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Vrindavan Holi
March 05 - 11, 2018
vrindavan holi
Colours Brings Joy To Vrindavan Widows Widows celebrate Holi for many years with Sulabh founder Dr Pathak
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hey sang, they danced, they laughed and hugged all who were around. They threw flowers at each other, they played with gulaal. Defying all traditional barriers and taboos, hundreds and thousands of widows, for sixth year in a row, celebrated the festival of colours, Holi, at the ancient Gopinath temple in Vrindavan on February 27. The Widows of Vrindavan drenched themselves in rainbow colours – violet, green, yellow, red – as they joyously participated in the Holi celebrations annually organised by Sulabh International Social Service Organisation. Sulabh founder Dr Bindeshwar Pathak joined the widow mothers and danced to the tunes of the melodious music of the devotional Holi songs and Krishna bhajans that infused
Quick Glance Widows of Vrindavan drenched in rainbow colours on February 27 Dr Bindeshwar Pathak joined the widow mothers and danced with them Once what was a forbidden day for widows, is now a joyous occasion
Defying all traditional barriers and taboos, hundreds and thousands of widows, for sixth year in a row, celebrated the festival of colours in the onlookers’ hearts devotional fervour and divine love. The festival was not restricted to widows and Sulabh but also attracted many Indian and foreigner photographers, eager to capture the essence of this colourful festival. Once what was a forbidden participation for these women in whites, is now an occasion of throwing petals and coloured powders into the air, smearing each other’s faces with multicolours, and dancing to the groovy Holi tunes. It is seen as an important symbol of ending centuries of oppressions of widows. For decades, thousands of widows, who are abandoned by their families or decide to abandon them on their own given the circumstances, have headed to the pilgrim town of Vrindavan which is about 150 kilometres east of the national capital, New Delhi. They took shelter in this city of Krishna and his beloved ‘Radha Rani’ to pray and find a peaceful life.
It was in 2013 that their lives of resignation took on a different meaning. It was the year when Sulabh International founder Dr Bindeshwar Pathak’s continuous efforts led to their breaking free from the shackles of traditions. It was then that for the first time a group of 800 widows created waves by participating in the annual Hindu festival of colours. This was a symbolic beginning of the end to an ingrained form of injustice. The age-old orthodox tradition prohibits widows from celebrating any festival. In fact, they are not even allowed to introduce any colours to their lives – thus the white attire. A thousands-of-yearsold Hindu text described widows as “more inauspicious than all other inauspicious things,” and thus after husband’s death women remain virtual pariahs in many parts of India. These cast-off women were (are) seen as a financial drain and,
considering even their shadows are a ‘curse’, have traditionally sung hymns and begged in the pilgrimage city on the banks of the Yamuna river. The ‘shame’ of widowhood was (is) very strong in some traditional quarters – they’re not allowed to celebrate, attend marriages, they’re supposed to live in seclusion, shave their heads and dress in white. Sulabh International has been pioneering social work in India and was tasked with one more when the Supreme Court asked them in August, 2012 to work for these women. That is when Sulabh devised the Widows’ Holi and since 2013 celebrations have been knocking on their doors. Over the years, Dr Pathak has been campaigning to enable the suffering widows to lead a normal and dignified life. Through his multiple initiatives for ameliorating these women, he has brought a tangible difference in their lives, and has thus succeeded in his mission to give them a new lease of life. Sulabh has been providing a monthly allowance of Rs 2000/- a month for basic necessities and teaching skills. The festival of Holi has always been a boisterous Hindu festival. Colours play a central role in the celebrations, so much so that it is commonly known as the festival of colours. But for these women it is the definition of freedom, happiness, upliftment and acceptance in the society. It is the true achievement of good over the evil.