In the Braj region of India, where Lord Krishna had grown up, the festival of Holi is celebrated for 10 days in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna. The festivities officially usher in spring, with Holi celebrated as a festival of love. It is mostly celebrated in locations associated with Lord Krishna and Radha, i.e. Barsana, Nandgaon, Govardhan, Gokul and Vrindavan. Barsana was the birthplace of Radha, whereas, Nandgaon was where Lord Krishna spent his childhood and adolescence. The main essence of Brajbhumi Holi starts when the villagers from Nandgaon reaching Barsana with sweets (laddoo) to invite them to their village to play Holi. Villagers from Barsana greet them with colour powder (gulal) and the occasion is marked as LADDOO HOLI. The following day, Nandgaon people again reach the Radharani Temple in Barsana and play Holi with the locals with utmost vigour by coloured water and coloured powder. Similarly, the next day, Barsana villagers visit Nandgaon to play Holi. These two days are adorned with a social event called “SAMAJ” at the respective temples. A yore long tradition of girls getting involved in playing “LATHMAR HOLI”, where the women hit the men with big bamboo sticks and the men guard themselves with the “Shield”.
Since my childhood, I have heard stories of this extravagant event and nurtured the hidden desire to attend it someday. This year I was fortunate enough to be a part of this colourful extravaganza. But to my utmost surprise, apart from these known facts, I had the opportunity to witness many more unknown or lesser known facts about Brajbhumi which depict the region with a greater visibility and interest. I found the streets and their people attractively decorated and vibrant. The arches, the curves, the graffitis, the inscriptions and the co-existence of human and animals just mesmerized me. The typical characteristics of monkeys and the pleasant evening prayer (SANDHYA AARTI) on the Yamuna Ghat are the other unknown facts which changed my view towards the place completely. Nevertheless, if one asks me of one thing that can describe the entire Brajbhumi, I would say the presence of unconditional faith and trust of human towards human and god which flows silently through body and mind here everywhere.