Travel Guide · Festivals & Events · Updated October 2026
Braj Holi Dates and Full Schedule (2027 Edition)
By Gurudutt, Experience My India·21 October 2026
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Braj Holi 2027 town-by-town schedule
Dates below follow the 2027 panchang. Village and temple-level dates are ratified by the local trusts closer to the festival, so treat them as planning dates and confirm before you travel.
Date (2027) | Holi celebration event | Location / temple |
Mon, March 15 | Laddu Mar Holi (laddus are playfully thrown as prasad) | Shriji Temple, Barsana |
Tue, March 16 | Lathmar Holi (women playfully beat men with sticks) | Barsana and Krishna Janmabhoomi |
Wed, March 17 | Lathmar Holi (the return stick celebration) | Nandgaon |
Wed, March 17 | Phoolon Wali Holi / Rangbharni Ekadashi (Holi with fresh flower petals) | Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan |
Thu, March 18 | Chhadi Mar Holi (Holi with small sticks) | Gokul |
Fri, March 19 | Widow’s Holi (a celebration of colours that breaks old stigmas) | Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan |
Sat, March 20 to Mon, March 22 | Temple Holi and Yamuna Aarti celebrations | Dwarkadhish Temple and Vishram Ghat, Mathura |
Sun, March 21 | Holika Dahan (sacred evening bonfires across the region) | Mathura, Vrindavan and across Braj |
Mon, March 22 | Main Rangwali Holi / Dhulendi (loose powdered colours) | Across Mathura, Vrindavan and all of Braj |
Tue, March 23 | Dauji Huranga (the energetic, traditional finale) | Baldeo |
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The main Holi events, one by one
1. Laddu Mar Holi, Barsana (March 15)
Laddus are thrown across the crowd as prasad at the Shriji Temple. It opens the Barsana celebrations. Come early, because the temple compound fills fast.
2. Lathmar Holi, Barsana and Nandgaon (March 16 and 17)
This is the best-known Braj Holi. The tradition is that the women of Barsana playfully beat the men of Nandgaon with sticks and the next day the celebration moves to Nandgaon. The men shield themselves, the women sing and the whole town plays along. It is loud, packed and joyful. If you attend only one village Holi, many visitors choose this one.
3. Phoolon Wali Holi, Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan (March 17)
On Rangbharni Ekadashi, Holi at Banke Bihari is played with fresh flower petals rather than powdered colour. It is the gentlest Holi of the season and a good option for families, seniors and first-time visitors. The lanes around the banke bihari temple are tight, so expect heavy crowds and reach as early as you can.
4. Chhadi Mar Holi, Gokul (March 18)
Holi played with small sticks. A quieter, more local celebration than Barsana and easier to move around in.
5. Widow’s Holi, Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan (March 19)
A celebration of colour at Gopinath Temple that breaks a long-standing stigma around widows and festivals. It is a moving event, so attend with respect, ask before photographing anyone and keep your camera away from rituals.
6. Temple Holi and Yamuna Aarti, Mathura (March 20 to 22)
Dwarkadhish Temple and Vishram Ghat host Holi celebrations over these days, with the Yamuna Aarti in the evening. A good base if you want temple Holi and the riverfront together.
7. Holika Dahan (Sunday, March 21)
The sacred bonfire is lit on the evening before Rangwali Holi, across Mathura, Vrindavan and all of Braj. Go to a local neighbourhood bonfire rather than the biggest public gathering if you want a calmer experience.
8. Rangwali Holi / Dhulendi (Monday, March 22)
The main day. Loose powdered colour fills Mathura, Vrindavan and every village in Braj. This is also the day with the heaviest crowds, road closures and temple restrictions, so plan your route the night before.
9. Dauji Huranga, Baldeo (Tuesday, March 23)
The festival finale, known for its wild, energetic, traditional style. Baldeo is a short trip from Mathura, so it is worth planning separately rather than squeezing it into another day.
Holi dates at a glance
Event | Date (2027) | Place |
Laddu Mar Holi | Mon, March 15 | Shriji Temple, Barsana |
Lathmar Holi | Tue, March 16 | Barsana and Krishna Janmabhoomi |
Lathmar Holi | Wed, March 17 | Nandgaon |
Phoolon Wali Holi / Rangbharni Ekadashi | Wed, March 17 | Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan |
Chhadi Mar Holi | Thu, March 18 | Gokul |
Widow’s Holi | Fri, March 19 | Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan |
Temple Holi and Yamuna Aarti celebrations | Sat, March 20 to Mon, March 22 | Dwarkadhish Temple and Vishram Ghat, Mathura |
Holika Dahan | Sun, March 21 | Mathura, Vrindavan and across Braj |
Main Rangwali Holi / Dhulendi | Mon, March 22 | Across Mathura, Vrindavan and all of Braj |
Dauji Huranga | Tue, March 23 | Baldeo |
Important planning tips for visitors
Confirm the tithi and the local date. The dates for Holika Dahan and Rangwali Holi (March 21 and 22) are firm on the panchang. Dates for individual village and temple Holis are ratified closer to the season by local temple trusts, such as the Banke Bihari and Barsana trusts. Check again as the festival nears.
Choose one base for each day. Do not try to travel between Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon in a single day. Heavy traffic, blockades and massive crowds make it unrealistic. Pick one primary venue per day and stay with it. For the crowd picture on the day, see our is vrindavan crowded today guide.
Reach early and leave early. The best of every Holi event happens in the first hours. Arriving after mid-morning usually means standing in a crowd you cannot see past.
Safety first. Braj Holi is intense. If you join the crowds, wear old clothes you do not mind losing, shield your eyes and hair, keep your phone in a sealed pouch and keep valuables minimal. Consider booking through local verified networks or reserved viewing terraces for a safer experience. For general safety, see our is vrindavan safe guide.
Book early. Hotels, cabs and guides around Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana fill up for Holi week. Book well ahead and see our hotels near prem mandir vrindavan guide for stay options.
Photography. Temple rules still apply during Holi and are strict inside the sanctums. See our photography in vrindavan temples guide before you go.
Plan a safe, well-timed Braj Holi visit
Holi week in Braj is where a knowledgeable local makes the biggest difference. We can plan your days around the right events (Lathmar at Barsana, flower Holi at Banke Bihari, Mathura’s Yamuna Aarti), arrange a vehicle that avoids the worst of the blockades, choose a calmer venue if you are travelling with family or seniors and keep you on the right side of the crowd, with a Braj-born guide who knows each lane. A shared day tour starts from around ₹1,499 per person or we can design a private Holi plan. Darshan is free. See our mathura vrindavan tour itinerary to plan and message us on WhatsApp at +91-7302265809.
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