Cold wave dampens Holi spirit in Braj

Vijay Upadhyay

Agra. As Holi began with ritual bonfires lit across the country, the uncharacteristic cold wave combined with untimely rainfall has played spoilsport in the preparations for the festival in the Braj region. This fabled land of Lord Krishna, comprises six districts of Agra and Mathura.

With the Laddu Holi of Nandgaon and Lathamar Holi of Barsana already over, the festivities formally started on Saturday evening in the rest of the country with the ritual burning of Holi on virtually every road crossing.

Though the Holi bonfires are usually set alight at midnight, this time, a lunar eclipse falling on Saturday night forced the people to perform this ritual at about 6 in the evening as the temples were closed early on Saturday due to the eclipse.

The fervour that is reflected on the joyous, coloured faces of the locals is unmatched as they specially prepare tanks of water colour besides the roads to drench passersby as well as themselves.

The principal attraction of Holi remains the enchanting combination of music and colours that is sometimes also mingled with the intoxicating brew of Thandai, a preparation of spices, milk and sometimes Bhaang.

But this year, due to the sudden drop in the day temperature as a result of untimely rains, water-based colours have not been the first choice for many even in the Braj region, where powder colours like Gulal and Abeer are being used.

University examinations being held in the entire Braj region by the Agra University are acting as yet another spoilsport with thousands of students engaged in preparations for the examinations, paying little or no attention to the festivities.

Talking to Sunday Pioneer, Girish Goswami, a priest at the Bihari Ji temple in Vrindavan said that Holi was traditionally a festival that was restricted in the Braj region but the energy and fervour involved in the one-week festival is enough to cause this festival to spread across the world.

Now, it has even become popular in other nations having been recognised as a major "tourism event" by the Government of India, bringing in thousands of tourists each year.

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