What is Lathmar Holi is one of the local variations of the most famed Holi festival of India. Described as the festival of colours, Holi celebrations are very much unique in combining enthusiastic dances, cheerful moods, joyful unions, exciting colours and festive merriment all around. According to myths, Holi began in the Barsana region of India, which includes Vrindavan, Mathura, Nandgaon and Barsana. Interestingly, the festival here is celebrated with not just colors, but with lathis.
As suggested by the very name of this local variation, Holi events here is associated with sticks known as ‘Lath’ and beatings known as ‘Mar’. As per the customary practice, the women carry sticks in their hands to beat up the men whom they catch and the men have to do a lot to save themselves from the beatings from the energized and charged women folk. Lets know the story behind this unique form of the What is Lathmar Holi.
Story of Lathmar Holi
The legend behind Lathmar Holi is closely associated with Lord Krishna and Radha.
While the celebration of Holi festival takes place in every region and city of India, Holi celebration in Barsana has remained famous since last many years. This is because; Barsana is a historical area covering a huge area of Vrindavan, Mathura and other nearby areas.
Here, the festival entices worldwide pilgrims and tourists in the name of Mathura Vrindavan Holi, while it has many special traditions and customs. Mathura is popular as the birthplace of the deity Lord Krishna and Vrindavan serves the place, where Gopala (Lord Krishna as a small boy) grew up during his childhood.
Krishna during his young age cribbed in front of his mother Yashoda about fairness of Radha, while he had a dark complexion. On listening this, Yashoda suggested Krishna to color Radha with varying colors in a playful way. What is Lathmar Holi Over the years, Lord Krishna thus travels from Nandgaon, his own village to Barsana, where Radha stays. This leads to the evolution of a new tradition i.e. Barsana Holi, in which Krishna colored Radha and other Gopis (her friends). On the other side, Radha and other girls playfully beat Krishna with sticks.
If you follow Hindi calendar dates and days, you will likely come to know that Holi in Barsana, also popularly known as Mathura Holi begins just before one week of the actual date for the Holi festival. Barsana is a nearby village of Mathura and native place of Radha. Since many years, the place has remained famous for Lathmar Holi, where women playfully beat women with the sticks. On the other side, men use shields to protect them as much as they are able to do so. Lathmar holi in Barsana would be celebrated.
Lastly, if you give your time to know unique aspects of Vrindavan Holi, you will likely come to know about the famous Banke Bihari Temple of Vrindavan known popularly for the celebration of Phoolon wali Holi on 11th day i.e. Ekadashi before the actual date of What is Lathmar Holi. According to this festival, temple gates opened at about 4pm in the evening, while priests throw flowers at their devotees.
Why is Lathmar Holi Celebrated?
According to legend, it is believed that Lord Krishna from Nandgaon visited Radha’s (his beloved) town in Barsana during Holi. Lord Krishna who was known to be friendly with all the ‘Gopis‘, applied colour on Radha’s face in jest. The friends and the elder females of the town, in turn, took offence and drove him out of Barsana, with bamboo sticks.
Lathmar Holi thus keeps in tune with this tale and is a recreation of this episode from Lord Krishna’s Life. Every year, men from Nandgaon visit the town of Barsana and the women there, drive them out, playing with sticks (i.e., lathi) and colours, What is Lathmar Holi.
How is it celebrated?
The festival of Lathmar Holi is celebrated for four days, the women start preparing for the festivities a month in advance.
First-day in Celebration of Lathmar Holi:
The celebrations begin with both men and women gathering at the temple premises to begin the rituals leading to the festivities. After the rituals are complemented, men and women throng the colorful bylanes. What is Lathmar Holi The women smear the men with colorful powders and ensure that no one is spared. The women folk dance to classical songs sung by elders and indulge in festivities the entire day.
Second Day Celebration of Lathmar Holi:
On the second day, Gops also known as “shepherds” from Nandgaon visit the village of Barsana. They celebrate Holi with the Gopis of Barsana by smearing their faces with color powders and tease them playfully.
Third-Day Celebration of Lathmar Holi
On the third day, Gops from Barsan heads to the village of Nandgaon to celebrate Holi with the Gopis in Nandgaon. The men visit the Shri Radha Rani Temple, the only temple in India built in the honor of Radha.
The villagers enact the scene at the time of What is Lathmar Holi to celebrate the long-standing tradition. The men sneak into the compound of the Shri Radha Rani Temple built in the honor of Radha. The men begin teasing the women by singing provocative songs to attract their attention.
In turn, women express their displeasure by playfully beating the men with bamboo sticks to chase them away from the temple.
The men come well-prepared by carrying shields and wearing padded clothing to bear the brunt of the beatings from women. Moreover, men playfully shield themselves from women who throw sticks at them.
After the scenes are enacted, men and women celebrate What is Lathmar Holi by smearing color powders and splashing each other with watercolors. They also repeatedly chant the names of Lord Krishna and Shri Radha.
The entire village displays a colorful look during the Lathmar Holi festivities. The unlucky men who are captured by the womenfolk are dressed in women’s clothes and made to dance in public.
Fourth or Final day Celebration of Lathmar Holi
On the final day, the womenfolk from both the villages gather and celebrate Holi among themselves by smearing each other with color powders. The mischievous men sneak into the festivities and douse the women folk with watercolors and annoy them What is Lathmar Holi.
How To Reach the Lathmar Holi Venues?
The nearest Railway Station is Mathura, located at a distance of 12kms from Nandgaon and the nearest Airport is in Delhi (142kms). There are also state buses and taxis available from the nearby cities.
The festival may seem intimidating but it is definitely not. The celebrations are in good spirits and so is the commemoration of the tales associated with the place. There is vibrance and good cheer all around, that depict the true spirits of Mathura. It is one of the biggest festivals of North India that is closely associated with Indian mythology. One must definitely visit Mathura during the festival of Holi to immerse themselves in the wonderful colours of love and happiness.
