Holi is undoubtedly one of the most joyous festivals of India, which brings people together irrespective of gender, colour, race or creed. Bringing smiles to millions of faces, it is also an occasion to honour the triumph of good over evil. Celebrated throughout the country with great fervour and vivacity, Vrindavan is particularly famous for its traditional and unique Holi.

A 21-year-old, Parduman Sharma working as a Customer Executive is a resident of Chandigarh. An ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, he has been celebrating Holi every year at Vrindavan with much joy and enthusiasm and did continue that tradition this year. Planning a 3-day trip was all he needed to get indulged in the Braj way of celebrating Holi. 

Vrindavan ki Holi

His first stop was at the Banke Bihari Temple. It is one of the most famous temples in all of Vrindavan; it is dedicated to Lord Krishna. 

Here people celebrate Holi with great ardour and it continues for several days. Getting soaked in the coloured water sprinkled by the priests is a common sight. Laughter and giggles soon surround all of Vrindavan during this time. With hundreds of people on the street and in the temple, you certainly will not be celebrating alone. And don’t worry the colours used are dry and organic, so you don’t have to stress about your skin!

He finds such unexpected interactions with unknown people very fulfilling. “There is a unique joy to playing with people you’ve never met before”, says Parduman. For an immersive experience, we suggest that you arrive a few days before the Holi and stay beyond the date. You will witness all the colours of the rainbow mixed in the air. There is no better view than this to behold!

Being a true devotee, this was not the only temple he visited. Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir was the next spot on his list. Also called ISKCON Vrindavan, it is one of the major ISKCON temples in the world. 

Lathmar Holi

Parduman also talks about Lathmar Holi. Having earned its reputation, people literally celebrate the festivity with sticks and colours. Barsana and Nandgaon are the two places where you will find Lathmar Holi. A very famous traditional drink, Thandai and Holi go hand in hand, so don’t miss out on it!

Govardhan Parvat is another place where people do not shy from throwing colours at each other. People from around the world come to visit this place and it is more crowded during Holi than any other day of the year. 

Vrindavan Diaries

Parduman stayed at his relative’s place but also booked OYO for a few days. However, keep in mind that the Hotel prices are extremely overpriced during this time and you might end up paying triple or even quadruple the actual price. So pre-book if you plan to visit this place. Staying in fancy and expensive hotels is not his vibe and he prefers experiencing the town locally, just like people living there. He also recommends getting out of your comfort zone and letting go of oneself and playing Holi like Braj people. 

To enjoy more amazing pictures and videos, check out Parduman’s page @pardumankrishandas.

And for more such unique and authentic stories stay tuned and follow us on our Instagram handle @indiachalk.