Life has always been UNPREDICTABLE. You never know what’s going to happen in the very next moment. And that’s exactly what the world experienced in 2019. The luxuries, the comforts, the togetherness, the celebrations, in fact everything came to a halt and got a new meaning after COVID-19 hit us.
Just before the first lockdown, that was announced on 23rd March 2020, I was lucky enough to travel to Uttar Pradesh, India, to witness and celebrate the FESTIVAL OF COLORS, HOLI at the birth place of Lord Shri Krishna.
As it was my first trip to the Divine place, I wanted to cover all the main events be it the PHOOLON KI HOLI (Holi with Flowers) or the famous LATH MAAR HOLI (a special event showcasing Woman Empowerment) or the Widow Holi (a special event for widows)
2. Lath Maar Holi of Nandgaon & Barsana
From there I went to the streets of Nand Gaon where Lath Maar Holi is celebrated (Holi with sticks). The story behind its celebration is that Lord Krishna used to tease Radha and she on feeling offended used to drive him out of Barsana with sticks. It is so said that the thought process behind that was to make women brave enough to handle tough situations back home while the men go out to other villages for work. Till today the ritual of Lath Maar Holi is celebrated in Nandgaon and Barsana to recreate the scenes of Krishna and his friends coming to meet Radha and her friends and being driven out by them with sticks. It was a beautiful event to witness wherein a man sits at the center of a street and cover himself with a shield. Then the ladies of the village hit him with sticks as he tries to save the blows with the shield.
3. Varindavan- Phoolon Ki Holi at Banke Bihari Temple
The next day I went to capture the most amazing and soulful event of FLOWER HOLI. As the festival of Holi is the festival of colors played with gulal spreading happiness and joy, and comes in the season of Spring when the flowers starts blooming and spreading their fragrance and creating an aura of positivity and peace, a special Holi is played with the flowers at BANKE BIHARI TEMPLE, VARINDAVAN on the day of EKADSHI that falls few days before Holi.
The four entry doors of the Banke Bihari Temple opens at 4PM and a half hour Holi is played there with flowers where the petals are thrown from first floor on the Almighty and His devotees to soak them in the colors of happiness joy and prosperity.
And these flowers were falling your mind just goes blank and your soul celebrates the connection with the Almighty only to get purified and redefine the purpose of your life. With that sense of Enlightenment you pledge to serve the humanity and make the world a better place.
1. Nandgaon - The Holi of Brotherhood
So I first reached Nand Gaon, the place where Lord Krishna was taken after his birth to be handed over to Nand Ji. The Holi is celebrated in the beautiful temple of brothers, called the KRISHNA BALRAM Temple.
The Temple was Jam packed and I was curious that how will they play Holi here. But suddenly the devotees started greeting each other and throwing dry colors on each other. And the next moment the whole temple was filled with colors flying colors blended with spirituality.
A special Aarti took place to seek blessings of the Almighty as the World was celebrating his Arrival of his human Avatar on Earth.
That was the last trip made before lockdown and the memories are still afresh in the mind and heart as the lockdown gave us clarity of what actually matters to us. The richness of Indian culture lies in the bonds of togetherness, specially experienced on the festivals that blends different religions in the threads of unity, love and belongingness.
We need to understand the fact that the balance of nature has to be restored and maintained so that we are able to travel freely, celebrate our bonds of love and create many more memories to cherish later.
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