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HOLI Holi heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India. According to a legend, Hiranya Kashyap, the demon who ruled over 'Sapta Deep' believed himself to be more powerful than God. He contemplated killing his youngest son Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu after he refused to worship him as God. Holika, the demon's sister who possessed a divine, garment to protect her from fire, agreed to enter the burning pyre with Prahlad in her lap but got burnt herself. Holi thus signifies the triumph of good over evil and is marked by grand festivities all over India and particularly in the Braj area where it is celebrated with great gaiety and fervour. It is believed that Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, in human form played holi with the Gopi's (cowherd maids) in the ancient past. Keeping this tradition alive in Braj, Holi celebrations last for more than a week and are marked by people sprinkling colored water & smearing colored powder on each other. The playful teasing of the Gopis by the Gopas (cowherd boys) is enacted by groups of men and women through special Holi songs and dances, called Rasiya. Barsana Holi 48 km. from Mathura at Barsana, is celebrated the famous "Latthmaar Holi" of Braj. Tradition has it that Krishna from Nandgaon use to come to Barsana to play Holi with Radha alongwith his Gopi friends. The Gopis after merriment chased away the Gopas of Nandgaon by beating them with "lathis". So it came to be known as the 'Latthmar Holi' of Barsana. To this day, the village women have the freedom to literally take up cudgels against their menfolk, a right they exercise with all enthusiasm and shower colored water as an expression of joy. The main celebrations at Barsana, take place at the Ladliji temple, dedicated to Sri Radha Rani, (the beloved of Sri Krishna). Nandgaon The day after Barsana Holi, it's the turn of Nandgaon to get soaked with the myriad hues of holi. The men and women of Barsana go to Nandgaon (7 km.) to play Latthmar Holi with each other. Dadjee Ka Huranga (Baldeo) 20 km. from Mathura, the town is named after Balram the elder brother of Sri Krishna. A temple dedicated to Baldeo stands in the centre of the town. The Holi festival celebrated here is famous as Daujee Ka Huranga. Men & women collect here in large numbers to play holi. Falen Falen, a village 15 km. from Kosi, celebrates Holi in a very special way and has great significance. A "Panda" (Holyman) walks bare feet over holy pyres without getting burnt, symbolising Prahlad's emergence from the burning pyre unharmed. |
