Holi Celebration in India
Holi is an ancient festival observed in India. It is also known as “festival of spring” signifying arrival of spring and end of the winter season. The festival is quite popular in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh which is Lord Krishna's birthplace.
You might have played Holi with colors, but have you ever seen people playing Holi with sticks? The Lathmaar Holi of Nandgaon and Barsana in Uttar Pradesh is famous for a ritual celebration where women armed with wooden batons rain down blows on men, who shelter themselves with a shield. Nandgaon is considered the birthplace of Lord Krishna and Barsana the hometown of his consort Radha. The legends of Krishna teasing Radha and her friends and them retaliating with blows has inspired this one-of-a-kind celebration.
हो नाच रंगीली परियों का, बैठे हों गुलरू रंग भरे
कुछ भीगी तानें होली की, कुछ नाज़-ओ-अदा के ढंग भरे
दिल फूले देख बहारों को, और कानों में अहंग भरे
कुछ तबले खड़कें रंग भरे, कुछ ऐश के दम मुंह चंग भरे
कुछ घुंगरू ताल छनकते हों, तब देख बहारें होली की
-नज़ीर अकबराबादी
कुछ भीगी तानें होली की, कुछ नाज़-ओ-अदा के ढंग भरे
दिल फूले देख बहारों को, और कानों में अहंग भरे
कुछ तबले खड़कें रंग भरे, कुछ ऐश के दम मुंह चंग भरे
कुछ घुंगरू ताल छनकते हों, तब देख बहारें होली की
-नज़ीर अकबराबादी
Flirting like the Gods
हमारी ज़िन्दगी यूँ तो है इक काँटों भरा जंगल
अगर लगने लगे मधुबन, समझ लेना कि होली है
बुलाये जब तुझे वो गीत गा कर ताल पर ढफ की
जिसे माना किये दुश्मन, समझ लेना कि होली है
-नीरज गोस्वामी
अगर लगने लगे मधुबन, समझ लेना कि होली है
बुलाये जब तुझे वो गीत गा कर ताल पर ढफ की
जिसे माना किये दुश्मन, समझ लेना कि होली है
-नीरज गोस्वामी
Holi celebration at Banke Bihari Temple
Phool means flower, the main significance of the event is that instead of dry and wet colors, people use flowers to play Holi. Flower Holi is celebrated at Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India. Holi is an ancient festival observed in India. It is also known as “festival of spring” signifying arrival of spring and end of the winter season. The festival is quite popular in Uttar Pradesh which is Lord Krishna's birthplace
Photo: Zabeeh Afaque
हवा में नशा ही नशा फ़ज़ा में रंग ही रंग
ये किस ने पैरहन अपना उछाल रखा है
- अहमद फ़राज़
.
Women in happy families suddenly become “irrelevant” on the death of her husband. Becoming a widow seems to disentitle you of a life of joy – as it ought to – what do you do when you become “irrelevant” for society?
Abandoned by families, ostracised by traditions, most of them are sent to Vrindavan to take refuge in temples. While new memories of patience and acceptance formed, older ones of their families and homes waned away. Several widows having sought refuge at Vrindavan temples over 30 years ago, one such widow could not recall how she arrived at Vrindavan, the quest for food and shelter leading her way. She smiled, having radically accepted her fate, saying “this is my family for as far as I can remember” while looking at her fellow widows. They are the widows of Vrindavan - who find peace despite their denial of happiness, unlike us who can’t find either.
.
ये किस ने पैरहन अपना उछाल रखा है
- अहमद फ़राज़
.
Women in happy families suddenly become “irrelevant” on the death of her husband. Becoming a widow seems to disentitle you of a life of joy – as it ought to – what do you do when you become “irrelevant” for society?
Abandoned by families, ostracised by traditions, most of them are sent to Vrindavan to take refuge in temples. While new memories of patience and acceptance formed, older ones of their families and homes waned away. Several widows having sought refuge at Vrindavan temples over 30 years ago, one such widow could not recall how she arrived at Vrindavan, the quest for food and shelter leading her way. She smiled, having radically accepted her fate, saying “this is my family for as far as I can remember” while looking at her fellow widows. They are the widows of Vrindavan - who find peace despite their denial of happiness, unlike us who can’t find either.
.
