Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 12: Actor Vidyut Jammwal celebrated the spirit of Holi in Mathura, participating in the colorful festivities at Shri Dwarkadhish Temple. Ahead of the main Holi celebrations, Vidyut blew a conch shell and interacted with the media, sharing his joy with fans and onlookers.
The actor also shared a video on his Instagram where he could be seen playing the nagada, a traditional drum, and immersing himself in the festive atmosphere of Braj Ki Holi. In the post, he wrote, “EXPERIENCE THIS!!!!!! Holi Begins… BRAJ KI HOLI….. #brajkiholi #vishramghat #holi2025 #brajkrasiya #mathura #vrindavan #rasiya #braj #happyholi #holihai #btvp.”
Meanwhile, the traditional Lathmar Holi festivities began in Nandagaon on Sunday, marking the start of the week-long Holi celebrations in Mathura. The event, deeply rooted in the legends of Lord Krishna and Radha, saw devotees and tourists gather to witness the lively and colorful spectacle.
According to folklore, Lathmar Holi symbolizes the playful exchange between Krishna’s village, Nandagaon, and Radha’s village, Barsana. It is believed that Krishna, along with his friends, once visited Barsana to tease Radha and her companions. In response, the women chased the men away with sticks (lathis), a tradition that continues to this day during the festivities.
The Holi celebrations in Mathura, regarded as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, will continue with grand processions, cultural performances, and temple rituals, leading up to the main Holi festival. To ensure smooth celebrations, local authorities have deployed additional security measures and closely monitored crowd management and traffic control.
In Barsana, the famous Lathmar Holi festivities started on Saturday with devotees and tourists coming together to celebrate. Earlier on Friday, the Laddu Mar Holi was celebrated at the Shri Ladliji Maharaj temple in Barsana, where devotees joyfully threw sweets at each other, marking another unique tradition of the festival.
This year, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated Rangotsav 2025 at Shri Radha Bihari Inter College in Barsana, Mathura, showering flower petals on the gathered crowd to kick off the festive season.