Holi - Festival of Colours

Holi is the festival of colors which was celebrated all over India, about 10 days ago.Anyway, here in Australia we are celebrating it on 26th of April at the Hare Krishna Vally (https://www.facebook.com/events/1376132762693869/). You can join me for this wonderful, fun filled event. Last year, it was a grand success and this year, more are expected.

Gopeshwar Mahadev

Radharani @ Sreeji's temple

Sreeji's temple complex

A little bit of background for this festival is that the name for Holi comes from Holika who was a demoness, sister of Hiranyakashipu.At the instigation of her brother, she wanted to kill Prahlad.She had a blanket which was imune to Fire.So, she wore that blanket and stepped into fire along with Prahlad.Lord Vishnu arranged that a mighty wind blowed away her blanket and she was burnt to death.To commemorate this event and the victory over evil, in the towns and villages of india, an effigy of Holika is burnt.Also, people take this oppertunity to get rid of all the unwanted stuff from their house and remove the clutter and rubbish into the fire called as,Holika Dahan (the burning away of Holika).

Lathi Mar Holi - Beating with stick

What is more interesting is the Lath mar Holi. It is the Holi in which women folk hit men with sticks.It takes place days before the actual Holi in the neighbouring towns of Barsana and Nandgaon near Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where thousands of Hindus and tourists congregate, each year.The history and explanation of this strange custom and behaviour of the woman is that once during his earthly pastimes, Lord Krishna visited his beloved Radha's village on this day and playfully teased her and her friends. Taking offence at this, the women of Barsana chased him away. Since then, men from Krishna's village, Nandgaon, visit Barsana to play Holi in the town which has the distinction of having the famous temple called Shreeji's temple dedicated to Srimati RadhaRani.

In the sprawling compound of the Radha Rani temple in Barsana, thousands gather to witness the Lath Mar holi when women beat up men with sticks as those on the sidelines become hysterical, sing Holi Songs and shout Sri Radhey or Sri Krishna. The Holi songs of Braj mandal are sung in pure Braj Bhasha.

On the first day of Lath Mar Holi, gopas the Cowherd men from Nandgaon come to Barsana to play Holi with the gopis (Cow Girls) of Barsana. The festival begins with a ceremony at the Radha Rani temple. After this ceremony gopas then march out of the temple on the Rang Rangeeli Gali where they stop to play Holi with the gopis, who stand in groups along the street. The second day gopas from Barsana go to Nandgaon to play holi with gopis at Nandgaon.

Mind you, it is not only a custom but a show of false anger, fun and entertainment.

One of my good friend from Vrindavan, who actually visited Shreeji's temple on this occasion sent me these photographs that I am posting here.

I hope to see some of you on 26th April at Hare Krishna Valley, Bambra, Victoria.