Lathmar Holi at Barsana 2024: Date, history, significance and all about this unique Holi celebration

Updated on: Mar 19, 2024, 10:45:27 IST

By Krishna Priya Pallavi, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Lathmar Holi of Barsana is observed with much pomp every year. (HT_PRINT)

Lathmar Holi is celebrated with pomp in Barsana every year for a week. This year, the celebrations begin on March 18. Know its history, significance and more.

The Festival of Colours - Holi - is right around the corner. It falls on the Purnima Tithi in the month of Phalguna. This year, it falls on March 25. It is one of the most significant festivals celebrated with pomp across India and around the globe. Apart from Diwali, Holi is the biggest celebration on the Hindu calendar. It celebrates the eternal love and union of Lord Krishna and Radha, which is why their devotees congregate at Krishna's birthplace every year to mark Holi.

(Also Read | Holi 2024: How the festival of colours is celebrated in different parts of India)

Different Holi customs are observed all around the country. Among them, Braj Ki Holi is one of the most famous celebrations, held for ten days and marked by people from Vrindavan, Mathura and Gokul. This year, the celebrations began on March 17 with Laddu Holi celebrated in Barsana, where women playfully hurl laddoos at men. After Laddu Holi, people celebrate Barsana's Lathmar Holi the next day.

Barsana's Lathmar Holi 2024: Date, History and Significance:

This year, Barsana's Lathmar Holi falls on March 18. The Lathmar Holi celebration goes on for a week annually. This ritual represents Lord Krishna's thrashing with sticks (Lath) by Radha and Gopis. The legend goes that Krishna used to visit Radha and her friends in Barsana and Nandgaon to bother them. He also smeared colour on Radha and Gopis' faces, which is why they thrashed him with sticks.

A similar custom is reproduced consistently during Holi. Men from surrounding cities, particularly Mathura, travel to Barsana to participate in this special celebration. During this period, men tease the ladies, and they counter their advances by beating them with sticks and attempting to drive them out. The ones who get trapped are made to dress up as ladies and dance in the open. The same custom is also observed in Nandgaon.

Apart from playing with Lath, Lathmar Holi celebrations involve dancing, singing, and playing with gulaal. People also prepare Thandai, a traditional milk drink, and Gujiya.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Krishna Pallavi Priya
Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News, Merry Christmas 2025 on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.