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Mathura’s festival calendar follows the Hindu lunar calendar, so dates shift by two to three weeks each year. The two events that draw the biggest crowds are Holi, when the Braj region stages its famous Lathmar Holi, and Krishna Janmashtami, the celebration of Krishna’s birth at his birthplace temple. Book hotels months ahead for both, and expect heavy security and road closures around the old city. The Mathura events and festivals calendar below lists the main dates. Start with the full Mathura travel guide for an overview.
Mathura Events and Festivals: Holi (March)
Holi in the Braj region is the most famous in India, and in 2026 Holika Dahan falls on March 2 with the main colour-throwing day on March 3. The build-up starts about a week earlier with Lathmar Holi at Barsana (where women beat men with sticks) and continues with Phoolon wali Holi, a flower-petal Holi at Vrindavan’s Banke Bihari Temple. Expect processions through the old city, coloured powder everywhere, and large crowds at Vishram Ghat. Book rooms two to three months ahead, wear clothes you can throw away, and protect your phone and camera from the powder. Check the Mathura weather by month data before you pack.
Mathura Events and Festivals: Krishna Janmashtami (August)
Janmashtami marks the birth of Krishna and is celebrated at midnight, the hour of his birth, at the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple. In 2026 it falls on August 19. Devotees fast through the day, temples stage jhanki (tableaux) of scenes from Krishna’s life, and the dahi handi ritual, where teams form human pyramids to break a pot of curd, happens in the streets. The Janmabhoomi area draws several hundred thousand visitors, so security is tight and phones are banned near the sanctum. Arrive in the morning and be prepared to wait. See our best time to visit Mathura guide for season-by-season advice.
Mathura Events and Festivals: Radhashtami (September)
Radhashtami, the birthday of Radha, falls on the eighth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadrapada, usually early September (around September 2 in 2026). The main celebration is at the Radha Rani Temple in Barsana, with special abhishek (ritual bathing) of the idol and processions. Vrindavan’s temples also mark the day. It is far less crowded than Janmashtami, so it is a good alternative if you want a festival experience without the crush. The things to do in Mathura guide has a fuller list.
Mathura Events and Festivals: Diwali and Govardhan Puja (October or November)
Diwali, the festival of lights, falls on November 8 in 2026. The ghats of Mathura are lit with thousands of oil lamps (deepdan) that evening, and the riverside aarti is at its most dramatic. The day after Diwali is Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut, when temples build mounds of food offerings to recall Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill; the largest Annakut is at the Govardhan temples west of the city. Diwali week brings heavy traffic on the Yamuna Expressway, so add time to any road journey. See the Mathura neighborhoods guide to compare areas.
Mathura Events and Festivals: Other Fairs and Melas
Vasant Panchami (January or February) marks the start of spring and the run-up to Holi, with yellow-dressed processions. Guru Purnima (July) is observed at the ashrams of Vrindavan. Kans Vadh Mela, held a few days after Diwali, commemorates the defeat of Kans with a fair near the ghats. Each new-moon and full-moon night, the ghats hold smaller aarti ceremonies, so you do not need a festival date to catch the evening ritual. Compare hotels in the where to stay in Mathura guide. Practical details are in the Mathura travel tips and FAQ guide.
