Hundreds of women celebrated Lathmar Holi in northern India this week, by hitting men with sticks.

Lathmar Holi is celebrated days before the actual Holi takes place, in Barsana and Nandgaon, near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.

On this day, the women of Barsana take charge and all that men need to do is save themselves from the charged-up womenfolk.

Men from Lord Krishna’s village Nandgaon visit Barsana to play ‘Lath Maar Holi’, where, after paying homage to the only temple dedicated to Radha in India, they sing provocative songs in a bid to seek the attention of local women.

Seemingly offended, the women then hit the men with sticks called 'lathis'. The men protect themselves with wooden shields.

This tradition is said to date back to the time when Lord Krishna started the tradition of Holi, the festival of colours, by applying colour to Radha's face.

Lathmar Holi is a festival that celebrated days before the actual Holi takes place in Barsana and Nandgaon near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. On this day, the women of Barsana take charge and all that men need to do is save themselves from the immensely charged up womenfolk.

This unique kind of Holi is celebrated in Barsana where women chase men away with sticks and men sing provocative songs in order to invite the attention of women. Women then go on the offensive and use long staves called "lathis" to beat men folk who protect themselves with shields. men from Lord Krishna’s village Nandgaon visit Barsana to play ‘Lath Maar Holi’. After paying homage to the only temple dedicated to Radha in India, men sing songs in a bid to seek the attention of women. The women, who pretend to be offended by their gestures, then use staves to beat up men folk who protect themselves with wooden shields.

This tradition dates back to the time when Lord Krishna started the tradition of colors by first applying color on Radha's face.