Holi festival celebrated differently in Mathura

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Mathura, Mar 5: Despite being in the same district, Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated differently in 'Braj Bhoomi'.

There are sight differences in the ways 'Braj Bhoomi' Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Phalen, Nandgaon and Barsana celebrate Holi. All these places play an important role in the Hindu mythology, where Lord Krishna spent his childhood.

This year, the most notable spots which attracted the tourists for their unique ways of Holi celebration were Phalen, Nandgaon and Barsana.

In Jatwari village near Phalen, a huge bonfire was lit on Holi eve to commemorate the victory of good over evil and the Prahlad and his aunt Holika episode was re-enacted.

'Panda' Bishan Sharma (19) walked through the bonfire and came out unscathed. It came as a bolt from the blue for a large number of devouts who had specially gathered for the heroic act.

''This was the first time for me. I was little scared whether I will be able to live up to people's expectations or not. But Lord Krishna showered blessings on me and I succeeded,'' Mr Sharma said.

''If one has deep faith in God, nothing is impossible. One can even conquer death...,'' he added.

The devotees took out a procession to greet the 'panda', while women showered flowers on him, believing it to be a blessing of 'Kishan Kanhaiya'.

Since early morning, pandits were performing yajna at the ancient Gopal temple for the safety of the 'panda'. Later, he was blessed by Sukhi and Lakhan, who had been performing the heroic act every year on Holi for the last 27 years.

In Nandgaon, men of Barsana, known as 'gopis', raided the village to win over the temple of Shriji and women beat them with sticks to keep them off. Holi songs known as 'Hori' were sung by women, which were based on the dialogues exchanged by Lord Krishna and his beloved Radhika.

'Latthmaar' Holi, too, attracted a large number of people. Men of Nandgaon raided the Radikha temple in Barsana by furling a flag over it, while women tried to fend them off by large bamboo sticks.

UNI

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