Play Holi with Sticks at Barsana
Those who love colors and those who don’t, Holi is a festival which attracts both. Holi- it is the biggest festival of color which is celebrated every year in spring. With love in the air and colors in the surroundings every young heart dance with joy and merriment in this particular time of the year. Let’s go to Barsana, a village near mathura to enjoy an unique Holi- the lathmar holi. Want to know the story? Gather around…
The Beginning
Lathmar Holi is celebrated in two towns Barsana and Nandgaon near Mathura, the birth place of Lord Krishna. On the day of Holi, once Lord Krishna visited his beloved Radha’s village Barsana and teased her and her friends playfully. The gopis (shepherdesses) of Barsana then went offended and chased him away. Since then the men from Nandgaon, the village of Lord Krishna visited Barsana every year to play Holi with the gopis there.
The Present Celebration
On the day of Lathmar Holi, many people come to the compound of Barsana Radharani temple to enjoy this peculiar, fun-packed Lathmar Holi.
The festival begins at Radha Rani Temple with the holy celebration. After the celebration, men go to Rang Rangeeli Gali to play holi. Then men from Nandgaon sing provocative songs to attract the attention of women of Barsana. Offended women chased them with long sticks or lathis and beat the men in turn who protect themselves with the shields. Generally, women of Barsana prepare for the Lathmar Holi in advance to show their expertise in the field of Holi-battle.
It is a festival of love, equality and fun.