Holi festival of India. The Holi Festival is known as the "Festival of Color" and is a celebration of Lord Krishna and God's Creations. The colorful festival of Holi, literally means 'burning', is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna and heralds the onset of spring season. Holi is the time when people from all castes and social strata come together forgetting all past differences and grievances.

Holi at Mathura and Vrindavana is celebrated with great gusto for many days. For, these were the places where Krishna spent most of his childhood. Situated in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the celebration there spans over a week or so. Each major temple, housing the idols of Krishna and Radha, celebrates Holi on a different day.

People throng the temples to get drenched with colored water and consider it a blessing from the god.

The night before full moon, crowds of people gather together and light huge bonfires to burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People throw coloured powders at each other and make merry. People, young and old are drenched with colours being poured from atop the houses, bursting balloons, or long pistons. Singing and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion.

Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses are given a fresh coat of color, beautiful floral designs are drawn at the entrance and colours bought. In earlier days the colors were extracted from a flower that blossoms only during this festival and the pistons were made of bamboo sticks.