One of the major attractions during
the week-long Holi festivities in Brij, the world-famous Lathmar Holi was
played in Nandagaon today. To play the Lathmar Holi with the women of
Nandagaon, men from Barsana reached the village of Nandagaon in the large crowd.
The celebrations began at around 3:30
pm with a procession in which men from Nandagaon walked with a flag as a
symbolic representation of Shree Radha Rani. The procession ended at Yashoda
Kunda where men indulged in Bhang-Thandai for some time and prepped up for the
celebrations of Lathmar Holi by tying Pagadi on their head. The Pagadi is meant to provide some
cushioning against the beating. From Yashoda Kunda, the revellers reached Nanda
Bhawan, where Nanda Baba once lived and the event of Lathmar Holi was organized.
At Nanda Bhawan, the environment was
already charged up and men were welcomed with shots of water and yellow color
made from Tesu flowers. Soon the men started to tease the women with
lighthearted remarks and tried to smear their faces with Gulal. Women in an
effort to thwart the attempts of men started playfully beating them up with
large wooden sticks. Amid all the teasing and beating, folk singers were
singing Traditional Holi songs in Brij Bhasha and introduced hundreds of
onlookers coming from various parts of the world with the culture of Brij
region. The fun of Lathmar Holi continued till the sunset.
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