The two colours

The festival of Holi is celebrated across the country but it’s the most colourful in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh—in the villages that feature in the lore of the Hindu god Krishna. These villages transform into tourist destinations during the festival, which is celebrated for as long as 16 days. The village of Barsana, where Radha, Krishna’s consort, is said to hail from, celebrates Lath Mar Holi. Women beat men with sticks as onlookers sing Holi songs in Braj bhasha.