There are not one but many, many different shades of the festival of Holi in India with each region nurturing its own traditions around the Festival of Colours. While most commonly associated with the fun and frolic of splashing colours on friends and family, there is also a more spiritual side of the festivities in different parts of India.
The state of Uttar Pradesh is considered the hub of the spiritual home of this vibrant pan-Indian festival, where the entire city of Mathura is smeared in colours as celebrations for the 10-day world-famous Braj Ki Holi kicks off with the town of Barsana’s Laddoo Mar Holi, referring to the famous Indian sweet.
Devotees make a beeline for the Shriji temple and wait to receive the laddoos flung from the rooftop of the temple by priests. People then go on to throw laddoos at each other, symbolising the playful teasing of Lord Krishna by the Gopis.
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After the Laddoo Maar Holi in Barsana, the celebrations shift to the Lathmar Holi, where men from neighbouring towns, especially Mathura, visit Barsana to participate in this unique celebration. The women of Barsana playfully hit them with sticks.
As the name suggests, the Braj Ki Holi traditions take a cue from Lord Krishna and Radha's life, and the celebrations at Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon, and Gokul are dedicated to Krishna Kanhaniya, who spent his childhood in these regions.
This year, Holi is being celebrated on March 25 but in this part of India it is a rather more elaborate affair.
Braj Ki Holi is, no wonder, one of the most vibrant of all Holi celebrations in India. This festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is associated with the region of Braj, also referred to as Brajbhumi in honour of the god. It not only replicates the spirit of Holi but also impersonates the timeless love of Lord Krishna and Radha.
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The 10-day Braj Ki Holi, which began on March 17, includes Phoolwali Holi at Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan (March 20), Chhadi Mar Holi in Gokul (March 21), Widow's Holi at Radha Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan (March 23), Holi of Flowers at Banke Bihari Temple (March 24), Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan (March 25), and Huranga Holi in Baldev at Dauji Temple (March 26).
(ANI)