Devotees celebrated Rangbhari Ekadashi festival in Kashi Vishwanath temple

Devotees celebrated with gaiety during the Rangbhari Ekadashi festival at the Kashi Vishwanath temple complex on Monday. This vibrant event marks the beginning of the Holi festival and is celebrated five days before the main celebration of Holi. The atmosphere is filled with colour, devotion, and enthusiasm with people participating in this joyous occasion. For more on devotional events, visit Vaartha Devotion.

Traditional 'Lathmar' Holi festival begins in Nandgaon

Meanwhile, the traditional 'Lathmar' Holi festival began in Nandgaon on Sunday, marking the beginning of the week-long Holi celebrations in Mathura. This unique and vibrant event, celebrated with much gusto, is deeply rooted in the legends of Lord Krishna and Radha. According to folklore, Lathmar Holi symbolizes the playful exchange between Krishna's village Nandgaon and Radha's village Barsana. It is believed that Krishna visited Barsana with his friends to tease Radha and her sakhis, who responded in a playful manner by chasing them away with lathis (sticks). The tradition continues to this day as women from Barsana visit Nandgaon to participate in mock battles with men holding shields for protection.

Tourists from across the country and abroad enjoyed

Devotees and tourists from across the country and abroad gathered at the famous temple complex of Nandgaon to witness the colourful spectacle. The atmosphere resonated with Holi bhajans and slogans of 'Radhe Radhe'. Participants smeared each other with gulal (coloured powder). The event was marked by elaborate arrangements of flowers, music, and traditional sweets, which further added to the festive spirit. After Lathmar Holi in Nandgaon, the celebrations will continue in Barsana, where men from Nandgaon will come to participate in this joyous tradition.

Grand procession and cultural performance in Mathura

Holi celebrations in Mathura, widely believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna, will culminate with grand processions, cultural performances, and temple rituals leading up to the main Holi festival. Authorities have taken additional security measures to ensure a smooth celebration. The local administration is closely monitoring crowd management and traffic control. In Sambhal too, people celebrated Rangbhari Ekadashi Holi amid tight security on Monday. For more updates on festival celebrations, check out the Vaartha ePaper.