north India. Thousands of Jehar ceremonies were performed with street procession along with Bandbaja and close relatives.

Devotees doing Pooja and Abhishek with the milk and water

Temples were open throughout the night to perform midnight Pooja and to observe night vigil in honor of Lord Shiva. The fast would be broken on next day after sunrise. Many families would perform must do Khappar Pooja (खप्पर पूजा) before having the first meal of the day.

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Shiva Barat | Shivji Ki Barat

Many religious institutes organize street procession which recreates the scene of Lord Shiva going to marry Goddess Parvati. This street procession is famously known as Shiva Barat or Shivji Ki Barat. However Shiva Barat is less common than that of Rama Barat.

Lord Shiva during Shivji ki Barat on Maha Shivaratri, Mathura

In Mathura, during the auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri, Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi trust takes the procession of Lord Shiva throughout the city with Bandbaja. It is believed that on the auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri Lord Shiva got married to Goddess Parvati and this day is celebrated as marriage anniversary of Lord Shiva. However, Maha Shivaratri is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Shiva when Lord Shiva was first appeared on the Earth in the form of Linga.

Shiva Barat has been described in the Shiva Purana and the procession is depicted according to that description. Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma apart from God Indra participate in Shiva Barat. Lord Shiva mounts on the Nandi bull and followed by all sorts of ghost and spirits who are controlled by Lord Shiva.

Nandi and other Ganas of Shiva dancing during Shiva Barat, Mathura

Shiva Barat is considered unique and strange due to ghosts and spirits participating in that as family members of Shiva. Participation of such deadly and fearsome entities in a wedding ceremony can be seen only in Shiva Barat.

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Holi with Tesu ke Phool

Due to public awareness on harmful effects of chemicals and their hazards on human life, many people avoid products which are made of chemicals. Use of organic Ganesha during Ganesha Chaturthi is one of the examples of public awareness.

When it comes to colors which are used on Holi, there is less awareness to avoid harmful chemical colors and to use herbal colors. The history of Holi goes back to thousands of year and it was already in vogue during the time of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna only added to its glory by playing it with Radha Rani and other female cowherds of Barsana.

Hindus were playing Holi with red and green colors even when the red of Mercury Sulfate (HgSO₄) and green of Copper Sulfate (Cu₂SO₄) were unheard of. Since Vedic time people were playing Holi with herbal colors. Most temples in Braj region use natural color to play Holi. Tesu is one of the most commonly used flowers to create natural color.

Tesu (टेसू) is the Kesar color flower of Palash(पलास) tree. The trees of Palash are easily found all over India and its parts are used in various products and herbal medicines. However it is popularly known for its flowers which are used to extract yellow color during Holi.

It is believed that Lord Krishna used to play Holi with Tesu flowers and hence most Krishna temples in Mathura and Vrindavan use them to play Holi. Tesu flowers are soaked in warm water one day before of Holi. On the next day the concoction is used to play Holi. Usually, the rose water, Chandan, Kesar and scents are added to the concoction.

There is custom to throw wet colors on devotees who visit temples on Holi. If you are blessed with that scented yellow color while you visit the temple then most probably it would be the concoction of Tesu.

Tesu flowers are easily available at various grocery shops which sell other herbs and spices. Tesu flowers cost around Rs. 50-70 per kilogram.

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Maha Shivaratri Puja Vidhi

Most of the people observe fast on Maha Shivaratri. The way fasting is observed has been changed with the time. The way Puja procedure has been suggested in religious texts is hardly followed during Shivaratri.

In current form of Puja Vidhi, devotees visit Shiva temples early in the morning. Most people finish Shiva Linga Puja before noon as most temples are closed after that in preparation of evening Darshan.  Most Shiva temples open in the evening only for the Darshan and not for the Puja activities. In the morning devotees perform Abhishek with milk and water and offer different items to the Shiva Linga including Bilva leaves, Bliva fruit and Dhatura. 

Many people distribute sweet beverage laced with Bhang in the form of Prasad. Bhang, which is made of cannabis plant, is easily accepted in the society as the offering from Lord Shiva. 

Most devotees observe full day fast on the diet of fruits and juices. Usually people don’t mind to have single fasting meal in the evening. On the next day of Maha Shivaratri, the food which specially includes plain rice and yellow curry made of gram flour is offered to the deity of Lord Shiva and after that it is given to some Baba known as Bham Bole who symbolically represents the Lord Shiva. Only after this offering family members can have the food. 

It explains how Maha Shivaratri is celebrated and known by most of the Indians. However there is another strict Vidhi which has been suggested in most religious books and can be read at Maha Shivaratri Puja Viddhi as described in religious texts. 

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