Men in women's attire celebrate Holi in Bikaner

Bikaner, Feb 27 (ANI): Bikaner male dancers celebrated the festival of colours 'Holi' by performing traditional dances while dressed in women's attire.

Holi celebrations of Bikaner come after the famous 'Lathmar Holi' festivities of Uttar Pradesh' Mathura city, where women playfully strike men with staves.

In Bikaner, men either dress up in their traditional costumes with colourful turbans, or as women. They sing folksongs and dance till late at night.

The festivities of Holi began almost a month back in Bikaner.

Satya Narayan, a local artiste said, "We celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm and in a traditional way. We start with our celebrations after the beginning of Basant Panchami. We have been celebrating Holi in its traditional form ever since Bikaner was established."

"The men who get dressed up as women start preparing for the dances and performances one month before," he added.

This year "Holi" will be celebrated on February 28 and March 1.

Holi is a festival of joy, mirth and buoyancy, and is celebrated when both man and nature cast off the winter gloom. Holi heralds the arrival of spring, the season of hope and new beginnings and marks the rekindling of the spirit of life. (ANI)