: Braj ki Holi: Those who have not seen it, have not seen India #WorldNEWSAll Though originating as a Hindu festival, Holi later began to be celebrated by all communities in India, and thus it represents

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Braj ki Holi: Those who have not seen it, have not seen India #WorldNEWSAll
Though originating as a Hindu festival, Holi later began to be celebrated by all communities in India, and thus it represents the composite culture (Ganga Jamuna tehzeeb) of India.
Holi is the festival of colours in India, and marks the end of winter and the advent of spring.
Though Holi is celebrated throughout most of India and even abroad (due to the Indian diaspora), I venture to submit that those who have not seen Braj ki Holi have not seen India.
Braj is the area comprising of Mathura city in the state of UP, India and its surrounding region including places like Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan, Barsana, and Nandgaon.
It is associated with the life of Lord Krishna, an important god in the Hindu pantheon. The dialect of Hindi spoken there is called Brajbhaasha in which the great poet Surdas wrote.
Braj ki Holi this year has commenced on 28th February, which was Lathmaar Holi, and will last until Dauji ka Huranga on 9th March i. e. a total of 10 days. Holi in particular is on 8th March. During this period of 10 days the whole of Brij region will be full of colour and festivity.
Lathmaar Holi, which marks the commencement of Braj ki Holi, was celebrated on 28th February this year, and takes place every year in Barsaana, which is 40 kms from Mathura city. It is believed to be the home town of Radha, the chief consort of Lord Krishna.
There is a temple of Radha in Barsaana on a hillock, where people of all ages can be seen dancing and singing throughout the day.
In Barsaana people greet each other by saying Radhe, Radhe instead of saying Jai Shri Krishna. That is because Krishna fled to Dwarka (in Gujarat) when King Jarasandh attacked Mathura, thereby abandoning the people of Braj, but Radha remained with them.
In Lathmaar Holi the young men and boys of Nandgaon, where Krishna spent part of his childhood, walk 9 kms to Barsaana, and are beaten with lathis (sticks) by the women of Barsaana (the young men wear protective headgear to prevent serious injury to their heads, as the beating is usually on the heads).
Thereafter Holi is celebrated for the next 9 days throughout Brajmandal. Everywhere one goes one will find colour in the air, and people celebrating in various ways. Dramatic performances of Lord Krishnas Ras Leela (love affairs with his gopis) can be seen in many places.
This years schedule of Braj ki Holi is given here
Now I may mention something about the important places in Brajmandal.
Mathura city is its centre, and it is believed this is where Lord Krishna was born to his mother Devaki and his father Vasudev who were imprisoned by Devakis brother Kansa.

Kansa wanted to kill Krishna, so at night Vasudev carried him secretly to Gokul which was across the river Jamuna, and left him with his foster parents Nand and Yashoda.

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