Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsane and Bikaner’s Unique Holi

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Holi is the Festival of colors. Many colors combine together to give a name “Rangotsav” to Holi. As many color that diverse are the styles of playing Holi. It seems as if Holi goes to different places and drench itself into diverse colors. There are many states of India, where if you see people playing Holi its remembrance will stay with you for the whole life. In Brij itself you can see variety oh Holi playing styles.

 

Vrindavan Holi

Holi of this place can’t be forgotten even if you try forgetting it. In Vrindavan, Holi celebration starts from Ekadashi itself. Celebration of Holi, starts in all temples of Radha and Krishna on the next day of Ekadashi. On this day, Holi of flowers and Lathmar Holi is played. In the Holi of flowers, large amount of flowers are collected and are thrown on each other. This sight of flowers along with the echo of “Radhe-Radhe” reminds us of the Dwapar Yug.

 

In Vrindavan, the sculpture of Banke Bihari is placed outside the temple. As if Bihari ji has himself come to play Holi. At this place, Holi is celebrated for seven days. First of all with flowers, then with Gulal, dry colors, wet colors. This Holi dip everyone in it’s shades. The hue of Holi of Vrindavan’s Banke bihari temple is unique. People stand in queue for several hours to play Holi with their adorable.

 

Lathmar Holi of Barsane

Holi is one of the most ancient festivals in India. It was originally named as ‘Holika’. It is celebrated in most of the parts of the country. The celebrations of Holi are full of immense zeal and fervor. It is also one of the most popular Indian festivals abroad. The celebrations of Holi differ from region to region, as if the Holi in Mathura and Vridavana, differs from those celebrated in Manipur, West Bengal and Orissa. It is said that the trend of colors and the modern form of Holi was introduced in Mathura and Vridavana by Lord Krishna himself and that is people of this region celebrate Holi religiously. One of the most famous kind of Holi celebrations in these areas are the ‘Lathmaar Holi’.

Lathmaar Holi is celebrated in Barsana, a small village at a distance of about 15 km from Vrindavan. It is known throughout India for its traditional Holi celebrations. No other city in the country can match the grandeur of the festival here. Barsana is actually the birth place of Lord Krishna’s beloved and divine consort, Radha. This is also the place where Lord Krishna used to play pranks on his beloved and Gopis (Radha’s companion). This naughty festivity still reflects in the celebrations of Holi in this village. Holi here is regarded as the celebration of the divine love of Radha and Krishna.

According to the folklore and mythological tales, Krishna in one of his pranks, applied dark colors on the cheeks of Radha, as she was fairer than him. This initiated the tradition of celebrating Holi not only here but in the whole country. Following the tradition, men from Nandgaon, the place where Krishna spent his childhood and early days, come to play Holi with the women of Barsana. Here, women and girls welcome them not with colors, but with stout sticks.

All this takes place in pursuit of men, trying to put a flag on the temple dedicated to Radha Rani. To stop them from doing so, women beat them hard with sticks. Some of them are even made to wear saris and skirts, all in the spirit of the festival. On the other hand, men, knowing what awaits them, come fully padded, carrying shields to protect themselves. The sight of women beating men is electrifying. The environment echoes with the reverberating sound produced by the stick hammering the shields.

Lathmaar Holi is definitely an interesting Holi celebration, wherein men patiently face the charged womenfolk. This is considered the sweet revenge women take for the ancient pranks played by Lord Krishna on them. However, after all the women folk is tired and their game is over, it is now the chance for the men to reciprocate. They drench the women with the colors of kesudo (a natural dye) and palash, thereby balancing the deal. At the end of the day, the Holi celebrations at Barsana present an unforgettable life time experience, downed with the spirit of devotion and affection for the Lord.

 

Mathura Holi

After the Barsana’s Lathmar Holi, Baldev’s (Dauji’s) Holi is played in Mathura. Girls (Gopi) beat boys(Gwale) with the hunters made of cloth. The real recreation of Holi of Brij Dham can be enjoyed here only. Holi is played on different days with full liveliness and amusement in all the Radha krishna temples located here. A captivating view is presented by Holi of Flowers and dance. The view of Vrindavan’s Banke Bihari mandir’s Holi is just exceptionally beautiful.

 

Bikaneri Holi

Holi is played in a unique style in Bikaner. At one place in Bikaner, Dolhchi Holi is played. Dolchi, is a utensil made of leather, used to carry water on back. This Holi is organised on Harsha Chowk of Bikaner. Thousands of people come here to see this style of Holi.

 

To play this Holi of Bikaner, colored water is added with Gulal of affection in Dolchi. Then women fill it up and bash it hard on the back of men. This echo of bashing goes to far distances. The history of this tradition of Holi is near about four hundred years old.

 

Also, on the occasion of Holi you can find people organising mockery. That is, you see these guise people everywhere in this place. This arrangement of mockery is carried up to eight days. Where someone is seated in form of Lord Bholenath, and some other as lord Vishnu.

 

Punjabi Holi

In Punjab, the Anandpur Sahb’s Holi Muhalla is really famous. This is called as Holi of Ram, Krishan’s Holi, Holi of Radha, and Holi of Lord Shiva of Banaras. At the time of Holi in Punjab, a Holi Mohalla is arranged.

 

Banarasi Holi

In Banaras, from the day of Ekadashi only Abri and Gulal start flying in the air. During this time, a boom of Holi gatherings take place. Here, evryone applies Gulal and hug each other. Yet time could not put a dust on Holi of Banaras. The group of youths can be seen singing and dancing on the songs of Faag, playing drums etc.

 

As per the traditions of Holi at this place a procession is carried out. In which the groom rides on a chariot. On the arrival of procession, the groom is welcomed as per the traditions. A pavilion or an open hall is decorated. Due to a debate of bride and groom in that pavilion, the procession is sent back without giving them the bride. This way it’s a different style of playing Holi.