Holi is a festival of colours, it is a festival of unity. Whether it is the playful combat of Lathmar Holi, the devotional celebration in Vrindavan or the modern citywide festivities, Holi breaks down barriers. For one day, differences fade away and people come together in laughter and celebration.
In a world often divided by differences, Holi serves as a reminder of shared joy and togetherness. The act of applying colour on someone is a playful gesture; it is an acceptance, a moment of unity. Strangers become friends, old grievances are set aside and for those few hours, life is lived in its most carefree and joyous form.
Beyond the festivities, Holi holds deep cultural and religious significance. It symbolises the victory of good over evil, with the Holika Dahan on the eve of Holi marking this victory. The festival also signifies the arrival of spring, a time of renewal and joy. While Holi is celebrated across India in different ways, the traditions of Braj, especially in Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon, are among the most vibrant and unique.
Lathmar Holi
Holi in Barsana and Nandgaon, two villages in Uttar Pradesh, is unlike anywhere else. Here, the festival takes on a unique and playful form known as Lathmar Holi, where women chase men with sticks while the men protect themselves with shields. It is a spectacle that draws thousands of visitors each year, blending tradition with festivity in a way that is both energetic and deeply rooted in local culture.
The sounds of dhols filling the air as colours flow in every direction. The energy is surreal.
According to ancient tradition a week before the main Holi celebrations, men from Nandgaon visit Barsana. As they enter the village, they are welcomed with colours, teasing and, most famously, stick. The women of Barsana, dressed in traditional attire, await them with lathis (sticks) in hand, ready to chase them away in a playful mock battle. The men, armed with shields, try to dodge the blows, but many willingly surrender, laughing and embracing the spirit of the festival.
The next day, the women of Barsana visit Nandgaon, continuing the celebration on the men’s home ground. The entire event is accompanied by traditional folk songs and the beating of dhols, with chants of “Shri Radhe!” and “Jai Kanha!” filling the air.
While it may seem intense to an outsider, Lathmar Holi is all in good fun, a symbolic exchange rather than a true battle. It represents the spirited playfulness that defines Holi in this region, where joy, music and community come together in a festival unlike any other.
Vrindavan Holi
A short distance from Barsana and Nandgaon, Vrindavan is home to one of the most visually stunning Holi celebrations. Here, Holi is an expression of devotion.
At the Banke Bihari Temple, the celebrations begin days in advance, with priests and devotees showering each other with gulal and flower petals. Unlike the lively Lathmar Holi, the atmosphere here is more devotional. The temple doors open and the deity of Krishna is brought closer to the devotees, as if participating in the celebrations. Pilgrims sing bhajans, dance in joy and immerse themselves in a Holi that is deeply spiritual.
I personally had the pleasure to experience Holi in Vrindavan couple of years back and it was about colours, it felt like a blessing. The temple was packed, but at the temple there was this beautiful sense of harmony. When the petals started falling from above, it was almost surreal. I remember everyone around me had their hands raised, singing, completely lost in the moment. It was Holi, but in the purest, most peaceful form.
As locals and visitors immerse themselves in a tradition that has been carried forward for generations.
One of the most mesmerising aspects of Vrindavan’s Holi is the Phoolon Ki Holi, the Holi of flowers, where instead of coloured powders; fragrant flower petals fill the air. The sight of thousands of petals raining down in the temple premises is breathtaking, a serene contrast to the more boisterous celebrations outside.
“Rang barse bheege chunar wali, rang barse…” a song that instantly reminds everyone of Holi, bringing back memories of laughter, colours and streets filled with celebration.
This timeless Bollywood song has become the soundtrack of the festival, capturing its playfulness and joy.
As Holi approaches, the streets fill with music, laughter and a riot of colours begins.Holi as a time of revelry. People come together, smearing each other with colours, dancing and setting aside their worries for a day. “Bura na maano, Holi hai!” becomes the anthem, inviting everyone to join in the fun.
Whether you celebrate with lathis in Barsana, bhajans in Vrindavan or Bollywood beats in your own city let the spirit of the festival take over. Dance freely, laugh without restraint and embrace the colours of Holi with open arms.
(Dr Naresh Purohit is Executive Member for Association Of Studies In Behavioural Science. The views expressed are that of the author)
