By Brij Khandelwal, IANS,
Agra/Mathura/Vrindavan : With the winter nip remaining later than usual, Holi revelries in Agra and the surrounding Braj area of Uttar Pradesh, which last almost two months, began on a delayed note this year but have now picked up momentum. Holi is scheduled to be celebrated March 20.
“Normally it is a 50-day affair starting with Basant Panchami,” said Acharya Jaimini of Vrindavan.
Holi in Braj – comprising five districts of Agra division – is a fascinating cultural exposition as well as a boisterous and no-holds-barred celebration inspired by a range of traditions, including the Krishna-Radha folklore, the Raslilas and the examples of Mughal emperors like Akbar and Jahangir who enthusiastically participated in the festival.
“This festival is more socio-cultural than religious as all communities join the festivities, sing, dance and throw colours and occasionally let out excess steam through violence,” said Jagannath Poddar, director of NGO Friends of Vrindavan, referring to the “Lat Maar” holi of Barsana town where woman revellers beat up men with sticks.
The festivities began with Holi celebrations at the Dwarkadheesh temple in Mathura Sunday. “We mostly use natural colour made from mixing ‘tesu ka phool’ (Tesu flower) with lukewarm water, so that the little Krishna doesn’t catch cold,” a temple official said.
In the narrow lanes of Barsana, thousands of pilgrims, showering colours and rose petals, lined up along the 252 steps to the Radha temple on the hill to witness its Lat Maar Holi.
The Barsana Huriyarins (women) start preparations a month in advance. “The mothers-in-law feed their daughters-in-law rich food to be able to participate and show their prowess on the battle field on Holi. It is a show of love, fun and equality, one that even the gods descend to witness,” said Mohan, a resident of the town.
Traditionally, it is believed that Lord Krishna with his friends gops (men) from Nandgaon town in Mathura district, went to his beloved Radha’s village in Barsana and played Holi.
“On Sunday, the gops (men) from Nandgaon had visited Barsana to invite Radha and gopis to play Holi. Laddoos were offered to welcome the gops and a session of Holi bhajans and dances followed in the evening.”
“The temple priests threw laddoos on the devotees marking the Laddoo ki holi,” said a devotee Manoj. Non-stop beating of dholaks, mridangas (percussion instruments) and majheeras (cymbals) heightened the effect.
In Vrindavan, the procession of Shyama Shyam will start from the Radha Ballabh temple Wednesday and all the way, the local residents will play Holi.
Lots of foreign devotees from the ISKCON temple will join the festivities. In Falaun and Jatwari villages, devotees will pass through balls of fire March 19. The famous Huranga of Baldev is on March 21. The local dance form Charkula, with women holding lit lamps, will be held throughout the night in several villages near Goverdhan on March 21.
Agra city will also be soaked in colours like the hinterland around.
With changing lifestyles and social values, Holi revelry with lots of hullabaloo has now toned down.
“Earlier it used to be impossible to move out of the house because of rowdies stopping everyone, throwing dirt or demanding money for celebrations. We have gradually become urbane and civil, but the rural areas continue to engage in full-throated singing and dancing to the beat of dholaks and nagadas,” said Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.
Agra residents are all set for the Holi celebrations – but with a difference.
Several organisations are busy campaigning for a safe, dry-coloured Holi, while Hindi daily Dainik Jagran has launched a campaign to save green trees being felled for the Holi bonfire.
(Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at [email protected])