Agra, March 18 -- Holi celebrations hit their peak at Barsana's Rangeeli Gali when lathi-clad women from the town came down on men from nearby Nandgaon village on the occasion of Lathmar Holi. Wearing headgear, the men held shields to protect themselves from the blows.

While the rest of India is still waiting to celebrate Holi, festivities were in full swing in Mathura, Vrindavan and nearby areas. On Monday, 'hurriyare' (Holi revelers) from Nandgaon (the village of Lord Krishna) reached Barsana (the village of Radha) to celebrate this unique tradition of Braj.

"Forty-day festivities of Holi begin on 'Basant Panchami'. Temples and houses witness 'Holi gayan' (singing Holi songs) and initially it is Holi with 'gulal' (colour powder), whic...