Holi in Vrindavan Tour

Day 1 Delhi – Vrindavan (190 Km /4 Hours)

Morning drive to Vrindavan for check in at hotel. Afternoon leave for Barsana to witness the most vibrant festival of Color. Thousands of people from all corners of India visit Mathura and Vrindavan especially on this occasion. The festivities begin with Lathmar Holi played in Barsana, a small village near Mathura. Lathmar Holi usually begins around a week before the main Holi day. During the celebrations, women from Barsana village gather with wooden sticks in their hands to welcome men from Nandgaon. This is part of the tradition as Hindu Mythology says that Lord Krishna along with his friends visited Barsana, Radha’s village (Radha was Lord Krishna’s girlfriend), to tease her and other Gopis (girls) by throwing colored water on them. In retaliation, Radha and Gopis chased Krishna and his friends to beat them up with sticks. Even today, people from Nandgoan and Barsana follow the ritual. Men soaked in colored water arrive in Barsana and tease women by singing provocative songs. The women then beat them with sticks (Lathis) and men use shields to protect themselves. Later in the evening, return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2 Vrindavan

Morning breakfast at the hotel and then leave for Nandgaon as celebration in Barsana is followed by similar celebrations in Nandgaon (Krishna’s village) on the very next day. It was at Nandgaon that Krishna spent his childhood. As the legend goes, Radha with her friends called Gopis would come to Nandgaon on this day to take revenge on Krishna and his friends by splashing color on them. Since the women do not go, men and trans-genders dressed as women representing them from Barsana go to Nandgaon to celebrate Holi with the men there. They are welcomed with water and colour in the village. This is very unique as the menfolk play Holi with women in a way which is not sexual in its approach but it has the rustic element of wooing and teasing. The main celebrations are held in the courtyard of the temple at Nandgaon and soon the courtyard transforms itself into a visual delight of beautiful colour-explosion. People from both the villages sit across each other singing and dancing here. Overnight stay.

Day 3 Vrindavan

The Banke Bihari Temple hosts a week long celebrations during Holi here. During the festivities, Bihariji (Krishna’s popular name in Braj area) is dressed up in white clothes and Goswamis (priests in the temple) sprinkle colour on everyone the whole atmosphere is made even livelier with music (Bhajans) in the background and people dance to the tunes. On this day of Ekadashi before Holi, there are special celebrations at famous Banke Bihari Temple at Vrindavan in the afternoon after the Temple gate opens at about 4 pm. Holi is celebrated not with colour, but with flowers. That is why it is called “Phoolonwaliholi” meaning Holi with flowers.

Overnight stay.

Day 4 Vrindavan – Agra – Vrindavan (160 Km / 4 Hours)

Morning leave for Agra. On arrival visit world famous “Taj Mahal”, the monument of love immortalized in marble. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his Queen Mumtaj. Everyone has most likely seen a picture of Taj, but nothing really comes close to the real thing – the Taj Mahal looks a lot better in reality than in a picture. Also visit Fort and then Sikandara, where lies the Tomb of the Emperor “Akbar the Great”. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 5 Vrindavan

Today is the day to celebrate Holi festival with emotions as you will witness a special celebration with poor widows. Widows in India always had a difficult life. They were often banished from their homes and were compelled to live in far off ashrams in places like Varanasi and Vrindavan. They would wear only white clothes and could never use colour or play Holi. It is only couple of years ago that the widows of Pagal Baba Widow Ashram, Vrindavan decided to do away with this ritual and play with colour. It will be really be very encouraging if you support this noble cause by participating inHoli with them and bring some cheer and colour to their life.

Overnight stay.

Day 6 Vrindavan

Today again the focus will shift to Banke Bihari temple in the morning as the temple opens its doors to all visitors to come and play Holi with the lord Krishna himself. The priests throw colour and holy water and the crowd chants madly in unison. It’s an unbelievable experience to be a part of this event until the doors of the temple are shut at lunch time. In the afternoon, leave for Mathura to participate in the colourful Holi procession which starts at Vishram Ghat. In the procession, there are a number of vehicles which are decorated with flowers, and some even have kids dressed up as Radha-Krishna. Later in the evening, it is time for Holika Dahan which means burning of effigy of Holika, the devil.

Overnight stay.

Day 7 Vrindavan (Mathura)

Today is big Holi day, the biggest event takes place at the historical Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura. On this day, there is tradition of making and drinking bhang which is an edible preparation of cannabis. We shall come to Vishramghat to catch the process of making bhang by the priests. You may also try a glass yourself. The temple opens at 10 o’clock in the morning and there is a big crowd outside the gates by then playing Holi and throwing color on anyone who comes there. The atmosphere inside the temple is really great. Priest play Dhols and everyone there is singing and dancing. You can also join and enjoy the celebration by being a part. Later return to hotel and it is time to relax after all these fun frolic activities.

Overnight stay.

Day 8 Vrindavan – Delhi (190 Km / 4 Hours)

After breakfast, leave for Delhi and the tour ends.