Women Beat Up Men With Sticks As Barsana In Mathura Celebrates ‘Lathmar Holi’

Mathura’s Barsana has its unique way of celebrating the festival of colors with great enthusiasm.

Residents of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura celebrated 'Lathmar Holi' on Tuesday in the Barsana region. The festival of colors start seven days before the actual celebration in Mathura.  This unique style of Holi is considered a symbol of love for Radha Rani. The men from Krishna's village, Nandgaon, come to Barsana where Radha and her friends lived. Women dress up as ‘Gopis’ and the men as ‘Gops’. The women playfully 'hit' the men with sticks to drive them away and also play with colours. The men in turn protect themselves with shields. Laddu Holi was celebrated in Barsana on 27th February, and 'Lathmar Holi' was celebrated the following day.

News agency ANI posted a short video from the place where 'Lathmar Holi' was being celebrated.

In the short half-minute video, several women were seen showering sticks on men who just had a shield above their heads to protect themselves. Colors were flying everywhere and other people were watching this unique celebration.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was expected to attend the event. In the wake of the Chief Minister’s visit, the security in the district had been beefed up, and the administration was put on high alert.

Mathura District Magistrate Pulkit Khare and SSP Shailesh Pandey inspected locations across Vrindavan, Gokul, and Mathura, where the ‘Lathmar Holi’ is played.

History of Lathmar Holi
According to legends, Lord Krishna during his childhood viz. 'Kanhaiya' of Nandgaon used to go to Barsana village to meet Radha Rani with his friends. On the other hand, Radha Rani and the gopis used to lash out with sticks to teach them a lesson after being troubled by the mischiefs of Shri Krishna and his friends. Kanhaiya and his friends used shields to protect themselves from this. Gradually this became a tradition for the people of Nandgaon and Barsana.

Lathmar Holi is celebrated every year on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha of Phalgun month. Its invitation is sent from Barsana to Nandgaon a day before i.e. on Falgun Shukla Ashtami. Then the men of Nandgaon come to play Holi with the women of Barsana. Here the tradition is repeated in Nandgaon on the next day i.e. Dashami Tithi.

This year, Holi will be celebrated on March 7, and 8 in the country.