Mathura Festivals, Uttar Pradesh
The festivals of Mathura have earned fame globally. The festivals are as colourful as the place and are celebrated with pomp. Holi is the most vivacious and colurful festival here, usually celebrated in the month of feb-March on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna. People playfully throw coloured powdered dye and coloured water on each other. The entire region of Braja, Nandagram, Varsana and Dauji take part in this lively festival.
Janmasthami is another popular festival in the land of Krishna. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. All the ceremonies take place at midnight in the temples. The idol of infant Krishna is bathed by the Priest then it is laid in a cradle followed by the chanting of Mantras. Devotional songs are then sung by the devotees and toys are offered as gifts to the divine child. At midnight, when Lord Krishna was born, He is taken out and people joyfully greet each other. The sounds of conch shell, the merriment of the people, the innumerable shops selling sweets and small items related to the Lord create a colourful scenario.
