Barsana: Holi with Sticks
The women from Barsana beat the men from Nandgaon, who come with the intent of teasing them. The two day celebrations of Lathmar Holi are a unique experience. In the first day men from Krishna’s village, Nandgaon travel to Barsana to tease the women there. The women chase men and hitting them with sticks, hence the name Lathmar Holi. Men are allowed to protect themselves with shields. The second day women from Barsana go to Nandgaon to play Holi with men of Nandgaon.
Mathura and Vrindavan
It is believed that Lord Krishna and Radha spent their childhood in the Braj region around Mathura and Vrindavan. There are two kinds of holi played during this season of colours. One happens where people throw buckets full of flowers on one another amidst loud chants of Radhe Radhe. The other one takes place just a day before Holi. On this day, the well-known Krishna Leela or Raas Leela, which is the dramatisation of Krishna’s courtship with the beautiful Radha. The temple opens up its doors to all visitors to come and play Holi with the lord himself. On Holi, the best place to catch the throwing of colors in Mathura is Dwarkadheesh Temple.
Shantiniketan
The Holi festival is celebrated as Basanta Utsav or Spring Festival in Shantiniketan, West Bengal. This festival was started as an annual event by famous Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in his Vishva Bharati University at Shantiniketan.
Kumaon Region
The Kumaoni Holi is broadly of three types – Baithaki (sitting), Khadi Holi (standing) and Mahila Holi. In the Baithaki Holi, devotees sing classical ragas to appease Lord Krishna. Mahila Holi is also similar to Baithaki Holi, the only difference being here the gatherings comprise of women only. Khadi Holi refers to the gathering of townspeople who come to sing in unison. The townspeople usually wear a white shirt called a kurta, trousers called churidars, and a cap called Gandhi cap. Often instruments accompany the singing.
Folk Holi, Purulia
A three day Basanta Utsav folk festival takes place in the Purulia district of West Bengal. It runs in the lead up to Holi and on the actual day. You’ll get to sing and play Holi with the locals, as well as enjoy a wide variety of unique folk art. This includes the remarkable Chau dance, Darbari Jhumur, Natua dance, and songs of West Bengal’s wandering Baul musicians. Vilagers organize the festival as a way of helping sustain themselves.
