Photo gallery: celebrating Holi festival in India's Braj region

People from smaller towns and villages come in huge numbers, mainly drawn to Vrindaban, to be a part of the celebration of Holi.

Situated on the bank of the Yamuna River, Keshi Ghat is one of the most popular attractions in Vrindaban.

A Street vendor in Barsana is busy selling colourful flowers, which are used in abundance during the Holi celebration.

During Holi, gulal is sold in huge quantities across India, particularly in the towns of Vrindaban, Nandgaon and Barsana, and the city of Mathura. Demand always exceeds supply.

A smiling face or two suddenly appearing from behind the colour-mist is a common sight. Sometimes it’s difficult to see or even breathe due to all the gulal in the air, but that never deters the revellers.

People hit the streets with sacs of gulal, which is showered on friends, family and strangers. People embrace each other and shout ‘Holi hain!’, which means ‘It is Holi’.

Music is an integral part of the Holi celebration. People of varying degrees of expertise gather together to create impromptu concerts, dedicated to the mythological love story of Lord Krishna and his lover Radha.

A spirit of love and togetherness prevails, and people of all ages come together to cherish this festive mood.

Some families prefer to participate as spectators from the safety of their balconies, avoiding the streets where gulal and coloured water are showered in abundance.

It feels almost surreal to experience the ‘colour shower’ put on at the Gopinath Temple, in Vrindaban, especially when the spectacle is combined with the rhythms of local music and dance.

Some women take pride in dressing up as Radha, the eternal lover.

The revellers take time to decorate themselves prior to plunging into the Holi festivities. Face painting is an integral part of their preparation and the lucky ones get to have their face painted by experts, who are highly sought after.

A shopkeeper at Nandgaon wears a warm smile as he welcomes people to his shop, which sells face paints and gulal.

Face painting isn’t just for the energetic youth. The most senior man in a family is often the first to get his face painted; the daubings often include the word ‘Radha’ — the name of the mythological lover of the Hindu god Krishna.

The vibrant colours of spring are reflected in the colour of Holi. Vrindaban is one of the towns of Northern India where people take pride in painting and decorating their houses at this time of the year.

Most shops remain closed during Holi festival, but some businesses continue operating — normally at a more leisurely pace, like at this traditional barbershop in the heart of Nandgaon.

No Holi celebration is complete without traditional dance. People gather in groups on streets, as well as in temples, and dance to folk tunes, as is seen here in the Radha Raman Temple, Vrindaban.

In an ancient tradition, married Hindu women put vermilion — or sindoor — on each other’s foreheads during auspicious occasions. This duo was seen outside a temple of Vrindaban enacting this old tradition with gulal.

Braj, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, is thought to have once been the home of the divine lovers Krisha and Radha. The main temples of this region, found in Vrindaban, Barsana, Mathura and Nandgaon, are popular destinations for destitute widows. The colours of Holi temporarily enliven their devout and spartan lives.

An elderly widow joyfully celebrates Holi by showering petals at the Gopinath Temple, Vrindaban. 

Legend has it that Krishna went from his city, Nandgaon, to ‘colour’ Radha at the neighbouring city of Barasna. But Radha and her friends beat him playfully with ‘lathi’ (sticks). This is the traditional basis for ‘Lathmar Holi’, where women ‘beat up’. It’s still a popular practise, especially in Barsana and Nandgaon.

Holi is a great leveller: people of all ages come together to forgive and forget, and to celebrate the arrival of spring.

‘Phoolon Ki Holi’ (the ‘Holi of Flowers’) holds a different charm and is a particular attraction at the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, where hundreds of kilos of flower petals of various colours are showered as part of this celebration.

At the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindaban, revellers are showered in coloured powder and petals as part of the Phoolo Ki Holi festivities. It’s a true feast for the ears, too, as the sounds of song and laughter ring out through the sacred Hindu temple.

Most photographers position themselves on the roof of the Sriji Temple, in Nandgaon, while others get their hands dirty by mingling with the revellers in the temple courtyard.

People sing, dance and shout, ‘Bura na mano, Holi hain!’, which means ‘Please do not mind, it’s Holi!’ as they douse each other with coloured water and gulal.

In contrast to the frenetic crowds in the Sriji Temple courtyard, there’s a certain elegance to be found among the temple’s traditional dancers, seen here apart from the fray on the temple rooftop.

During Holi, traditional musicians from Barsana come to Sriji Temple, Nandgaon, to participate in a musical competition involving singers, drummers and wind instrumentalists.

In Holi, ancient traditions are celebrated in a modern way. Mobile phones — ubiquitous symbols of the modern world — are brandished by a crowd wearing traditional clothing.

The festivities can be intense and tiring, but local revellers are always willing to welcome a stranger for a meal or even a nap.