Barsana displayed its unique hue of
Holi festivities with the world-famous Lathmar Holi on March 04. The celebrations were held at a place called Rangili
Gali near Ladliji temple. The whole atmosphere was made alive with colorfully
clad men and women and the beats of traditional music. The highlight of the
celebrations was the lighthearted teasing of men and the playful retaliation of
women by beating the men up with wooden sticks.
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| Women beating up men with wooden sticks during the Lathmar holi in Barsana |
Men or Gwalas as they are called in Nandagaon
reached Barsana in large groups to play the Lathmar Holi with the Gopis of
Barsana. Men were decked in traditional attire and headgear called Pagadi and
women in Lehanga-Chunari for the occasion. Singing traditional Holi songs and laced
with shields, water guns and Gulal the Gwala-Mandali made their way to Ladliji
temple. To welcome the party, people of Barsana were ready with a large
quantity of color made from Tesu flowers and huge water guns. As soon as the
party reached the temple, they were drenched in the beautiful yellow color of Tesu
flowers.
The revelries
of Lathmar Holi began in Rangili Gali with the playful
teasing and lighthearted jokes of men from Nandagaon. Women, ready with wooden
sticks, beat them up amid the environment of high-spirited fun and laughter. Furthermore,
the traditional Holi songs of Brij and the dancing enthralled everyone with the
charm of the ancient land of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani.
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| A dancer dancing on the beats of traditional Holi songs of Brij |
Amidst
all the fun, an age-old tradition of presenting a flag symbolizing Lord Krishna
was also observed. As per the traditions, the flag was smeared in Gulal and
decked in flower garlands for the ritual. Then, as a symbolic representation of
Lord Krishna, it was taken in front of the statue of Shree Radha Rani at the
Ladliji temple where the union of Radha-Krishna was performed by the temple
priests. Afterwards, folk songs were sung in Brij Bhasha by groups of folk
singers from Nandagaon and Barsana.
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