Lathmar Holi
{{Short description|Hindu festival in Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Lathmar Holi
| image = Lathmar Holi 2022 in Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh (edited).jpg
| caption = Lathmar Holi in Nandgaon
| type = Hindu
| observedby = Hindus
| longtype = Religious, Cultural, Spring festival
| date =
| date2022 = 11 March in India
| celebrations = Spraying colour powders, Playfully hurling sticks by women of Barsana on men of Nandgaon, Dancing, Greetings, Festival delicacies
| frequency = Annual
| relatedto = Holi
| startedby = Radha Krishna
}}
{{Hinduism}}
Lathmar Holi (Holi of sticks) is a Hindu festival celebrated in the twin towns of Barsana and Nandgaon, also known as the towns of Radha and Krishna respectively. Every year, during the period of Holi, thousands of devotees and tourists visit these towns to celebrate the festival.{{cite news | title = What is Lathmar Holi? Why is it celebrated? |publisher=India Today| url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/why-is-lathmar-holi-celebrated-in-barsana-and-nandgaon/1/624875.html |date= 21 March 2016| accessdate = 6 December 2017 }}{{cite web | title = Lathmar Holi 2014: 12 Stunning Photos That'll Transport You To India For When It Is Spring| url = http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/03/13/india-holi-photos-2014_n_4951917.html |publisher=Huffington Post, Canada|date=13 March 2013|accessdate = 2014-07-31 }} The festivities usually last for more than a week and ends on Rang Panchami.{{cite web | title = नंदगांव में लट्ठमार होली की उमंग|publisher=Aaj Tak, Dharma | url = http://aajtak.intoday.in/karyakram/Chhed-chhad-keeps-women-away-from-Braj-Mandal-Holi%E2%80%8E-1-52606.html |date=15 March 2011| accessdate = 2014-07-31 }}{{Cite web|title=Radha Rani Mandir Barsana {{!}} Barsana Temple {{!}} how to reach, timings|url=https://www.thedivineindia.com/radha-rani-mandir-barsana/6143|access-date=2021-02-17|website=thedivineindia.com|language=en}}
Origins
Associated with legend that is linked to the divine couple Radha Krishna, the festival seeks to recreate it. According to the legend, Lord Krishna who was resident of Nandgaon and considered as the son-in-law of Vrishabhanu wanted to spray the colors on his beloved Radha and her friends. But, as Krishna and his friends entered Barsana, they were playfully greeted with the sticks by Radha and her friends who drove them out of Barsana. Following the same trend, every year on the occasion of Holi, the men of Nandagaon who are treated as sons-in-law of Barsana visit Barsana and are greeted by women with colors and sticks (aka lathi).{{Cite web|date=February 28, 2018|title=What is Lathmar Holi? Why is it celebrated?|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/what-s-hot/story/lathmar-holi-barsana-nandgaon-lord-krishna-radha-mathura-uttar-pradesh-1179205-2018-02-28|access-date=2021-02-17|website=India Today|language=en}} The celebration is enacted in perfect good humor by both the sides, men of Nandgaon and women of Barsana.{{Cite book |last=Ph.D |first=Lavanya Vemsani |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4fw2DAAAQBAJ&q=Barsana-+Krishna+in+History%2C+Thought%2C+and+Culture+An+Encyclopedia+of+the+Hindu+Lord+of+Many+Names&pg=PP1 |title=Krishna in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names |date=2016-06-13 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-61069-211-3 |location=United States of America |pages=27 |language=en}}
Gallery
Samaj gathering during Lathmar hoil.jpg|Color Drenched people in Krishna Temple
Lathmar Women.jpg|Women waiting for men during lathmar
Latmar women in action in Barsana.jpg|Women using lathis
Spherical Colors.jpg|Image depicting celebration of color in Barasana
Barsana Holi Festival.jpg|Holi at Radha Rani Temple, Barsana
See also
References
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080601234043/http://www.indiaenews.com/art-culture/20080320/105378.htm Lord Krishna's land rocks to beats of Holi]
- [http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/lathmar-holi-celebrations-begin-in-barsana_10027946.html Lathmar Holi celebrations begin in Barsana]
{{coord missing|Uttar Pradesh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lathmar Holi}}
Category:Religious festivals in India
Category:Festivals in Uttar Pradesh