1. Widows of Vrindavan celebrating Holi. Holi is celebrated in many parts of India including Assam and Manipur. The most colourful one is celebrated in Vrindavan, Barsana (Radha’s birth village) and Nandgaon (Sri Krishna birth village) all close to Mathura. eSamskriti is grateful to Rishi for sharing lovely pictures. Captions by Editor.
2. A widow before start of Holi festival. Day 1 is Laddoo Holi at Barsana, day 2 is Lathmar Holi at Barsana, day 3 is Lathmar Holi at Nandgaon, 4 is Holi is Vrindavan. The two villages are only 7 kms away but celebrations have a different feel to it. Women of Barsana beat men of Nandgaon on day 2. Next day it is the reverse, women of Nandgaon beat men of Barsana with sticks.
3. Widows of Vrindavan. At Barsana Ladoo Holi is at the Radha Rani Mandir Barsana (Lots of colour, dance with ladoos distributed to devotees). Lathmar Holi is held the next evening in village market. Next day morning start celebrations at Nand Bhawan Temple. Around 5 pm starts Lathmar Holi Nandgaon that is lovely. Here it is held on a biggish ground.
4. Widows of Vrindavan. Rishi visited in 2020 and 2022. Nandgaon Holi attracts maximum crowd esp. non-locals and foreigners.
5. Yamuna Aarti at Keshi Ghat, Vrindavan. I assume that because of the popularity of Ganga Aarti in Hardiwar and Kashi, aarti started on the banks of the Yamuna in Vrindavan and the holy Narmada river in Jabalpur.
6. Yamuna Aarti at Keshi Ghat, Vrindavan. Note the devotion.
7. Yamuna Aarti at Keshi Ghat, Vrindavan.
8. Holi at Nandgaon. Colour everywhere.
9. Holi at Nandgaon. Colourful face, truly enjoying the festival of colours.
10. Boy dressed as Sri Krishna with flute in hand.
11. Widow of Vrindavan.
12. Holi at Radha Rani Mandir, Barsana.
13. A Krishna devotee playing the flute.
14. Holi at Nandgaon. Here it is even more colourful than Barsana. I did not see any women, Indian or foreigner, being troubled. All are in a festive and happy mood.
15. Holi at Nandgaon.
16. Holi at Nandgaon. Visit Barsana, Nandgaon and Vrindavan for Holi atleast once in this life. Make Vrindavan or Mathura your base.