Beat and say Happy Holi!

 

Would you believe me if I said beating men with a stick is a traditional way of celebration in India? I didn’t, when my friend told me about it. In Barsana, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, people celebrate the festival of colours – Holi, wherein women beat men with (Lathi) sticks. If you just said ‘what nonsense’, you need to read further.

My friend said that this practice had its roots in Hindu mythology. Lord Krishna used to visit Barsana to playfully tease Radha and her friends by throwing coloured water on them and in turn, they would beat him with sticks and chase him out of town. Thus till date, men from Lord Krishna’s town (Nandgaon) visit Barsana and the women beat them with sticks; not literally beat them blue of course!

The little town of Barsana welcomes thousands of tourists and visitors every year around this time as several people wish to witness the ‘Lathmar Holi’. And guess what? While the rest of the country celebrates only two days of rituals and colours, Barsana begins its celebrations at least fifteen days prior to the actual day.

Today and tomorrow are the main days of Holi and not only Barsana, but the entire country would be painted in the colours of VIBGYOR! Wouldn’t it be magnificent? I’d love to be a part of it someday! :)