Festivals of Braj - Holi, Janmashtami and More
ब्रज के उत्सव
Page 3 of 5 | Mathura-Vrindavan Series
Holi in Braj does not start on the day the rest of India celebrates. It begins about a week earlier in Barsana and Nandgaon and runs through the temples of Vrindavan before the main day. The whole region lives differently during its festivals. This page explains the main festivals of Braj, when each one falls in the Hindu calendar, and what to expect.
Dates change every year. Hindu festivals follow the lunar calendar, so the English date moves each year. This page tells you when each festival falls in the calendar. For the exact date in your year, check Drik Panchang or the Hindu Calendar on this site. Local Braj event dates (Lathmar, Phoolon ki Holi) are announced by the temples and can shift by a day.
Festival Calendar at a Glance
उत्सव कैलेंडर
| Festival | When it falls | Where in Braj |
|---|---|---|
| Janmashtami | Ashtami of the dark fortnight, August or September | Krishna Janmabhoomi, Mathura and all Braj |
| Sharad Purnima (Raas Purnima) | Full moon of Ashwin, October | Vrindavan temples, Nidhivan, Yamuna banks |
| Kartik month | Begins after Sharad Purnima, late October to late November | Vrindavan, Mathura, Govardhan |
| Dhanteras | Two days before Diwali | Bazaars of Mathura and Vrindavan |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | New moon of Kartik, October or November | All Braj |
| Govardhan Puja and Annakut | The day after Diwali | Govardhan, Mathura and Vrindavan temples |
| Bhai Dooj | Two days after Diwali | Vishram Ghat, Mathura |
| Dev Uthani Ekadashi | About 11 to 12 days after Diwali | Vrindavan temples |
| Kartik Purnima | Full moon of Kartik, November | Yamuna ghats of Mathura and Vrindavan |
| Holi | Full moon of Phalguna, March | Barsana, Nandgaon, Vrindavan, Mathura |
The English date of each festival changes every year. Use the Hindu Calendar on this site or Drik Panchang to find the exact day.
Sharad Purnima and the Maharaas
शरद पूर्णिमा
Sharad Purnima, the full moon of the month of Ashwin, falls in October. In Vrindavan it is remembered as the night of the Maharaas, when Krishna danced with the gopis. Temples hold all-night kirtans, and rice-kheer is kept in moonlight before it is eaten as prasad. At Banke Bihari the deity is shown with a flute and a crown only on this night, which makes it one of the most sought-after darshans of the year.
Govardhan Puja and Annakut
गोवर्धन पूजा
Govardhan Puja - the day after Diwali
The day after Diwali, Braj recalls the day Krishna asked its people to worship Govardhan Hill instead of Indra. Devotees make a small hill of cow dung, decorate it and worship it. Temples offer Annakut, a mountain of food, which is then shared as prasad. Many temples display the Chhappan Bhog, the 56-item offering.
Govardhan Puja follows Diwali by one day. In some years the pratipada tithi timing shifts the date, so check the panchang for your year.
Pilgrims walk the roughly 21 km Govardhan Parikrama throughout the year, many of them barefoot. Some do the Dandavat Parikrama, lying flat on the ground and rising at every body-length. It can take several days.
Bhai Dooj and Kartik Purnima
भाई दूज और कार्तिक पूर्णिमा
Bhai Dooj - two days after Diwali
Sisters apply tilak to their brothers' foreheads. In Mathura, tradition links the day to Yama and Yamuna, the divine brother and sister, and large numbers of brothers and sisters bathe together at Vishram Ghat.
Kartik Purnima - the full moon of Kartik
The whole month of Kartik is sacred in Vrindavan, and many devotees stay for the month, rising early to bathe in the Yamuna and light lamps. Kartik Purnima ends the month with a large bathing day at the Yamuna ghats and floating lamps in the evening. The same full moon is celebrated as Dev Diwali in Varanasi.
Holi in Braj - Two Weeks of Colour
ब्रज की होली
Holi was born in Braj. The legend says Krishna was shy about his dark complexion beside fair Radha, and his mother Yashoda told him to colour Radha's face as he liked, so that she would look like him. Braj has played Holi ever since. In the rest of India it is one day, but here it is a series of events, each with its own village, song and crowd.
| Event | Place | Usual timing |
|---|---|---|
| Laddu Holi | Barsana | About 6 days before Rangwali Holi |
| Lathmar Holi (Barsana) | Barsana | About 5 days before Rangwali Holi |
| Lathmar Holi (Nandgaon) | Nandgaon | About 4 days before Rangwali Holi |
| Rangbhari Ekadashi and Phoolon ki Holi | Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan | About 3 to 5 days before Rangwali Holi. The temple announces the day. |
| Holika Dahan | All Braj | The night before Rangwali Holi |
| Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) | Mathura, Vrindavan, all Braj | The day after the Phalguna full moon, usually March |
| Dauji Huranga | Dauji Temple, Baldeo | The day after Rangwali Holi, as announced locally |
Holika Dahan is the night before Rangwali Holi, on the full moon of Phalguna, and the date is set by the panchang. The Braj village events are expected timings, because the temples and local committees fix them closer to the time. Check the temple announcements in February.
Lathmar Holi - the original
Men from Nandgaon, Krishna's village, visit Barsana, Radha's village, and tease the women with songs. The women answer by playfully beating them with long wooden sticks (lathis), while the men protect themselves with shields (dhal) and cannot hit back. The next day the visit is reversed in Nandgaon. It is loud, crowded and very colourful. The blows are real but the mood is festive.
Phoolon ki Holi and Widows' Holi
At Banke Bihari Temple, priests throw flowers rather than colour at the devotees. The flowers are petals gathered from the temple's garlands and make it a gentler festival that is popular with senior visitors. Widows' Holi is played at the Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan, where women who traditionally avoided colour now celebrate with flowers and gulal. It has been organised since about 2013 by a social organisation, so it is recent rather than ancient.
Dauji Huranga
The day after Holi, the Dauji temple in Baldeo, about 20 km from Mathura, hosts the Huranga. Here the women of the village playfully tear at the men's shirts and whip them with the torn cloth, a local reversal of Lathmar.
If you can come once: come for Lathmar Holi at Barsana. It is the most photographed Holi in India. Book in Mathura or Vrindavan at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead, as rooms in Barsana are limited and hotel rates rise 2 to 3 times in Holi week. Wear old clothes and carry only what you can afford to lose. Lock valuables at the hotel.
Janmashtami - Krishna's Birthday
जन्माष्टमी
Janmashtami - Krishna's birthday
Krishna was born at midnight on Ashtami of the dark fortnight, under Rohini nakshatra. The main ceremony at Krishna Janmabhoomi is the midnight abhishek, and every temple of Braj counts down to 12:00 AM. The next day is Nandotsav, when Nanda Baba's celebration is re-enacted and Dahi Handi pots are broken.
Banke Bihari performs its only Mangala Aarti of the year after the midnight abhishek. In recent years the doors have opened at about 1:45 AM and the aarti has begun about ten minutes later, and it is now live-streamed.
Planning for Janmashtami: book rooms in Mathura and Vrindavan 6 to 8 weeks ahead and expect very heavy crowds at Janmabhoomi. Elderly visitors may find the midnight puja easier at ISKCON Vrindavan, which has several viewing halls.
Jhulan Yatra and Other Seasonal Festivals
झूलन उत्सव
In the month of Sawan (July to August), Vrindavan temples set up decorated swings (hindola) for Radha and Krishna. Jhulan Yatra runs for about 13 days, from Hariyali Teej on the third day of the bright fortnight to Shravan Purnima. Banke Bihari's gold and silver swings on Hariyali Teej are among the most popular darshans. Vasant Panchami in January or February begins the Holi build-up. Radhashtami, Radha's birthday, is celebrated in Barsana about 15 days after Janmashtami.
Watch Live from Vrindavan
लाइव दर्शन
The player below shows the latest live stream from Banke Bihari Ji temple in Vrindavan. During Holi season the temple streams its flower Holi and festival darshan.
Live darshan from Banke Bihari Ji temple, Vrindavan. If the player shows no video, open the live streams on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न
When is Holi in Vrindavan and Mathura?
Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) is on the day after the Phalguna full moon, usually in March, and Holika Dahan is the night before. In Braj the celebrations start about a week earlier, with Laddu Holi and Lathmar Holi in Barsana and Nandgaon about 4 to 6 days before Rangwali Holi. Check Drik Panchang for the exact date in your year.
What is Lathmar Holi in Barsana?
It is the Holi of Barsana, Radha's village, where women playfully beat men from Nandgaon with long sticks while the men shield themselves. It is held about 5 days before Rangwali Holi, and the Nandgaon version follows the next day.
What is Phoolon ki Holi?
It is the flower Holi at Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, where flowers instead of colour are thrown at the devotees. It is held around Rangbhari Ekadashi, a few days before Holi, and the temple announces the exact day.
When is Janmashtami in Mathura?
Janmashtami falls on the Ashtami of the dark fortnight in Bhadrapada, usually in August or early September. The main celebration is at midnight.
When is Govardhan Puja?
Govardhan Puja is the day after Diwali, usually in late October or November. Bhai Dooj follows two days after Diwali.
When is Kartik Purnima?
Kartik Purnima is the full moon of Kartik month, usually in November. It is a major Yamuna bathing day in Mathura and Vrindavan. Kartik month in North India begins after Sharad Purnima in October.
What is the best time to visit Braj for festivals?
For colour, visit in March for Holi. For Krishna's birthday, visit around Janmashtami in August or September. For a quieter pilgrimage with cool weather, visit in Kartik month, from late October to late November.
Is Holi in Braj safe for tourists?
Yes, but the crowds are huge. Keep valuables at the hotel, wear old clothes, protect your phone in a waterproof pouch and stay close to your group. Women travelling alone should stay with a group or a guide in the heavy crowds.
Mathura-Vrindavan Series - All 5 Pages
- Page 1: Story of Lord Krishna
- Page 2: Temple Darshan Guide - Timings, Rules and Tips
- Page 3: Festivals of Braj - Holi, Janmashtami and More - you are here
- Page 4: How to Reach, Hotels and 2-Day Itinerary
- Page 5: Fact Check - What Is True and What Is Not
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