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In pics | Daubed in colours, widows in Vrindavan play Holi

India's colourful festivities to mark Holi are underway, unburdened by coronavirus fears for the first time in three years. A large number of widows from various shelter homes gathered at the Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan to celebrate the festival of colours. Their participation in Holi symbolises a break from tradition, which forbids a widow from wearing a coloured saree, among many other things.
Last Updated 16 March 2022, 15:33 IST
Holi celebrations started in Vrindavan, where elderly women daubed in splotches of colours and danced the day away together. Credit: AFP Photo
Holi celebrations started in Vrindavan, where elderly women daubed in splotches of colours and danced the day away together. Credit: AFP Photo
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The idea of their participation in festive occasions has traditionally been taboo, and their participation in Holi celebrations only began a decade ago. Credit: AFP Photo
The idea of their participation in festive occasions has traditionally been taboo, and their participation in Holi celebrations only began a decade ago. Credit: AFP Photo
Dressed in white sarees, the widows danced, sang Rasiya (tradition Holi song of Brij) and smeared each other's faces with herbal 'gulal'. Credit: AFP Photo
Dressed in white sarees, the widows danced, sang Rasiya (tradition Holi song of Brij) and smeared each other's faces with herbal 'gulal'. Credit: AFP Photo
NGO Sulabh International initiated the efforts to mobilise widows of Vrindavan to celebrate Holi and started it in 2013. Credit: AFP Photo
NGO Sulabh International initiated the efforts to mobilise widows of Vrindavan to celebrate Holi and started it in 2013. Credit: AFP Photo
The celebration at the historic temple was first began in 2013. Credit: AFP Photo
The celebration at the historic temple was first began in 2013. Credit: AFP Photo
The festival was celebrated in the presence of a large gathering including some saints of Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
The festival was celebrated in the presence of a large gathering including some saints of Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
The spring festival saw hundreds of widows hurling coloured powder and water on each other. Credit: AFP Photo
The spring festival saw hundreds of widows hurling coloured powder and water on each other. Credit: AFP Photo
Vrindavan, a holy pilgrimage town, is home to around 2,000 widows who have been shunned by their families after the deaths of their husbands. Credit: AFP Photo
Vrindavan, a holy pilgrimage town, is home to around 2,000 widows who have been shunned by their families after the deaths of their husbands. Credit: AFP Photo
A widow gets clicked during the Holi celebrations in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
A widow gets clicked during the Holi celebrations in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
A widow smeared with Gulal dances as she participates in Holi celebrations at a temple in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
A widow smeared with Gulal dances as she participates in Holi celebrations at a temple in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
Widows play with flowers and colours during a Holi function organised by Sulabh Hope Foundation at Gopinath Temple, in Vrindavan. Credit: PTI Photo
Widows play with flowers and colours during a Holi function organised by Sulabh Hope Foundation at Gopinath Temple, in Vrindavan. Credit: PTI Photo
Smeared in colours, a widow is seen dancing during the Holi celebrations at a temple in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
Smeared in colours, a widow is seen dancing during the Holi celebrations at a temple in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
A widow is seen throwing flowers and colours during the Holi celebrations in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
A widow is seen throwing flowers and colours during the Holi celebrations in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
A widow poses as she participates in Holi celebrations, in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
A widow poses as she participates in Holi celebrations, in Vrindavan. Credit: AFP Photo
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(Published 16 March 2022, 06:22 IST)

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