Lathmar Holi Begins in Barsana: Sticks, Colors and 'Radhe Radhe' Fill the Streets of Braj

The ancient town of Barsana in Uttar Pradesh has erupted in color as Lathmar Holi officially began this week, drawing lakhs of devotees and international visitors to the sacred Braj region for one of India's most distinctive and joyous festivals .

True to the 5,000-year-old tradition rooted in the playful love story of Krishna and Radha, men from neighboring Nandgaon marched into Barsana where women received them with decorated lathis and cascades of gulal while chants of "Radhe Radhe" and Holi bhajans echoed off the narrow lanes below the Radha Rani Temple .

The festivities began with Laddu Mar Holi at the Shri Ladliji Maharaj Temple, where devotees showered each other with color-soaked laddus in a celebration of communal joy . Mathura's district administration has divided the region into eight zones and sixteen sectors, deploying CCTV surveillance, anti-Romeo squads and traffic management teams to ensure safe celebrations for all participants .

For the Indian-American community, Lathmar Holi is more than a distant spectacle. It is the living heart of a culture that traveled with you across the ocean and is waiting for your return.

Read ePadosi's complete guide to Lathmar Holi — including travel tips, what to eat and what to expect — on epadosi.com.