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The mention of <keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword> festival gets everyone excited about playing with colours, spraying water on each other and eating lip-smacking snacks. 
 
The festival of colours, Holi, is just few days away now people are thronging markets to buy powdered colours, water guns, water balloons, sweets, etc. 
 
Holi celebrations have also begun in many parts of the country. One town which is quite famous for its Holi celebrations is Barsana in Uttar Pradesh. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/I-celebrated-Holi-at-Radha-and-Krishnas-villages-and-it-was-breathtaking/articleshow/51423879.cms">I celebrated Holi at Radha and Krishna's villages and it was breathtaking</a> 
 
What makes the celebration special here is the way it is played. Holi is marked in Barsana with women beating men with sticks, which is famously known as ‘Lathmar Holi’. 
 
These images of the Lathmar Holi perfectly describe how it is celebrated in Barsana. Take a look 
 
 
(Images: Reuters)

These
photos of Barsana’s Holi celebration will lift your spirits

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=holi">Holi</a>, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=festival">festival</a> of colours is best experienced in the villages of Nandgaon and <keyword id="233947" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Barsana">Barsana</keyword>, both situated at a few distance from Vrindavan. Nandgaon is <keyword id="6356845" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Krishna">Krishna</keyword>'s village, while Barsana is where his beloved <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=radha+krishna">Radha</a> was from. 
 <keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword> celebrations at these two villages, which start a week before the actual <keyword id="58" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Festival">festival</keyword> underline the core essence of ‘ras ka bhav’ – which means, it celebrates the element of spiritual rapture. 
 
The festival begins on asthmi with ladoo-leela at Barsana ands continues for the next two and a half days. 
 
The menfolk play Holi with women in a way which is extremely vocal about their nature of interest in them. It is not sexual in its approach but it has the rustic element of wooing and teasing. 
 Have a look at how these two villages celebrate the <keyword id="42493" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Festival-of-colours">festival of colours</keyword>. 
 
(The author, Divya Rai is a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/raidivya27">professional photographer</a> and a travel blogger. When she is not busy developing beautiful photographs, she writes a travelogue called <a href="http://aborrowedbackpack.com">A Borrowed Backpack</a>)

I celebrated Holi at Radha and Krishna's villages and it was breathtaking

India, often referred to as the land of <keyword id="15246" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="festivals" source="Orion">festivals</keyword>, boasts a diverse tapestry of celebrations that showcase the rich cultural heritage and traditions of its people. Among the multitude of <keyword id="20672365" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="festivals-celebrated-across-the-country" source="Orion">festivals celebrated across the country</keyword>, there are some truly unique ones that stand out for their distinctiveness and regional significance. Let's take a journey through India to explore some of these extraordinary festivals: <keyword id="20672363" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lathmar-holi" source="keywords">Lathmar Holi</keyword> (Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh) Lathmar Holi is a playful and boisterous festival celebrated in the town of Barsana, Uttar Pradesh. Unlike traditional Holi celebrations where people joyously splash colors on each other, Lathmar Holi has a unique twist. Here, women playfully chase and "beat" men with sticks, reenacting the legendary love story of Lord Krishna and Radha. The festival is marked by laughter, music, and camaraderie, making it a truly memorable experience. <keyword id="86993" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jallikattu" source="Orion">Jallikattu</keyword> (Tamil Nadu) Jallikattu is an ancient bull-taming sport celebrated primarily in the state of Tamil Nadu during the Pongal festival. Brave participants attempt to tame ferocious bulls by grabbing their humps and horns. The event symbolizes courage and valor and is deeply ingrained in Tamil culture, attracting spectators from far and wide. <keyword id="2741872" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hemis-Festival" source="Orion">Hemis Festival</keyword> (Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir) The Hemis Festival is a vibrant Buddhist celebration held annually at the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh. It commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The festival is characterized by colorful masked dances, traditional music performances, and the unveiling of sacred thangkas (religious tapestries), attracting devotees and tourists alike. <keyword id="851515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hornbill-Festival" source="Orion">Hornbill Festival</keyword> (Nagaland) The Hornbill Festival is a cultural extravaganza held in Nagaland, showcasing the diverse traditions and customs of the Naga tribes. Named after the Indian hornbill bird, the festival features indigenous music, dance performances, art exhibitions, and culinary delights, providing a glimpse into Naga heritage and way of life. <keyword id="78069" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rann-Utsav" source="Orion">Rann Utsav</keyword> (Gujarat) Rann Utsav is a vibrant festival celebrated in the vast expanse of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. The festival highlights the unique landscape, culture, and craftsmanship of the region, with activities such as camel safaris, cultural performances, handicraft exhibitions, and traditional folk dances, making it a mesmerizing experience for visitors. Rural Olympics (Punjab) The Rural Olympics, also known as the Kila Raipur Sports Festival, is a unique event held in the village of Kila Raipur in Punjab. It showcases traditional rural sports and competitions, including bullock cart races, tractor races, kabaddi matches, and wrestling bouts, attracting participants and spectators from all over the country. <keyword id="44513" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rath-Yatra" source="Orion">Rath Yatra</keyword> (Odisha) Rath Yatra, celebrated primarily in Puri, Odisha, is a grand procession where massive chariots carry idols of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra to their temple. It attracts millions of devotees, symbolizing the journey of the deities to visit their aunt's temple. These festivals, each unique in its own right, offer a glimpse into the diverse cultural tapestry of India, bringing together people from different backgrounds to celebrate and rejoice in the spirit of unity and harmony. From the colorful streets of Barsana to the tranquil valleys of Ladakh, these festivals showcase the vibrant mosaic of traditions and customs that make India truly special. Note: The article is based on content generated by AI models like Bard and Chatgpt.

From Lathmar Holi to Jallikattu: India's most unusual festivals

October to February is when India sees high spikes in both domestic and local tourism across India. This is the time when charter flights to Goa begin landing, this is when the hotels near the coffee plantations in south India hike their rates. This is also when domestic carriers typically increase rates – this year rates increased by almost 24% in October alone. Other than cooler climes, this is also when most of India’s large festivals are celebrated, many of which are linked to agrarian cycles of harvesting or sowing. 
 
There’s Dussera, Diwali, Christmas, Pongal and Chhath Puja celebrated during this period (Onam is another biggie but that was celebrated in September this year). Smaller ones such as Janmashtami or Govardhan Puja also happen during this time. Many of these festivals are celebrated in situ, and are becoming increasingly popular for non-traditional tourists who converge at temple towns to participate in the festivities and seek blessings. 
 
I’ve travelled across many of these towns and interacted with temple priests, tourists, shop-owners, craftswomen and craftsmen, local residents, hotel owners and finally the most ‘in-you-face’ category of people, the local tourist guides to understand how modern influences are affecting traditions in these temple towns, especially that of oral story-telling. Interestingly and contrary to what most of us might think given the immediate access to information we have via our smartphones, the demand for local stories has dramatically increased over the last few years. 
 Part of this is due to more tourist footfalls (including that of foreign tourists) while the other is due to a demand for more engaging narratives. A demand for more anecdotal and topical stories rather than just a historical narrative. Often this topicality is derived from local <keyword id="1225445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="folk-tales">folk tales</keyword> and <keyword id="22258" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Folk-songs">folk songs</keyword> of that particular region and will be completely missing in the historical information dispensed in the formal tourist brochures. 
 
Take Govardhan Puja or Janmashtami, for instance. You have tourists converging at all places with important Krishna temples across the country. So there would be tourists flocking to Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh or other important temples such as the Guruvayur temple in Kerala, Dwarkadish in Gujarat, the ISKON temples (across India) or the Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu among others. Domestic tourism is the economic mainstay of many of these towns, driving the local economy and providing a livelihood to the local population. In many of these places, the narration of folk tales and folk songs is an important local occupation. Yet, tourism, consumerism and other influences are subtlety influencing these tales and folklores – impacting both content and context. 
 
Nowhere is this more apparent than in Braj in Uttar Pradesh, the region associated with Lord Krishna’s early years and interestingly the region where he spent time with consort Radha. The ancient texts, epics, and folklore within this region create culturally (though not politically) defined borders and demarcations, so that Braj can be said to cover an area of approximately 5000 sq. kms. Braj ranks high in popularity as a pilgrimage destination and tales of Krishna and Radha abound in every household and resonate off every tongue. 
 
I would like to refer to a folktale that is narrated at two different towns of Braj Region, Gowardhan and Barsana. Radha and Krishna are at the focal point of many of narratives. While Barsana is recognized as the place where Radha grew up, Krishna is said to have spent his later childhood days at Nandgaon, 8 kms away from Barsana. Radha is considered to be Krishna’s ‘Shakti’ (strength). The folktale I refer to tells a very famous tale of adolescent Krishna at Gowardhan. In this, he lifted a hill named Giriraj or Gowardhan parbat on the tip of his little finger for seven days and nights to shield the Brajwasi (people of Braj) from a deluge of rain sent down by an angry Lord Indra. Most Indians are familiar with this narrative. However in neighbouring Barsana, where Radha grew up, the same folktale recounts the same plot and form but includes an important element missing in the other tale. It recounts that it was Radha, the embodiment of ‘Shakti’ (female supernatural power) who was the actual enabler of Krishna’s heroic act. The tale states that it was Radha who supported Krishna by giving him her divine power to lift the hill. The power came from her left eyelashes and also enabled her to remain invisible. 
 
The transmission of the folktales and folk songs from one generation to the next results in variations which leads to effective narration for eager audiences. The authenticity of these variations cannot be challenged as each version seems to be true. The narrators comprise the Pandas or Goswamis (local priests) and the local tourist guides. Unfortunately I did not find any female priests or female guides. The use of quotes, proverbs, folk metaphors, and other linguistic clichés is fairly common, depending on the narrator. The story-teller weaves in elements from festivals, social events, occasions and human relationships from across the region. The folk tales are so much a part of the cultural ethos of the region that they have also been converted into folk songs, sung by the young and old alike with local CD renditions of it – always in high in demand by tourists and locals both. Interestingly, the modern renditions of these popular folksongs have even used western songs and musical instruments – such as a popular version called ‘Happy Birthday Radhaji’. Symbolic references to other religions also creep in, often well integrated within the folktale itself. For example, in Barsana, local folklore includes the narratives of Gulab Sakhi, a Mughal soldier who became a devotee of Radha. Local narrators delight in highlighting the tale of Radha staying with an old soldier named Gulab Sakhi, disguised as his daughter. Gulab Sakhi’s own daughter had left him after her marriage and he missed her desperately, and was longing to see her. When Radha got to know this, she disguised herself and lived with him as his daughter. He eventually realized this and subsequently became one of her greatest devotees. 
 
It is through oral transmission that the stories continue to form the textures of the lives and livelihoods in these regions and many other regions as well. Elements of social justice, fairness and humanity combine into a rich tapestry enabling these traditional narratives survive. While it is interesting to see how the telling of these tales, many of which originated in oral traditions, continues to flourish, it will be fascinating to see how continuing modern influences will affect these narratives in times to come! 
 
 
(The article is authored by Tulika Chandra, Associate Professor, Shiv Nadar University)

India’s folk tales – Thriving in a digital age

The festival of colours is around the corner and like always, the country is ready to celebrate it in a grand way. It is the time of the year when the youngsters and old, family and friends come together to rub earthly colours on each other. But did you know? This gala festival is celebrated in different styles in diverse parts of India. 
 
Yes, that is true. Each state in the country enjoys the heavenly hues in a different manner. Today, let us have a look at how different parts of India celebrate this fun and colourful festival. 
 
Gujarat 
Hundreds of young boys make a human pyramid and try to reach an earthen matki full of butter hung on a high rope while the girls throw water at them. This is the classic scene that you would encounter anywhere in Gujarat on the day of <keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword>. Known to be the sheer devotees of <keyword id="3198" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lord-Krishna">Lord Krishna</keyword>, Gujaratis have this special way of celebrating the festival of colours, called <keyword id="2122162" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Dhulendi">Dhulendi</keyword>, which also marks the beginning of a new season. 
 
West Bengal 
Known as 'Dol Jatra' or 'Dol Purnima', the festival begins with men placing the idols of Lords Krishna and Radha in a decorated palanquin and then take it around the streets. Another beautiful ritual during Holi in West Bengal is that the head of the family keeps a fast praying for his family’s well being. After the processions and offering to the idols, the bhog or prashad is distributed amongst family and friends. 
 
Delhi 
Being the capital of India and the cultural hub, Holi is always a grand celebration for people of Delhi. Kids and youngsters form Tolis and move from one street to another, playing Holi with friends and strangers alike. Food and snacks are also a big part of the celebrations here. One can find everything from <keyword id="2122163" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gujiya">Gujiya</keyword> (an Indian dessert) to <keyword id="590917" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Thandai">Thandai</keyword> (an Indian shake) during the day. Dancing to the tunes of Bollywood and some folk songs, the festival is celebrated till Lunch after which people relax and enjoy some family time. 
 
Goa 
The ultimate partying hub of India, Goa also has its own way of celebrating Holi, which is known as Shigmo in Goa. In the traditional Goan style, the people of Goa celebrate Shigmo with fanfare and parades, followed by applying Abeer and Neel on loved ones. Several temples in and around Panaji have special arrangements for the festival. 
 
Barsana 
It is a town in Mathura, where this festival is also known as the Lathmaar Holi and it marks the classic tug of war between men and women. Holi is a week-long celebration here and at first the men from Nandgaon, the village of Lord Krishna try to get atop the temple of Radhaji, which is in Barsana. The women of Barsana try to stop these men from entering and beat them with sticks. Don’t worry, the men are heavily padded and rarely get hurt. Next day, the men of Barsana go to Nandgaon to play Holi with the women there, who again use sticks to save themselves. This mock battle is surely a treat to watch and attracts many tourists, making it a double treat of celebration and worship. 
 The traditions might be different but the festive spirit remains the same, which is reverence to the gods and welcoming the new season. Holi is one of the best and most recognised <keyword id="31692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="festivals-of-India">festivals of India</keyword> and many gather from all around the world to witness the wonderful colours. 
 
Image courtesy: Thinkstock

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These photos of Barsana’s Holi celebration will lift your spirits

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