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The DayAfter Story: Is God Dead Good Morning Prof. Gopi Chand Narang Art: Timeless Stories That Colours Tell Urdu and Urdu Culture in the 21st Century |
| Festival of Colours HOLI | |
| by Prempal Singh Valyan | |
| The Braj-ki-hori festivities begin with a fair organised three days preceding the full-moon day in the month of Phalguna (February-March) at a village called Mansarovar. | |
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Holi, one of the most popular festivals of India, is unsurpassed in the sheer magic of its colours. In Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, Holi, popularly known as Braj ki hori, is celebrated with special verve and jubilation. The festivities and the peculiar traditional celebrations have earned it a special place in the international calendar of festivals. For 50 days during the spring, this festival overshadows every other activity in the Braj area (Mathura-Vrindavan). A large number of people flock to this area from India and abroad to witness the spectacular festival of colours. During this period, every activity in this area is imbued with the spirit of Holi. In temples, gulal (coloured powder) is used for the every day ritual bathing of the idols. It is also thrown on devotees as a blessing of the gods. The Braj-ki-hori festivities begin with a fair organised three days preceding the full-moon day in the month of Phalguna (February-March) at a village called Mansarovar, which is about 18 km from Mathura. It is believed that the eternal lovers, Lord Krishna and Radha, spent blissful days together here. After this fair, the most interesting celebrations are held at Barsana, the legendary home town of Radha. This is called ‘Lathmar’ Holi which is not only popular in India but throughout the world. Barsana is situated about 47 km from Mathura. On this day, men belonging to Goswami families of Nandgaon assemble at Nandri temple. From there, they march towards Barsana with their leather shields, singing and dancing with gay abandon. After reaching Barsana, the men, called Huriharas, bathe at a pond called Pili Pokhar and get ready for the encounter with the womenfolk belonging to the Goswami community of Barsana, or gopikas. Interestingly, this group from Nandgaon consists of boys as young as 10 years and men as old as 60. Then, in great revelry, Holi is played between the huriharas and the gopikas of Barsana. This is a prelude to the ‘Lathmar’ Holi and is usually referred to as Jhitholi Holi (Holi of fun and frolic) Then follows the much-awaited ‘Lathmar’ Holi. The gopikas dress in brightly coloured traditional attire and bedeck themselves profusely with ornaments. They have their odni drawn over their faces and are armed with long bamboo sticks with which they strike the huriharas. The gopikas’ blows are quite strong and sometimes blood oozes from the men’s wounds. But this is considered a good omen and has never given rise to any ill-feeling. Subsequent to the ‘Lathmar’ Holi of Nandgaon, Holi is played in almost all the temples of this region with coloured powder, rose water, flowers, etc. Tableaux depicting the various moods of Radha and Krishna are also taken out on this day. |
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