Lathmar Holi Nandgaon 2027: Dates, the Story and How to Experience It

Nandgaon, the village of Krishna, holds its own famous Lathmar Holi, the twin of Barsana's, in which the women of Nandgaon playfully drive off the visiting men of Barsana with long staves. It is the second act of the celebrated two-village stick Holi of Braj, played at the very home of Krishna and it is a spectacle every bit as thrilling as Barsana's. In 2027, the Lathmar Holi at Nandgaon falls on Friday, 18 March, following the morning prayers. Here, from one born in Braj, is the complete guide to Lathmar Holi Nandgaon 2027: the dates, the story and how to experience it safely. Plan your visit with our Mathura Vrindavan tour packages.

Key takeaways

• Lathmar Holi at Nandgaon in 2027 is on Friday, 18 March, afternoon through evening.

• It follows the morning prayers and entry is free, a public spiritual festival.

• The women of Nandgaon playfully beat the visiting men of Barsana with lathis (staves).

• It is the companion to Barsana's Lathmar Holi, held on the adjacent day.

• It re-enacts the teasing love of Radha and Krishna, at Krishna's own village.

• Crowds are immense; watch from a safe vantage point and plan with a local.

I am Gurudutt, born in Gokul in the Mathura district, guiding pilgrims through Braj since 2018, more than 50,000 of them and every Holi I take guests, families and international visitors among them, to the Lathmar Holi of both Barsana and Nandgaon. Nandgaon's is quieter and more rural than Barsana's, but no less thrilling and it deserves its own visit. Here is everything you need for Lathmar Holi Nandgaon 2027.

Lathmar Holi Nandgaon 2027 details

Here are the key details for Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi in 2027.

Lathmar Holi Nandgaon 2027 details. Lathmar dates are temple-announced and can shift by a day; confirm nearer the time.

A note on the sequence: the Lathmar Holi is played over two adjacent days between the villages, one day at Barsana and one at Nandgaon. The exact dates are announced by the temples and can shift by a day, so if you wish to see both, confirm both dates nearer the festival; we will advise you.

The story behind Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi

Lathmar Holi re-enacts the beloved leela of Radha and Krishna. Krishna, from his village of Nandgaon, would go to Radha's Barsana to tease her and the gopis and the women of Barsana would chase him and his friends away with sticks. In return, the men of Barsana would come to Nandgaon to play Holi and there the women of Nandgaon would drive them off with lathis. And so today the stick Holi is played over two days: at Barsana, where Nandgaon's men come and Barsana's women beat them; and at Nandgaon, where Barsana's men come and Nandgaon's women beat them. Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi is thus the answering half of the game, played at the very home of Krishna, where he grew up in the house of Nanda Baba.

How Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi works

Here is how the day unfolds at Nandgaon.

How Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi unfolds. Much centres on the Nand Bhavan temple and the village lanes.

Much of the celebration centres on the hilltop Nand Bhavan temple, the home of Nanda Baba and the lanes and courtyards of the village; for Krishna's and Radha's villages together, see our Barsana and Nandgaon guide.

Where it happens and safe viewing

Nandgaon is a rural village on a hill (Nandishwar hill), about 50 km from Mathura and 8 to 10 km from Barsana, crowned by the Nand Bhavan temple. The Lathmar play happens in the temple courtyards and the village lanes, which become intensely packed and boisterous on the day. Unless you are part of the play, it is best watched from a safe vantage point, a rooftop, a raised edge or a balcony, above the crush. A trusted local host can place you at a good, safe spot with a clear view. Being more rural and a little less thronged than Barsana, Nandgaon can be a slightly gentler place to witness the stick Holi, though it too draws great crowds.

Planning Lathmar Holi Nandgaon 2027: honest advice

Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi is unforgettable, but it needs planning. Here is honest advice, especially for first-timers and families.

• Confirm the exact date nearer the time, as the temple announces it and it can shift by a day.

• Book your stay months ahead; Nandgaon has few stays, so most base in Vrindavan or Mathura and travel in.

• Arrive after the morning prayers, in good time before the afternoon lathi play, as traffic is heavy.

• Watch from a safe vantage point, not the heart of the lathi play.

• Protect your eyes, phone and camera; wear old clothes and use skin-safe colours.

• Pair Nandgaon with Barsana's Lathmar Holi on the adjacent day if you can, with a local's help.

Nandgaon Lathmar Holi and the wider Braj Holi 2027

Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi is part of the week-long Braj Holi, which runs from about 15 to 23 March 2027, each day in a different town, culminating in the main Rangwali Holi at Mathura and Vrindavan on 22 March. Many visitors pair the Lathmar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon with the flower Holi at Banke Bihari and the main Holi, for the fullest experience. For the complete calendar, see our Mathura Vrindavan Holi 2027 guide and the Mathura Vrindavan festivals calendar.

The honest bit

Honest words from one born in Braj, who takes guests to Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi every year. It is one of the most thrilling and joyful spectacles of Braj, a living re-enactment of Radha and Krishna's love, played at the very home of Krishna. But be honest about what it is: even in rural Nandgaon, Lathmar day is a huge, boisterous crowd, the play can turn rough in the courtyards and the lathis, though used in fun, are real. This is not a spectacle to wander into unprepared, especially with children or elders. Watch from a safe, raised vantage point, keep your things secure and go with a local who knows where to place you. The exact date is announced by the temple and can shift, so confirm nearer the time. Planned well and watched safely, Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi is unforgettable.

Why Experience My India is the right choice

I was born in Gokul in the Mathura district and every year I take guests, including families and international visitors, safely to the Lathmar Holi of Nandgaon and Barsana. Guiding since 2018, more than 50,000 pilgrims, 4.5 stars on Google, WhatsApp first, 8 AM to 9 PM daily. For Lathmar Holi we secure your stay early, get you to Nandgaon ahead of the crush, place you at a safe vantage point with a clear view, help you up to the Nand Bhavan temple, keep families and elders safe and pair it with Barsana too, with a local's access and no touts. One clear fare and a Holi you will never forget.

Tip from Gurudutt: if you can, see both halves of the stick Holi, Barsana on its day and Nandgaon on the adjacent one, for only together do you get the full game of the divine banter of Radha and Krishna. Nandgaon, being Krishna's own quieter village, is a lovely place to watch it: find a rooftop or raised edge, look down on the whirl of colour and lathis in the courtyards of Nanda's home and feel that you are watching the very play the Lord himself once played. Seen safely, at Krishna's village, Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi is pure wonder.

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Plan your Lathmar Holi 2027 trip

Lathmar Holi 2027 stays and plans to book up early, so start now. Tell me your dates and group and I will secure your stay, get you safely to Nandgaon and Barsana for Lathmar, place you well and build your Holi days across Braj, families and international guests especially welcome, for one clear price. Our Barsana tour packages and Mathura Vrindavan tour packages from Delhi can be built around Holi. WhatsApp +91 7302265809, any day 8 AM to 9 PM. Packages from ₹1,999 per person, 4.5 stars on Google. Born in Gokul, Mathura.