<ul><li><strong>Hundreds of <keyword id="6374440" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="widows">widows</keyword> that stay in <keyword id="6360073" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vrindavan">Vrindavan</keyword> will not play Holi. <br /><br /></strong></li><li><strong>This will be the second consecutive year when the widows will not play Holi.<br /><br /></strong></li><li><strong>The widows gathered at the Gopinath temple in Vrindavan on Monday to offer condolences and pay respect to the departed soul. </strong><br /></li></ul>Hundreds of widows in Vrindavan will not play Holi this year in view of the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> outbreak.<br /><br />The Sulabh Foundation that has been working for the welfare of widows, said that it has been decided that the Holi celebrations will be put off.<br /><br />"Holi celebrations lead to huge crowds and playing with water would make the widows, most of whom are old, susceptible to infection," the spokesman said.<br /><br />This will be the second consecutive year when the widows will not play Holi.<br /><br />Last year, the widows had not played Holi as a mark of respect to BJP leader, late <keyword id="6363133" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="manohar-parrikar">Manohar Parrikar</keyword>, who had passed away.<br /><br />They had gathered at the historic Gopinath temple in Vrindavan on Monday to offer condolences and pay respect to the departed soul. The widows also held a prayer meeting at the temple where they lit candles and sang bhajans.<br /><br />Vrindavan's Holi celebrations in recent years have become a memorable event for the thousands of widows who till recent past used to face humiliation.<br /><br />In 2012, the Supreme Court expressed concern that the government and its agencies were not doing enough to mitigate the sufferings of the widows of Vrindavan and asked <keyword id="6438890" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sulabh-International">Sulabh International</keyword>, an NGO, to take care of them.<br /><br />

Vrindavan will stay away from Holi amid coronavirus outbreak

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51509737.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /><br />
<br /> Breaking a 400-year-old tradition, more than 1000 <keyword id="3294344" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="widows-in-Vrindavan">widows in Vrindavan</keyword> played <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=holi">Holi </a>inside the Lord Krishna temple yesterday. <br />
<br /> Though <keyword id="3294346" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="widows-playing-Holi">widows playing Holi</keyword> in<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/stunning-photos-of-holi-the-hindu-festival-of-colors/Indian-widows-throw-flowers-during-Holi-celebrations-at-the-Meera-Sahbhagini-Ashram-in-Vrindavan-/slideshow/21225752.cms"> Vrindavan</a> and Varanasi started a while back, this would be the first time, they would be celebrating the festival of colours inside the temple premises.<br />
 <br /> The <keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword> celebrations was organised by Sulabh Foundation, which has been striving to bring back these <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=indian+widows">widows</a>, most of whom have been treated as outcasts by their families to society's mainstream.<br />
<br />
According to the founder of Sulabh, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, this year they had managed to convince a number of Sanskrit students and Pundits to take part in the Holi celebrations.<br />
<br />
Organisers say that it was a "riot of colour" on Monday as 1200 kgs of 'gulal' (coloured powder) and 1500 kilograms of rose and merry gold petals were arranged for the event.<br />
<br />
"The widows, who wear only white sarees, would splash colours on each other to celebrate the festival, breaking away from years of social stigma attached to women who have lost their husbands", said an organiser.<br />
<br />
Have a look!<br />
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Image credit: AP/Indiatimes<br />


In pictures: This is how widows in Vrindavan celebrated Holi

<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54f80a52dd089540488b4625-1200-924/rtr4s1ks-1.jpg" border="0" alt="RTR4S1KS"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee </span></p><p class="caption">The face of a widow is seen daubed in colour after she took part in the Holi celebrations organised by non-governmental organisation Sulabh International at a widows' ashram at Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 4, 2015. </p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Good morning! Here's what you need to know for Thursday.</span></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">1. </strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Russia's finance ministry says the <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/car-used-in-boris-nemtsov-murder-belongs-to-russian-finance-ministry-contractor-2015-3">car being sought in connection with the killing of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov belonged to an "in-house security service"</a> for the ministry.<br /></span></p><p><strong>2. </strong>US Ambassador to South Korea <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/report-us-ambassador-to-south-korea-attacked-2015-3">Mark Lippert was attacked with a knife by a pro-unification activist</a> in Seoul.<strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">3.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-china-lowers-annual-growth-target-pledges-more-reform-2015-3">China's Premier Li Keqiang said the country's economy faced more difficulties this year than in 2014</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> and projected growth of 7%, the lowest expansion rate in 25 years. </span></p><p><strong>4. </strong><a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/210b9c9f103f4323b99e7b4ad5a80fff/australia-offers-indonesia-prisoner-swap-stop-executions">A</a><a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/210b9c9f103f4323b99e7b4ad5a80fff/australia-offers-indonesia-prisoner-swap-stop-executions">ustralia has proposed a swap deal with Indonesia, offering to send over three convicted Indonesian drug criminals</a> in return for two Australian prisoners set to be executed by firing squad.<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/southwest-airlines-just-grounded-128-planes-that-were-overdue-for-inspection-2015-2"><br /></a></p><p><strong>5.</strong> Exxon Mobil CEO <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/303c55445fcd4824ba581f04ddf8afb4/exxon-ceo-get-used-lower-oil-prices">Rex Tillerson said he expects the price of oil to remain low over the next two years</a>, with an average price of $55 (£36).<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-chinas-top-court-says-no-to-wests-model-of-judicial-independence-2015-2"><br /></a></p><p><strong>6. </strong>The <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-us-syria-strategy-falters-with-collapse-of-rebel-group--2015-3">US effort to help Syrian rebels fight forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is struggling</a> after the collapse of a CIA operation to arm insurgents.<strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">7. </strong>An <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/arts/design/world-press-photo-revokes-prize.html?module=WatchingPortal&amp;region=c-column-middle-span-region&amp;pgType=Homepage&amp;action=click&amp;mediaId=none&amp;state=standard&amp;contentPlacement=7&amp;version=internal&amp;contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&amp;contentId=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2015%2F03%2F05%2Farts%2Fdesign%2Fworld-press-photo-revokes-prize.html&amp;eventName=Watching-article-click">Italian photographer who won first prize in the World Press Photo contest has been stripped of his award</a> for staging a photo.<strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><br /></strong></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">8.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></strong><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-timeline-of-human-evolution-graphic-2015-3">Two new fossils suggest that the Homo genus emerged half a million years earlier</a> than once thought.</p><p><strong>9. </strong><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/apple-reportedly-delays-production-of-a-larger-ipad-2015-3">Apple is reportedly postponing production of a larger, 12.9-inch iPad</a> until September.</p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">10.</strong> A new study found that last year, the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/mar/05/number-ultra-rich-173000-uhnwis-property">number of people worldwide worth $30 million (£19.7 million) or more increased to 172,850</a>. <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-timeline-of-human-evolution-graphic-2015-3"><br /></a></p><p><strong><strong>And finally ...</strong></strong></p><p><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/why-indian-food-tastes-good-2015-3">There's a scientific reason Indian food tastes so good</a>.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/map-how-indo-european-languages-evolved-2014-12">This Animated Map Shows How European Languages Evolved </a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="wwMjI2cjq9yWkT5MO7-968mt2D9V_wxN" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; 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The 10 most important things in the world right now

<p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532743ab6bb3f7f156bdf854-1200-750/holi8.jpg" border="0" alt="holi8" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Adnan Abidi</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Holi  is one of the most popular festivals in India, celebrating the coming of spring with bursts of color and fire. </p>
<p class="p1">The ancient Hindu festival is also known as the festival of colors, coming usually near or on the vernal equinox. Hindus celebrate it by smearing each other with colored powder, spraying each other with colored water from <em>pichkaris</em> (water guns), or pelting each other with water balloons and eggs. </p>
<p class="p1"><span>The official festival begins today. We've collected some of the most spectacular photos from this year's festivities in India here.</span></p>
<h3>Holi celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It originates from an ancient Hindu story about the fall of the demon king Hiranyakashipu and his evil sister Holika. The king's son Prahlada opposed his evil father. To silence Prahlada, Holika convinced Prahlada to sit on a bonfire with her. When the fire was lit, the god Vishnu protected Prahlada and let Holika burn.   <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737f0ecad04cf47a6d9e2-2640-1668/holi2.jpg" border="0" alt="holi2" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Adnan Abidi</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>On the eve of Holi, a bonfire topped with an effigy of Prahlada and Holika is lit. People then sing and dance around the fire. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53273b65ecad047c50a6d9e9-1200-924/holi15.jpg" border="0" alt="holi15" /><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh</span></p></div><p></p></div></div> The next day, people spray colored powder or colored solutions onto each other to celebrate Prahalada's triumph and the defeat of winter by spring.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737d8eab8ea0976a06142-3500-2444/holi11.jpg" border="0" alt="holi11" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Ahmad Masood</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>The main day of the Holi festival is called Dhuleti. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737d96bb3f7cd2bbdf850-3500-2298/holi12.jpg" border="0" alt="holi12" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Teens and young people often dance to the beat of the dholak, a two-headed hand-drum common in South Asia.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737e1eab8eaee7ea0614c-5789-3651/holi14.jpg" border="0" alt="holi14" /><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Anupam Nath</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Traditionally, washable, natural plant-derived colors are used, including turmeric, neem, dhak, and kumkum. In recent years, water-based commercial pigments have begun to be used.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737da6da811ea34d9dac5-3500-2517/holi10.jpg" border="0" alt="holi10" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Ahmad Masood</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Anyone in an open area such as a street, park, or any other public place is fair game to be hit with color from the pichkaris or water balloons. Any private residence is fair game to be smeared with the colored powder.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737db69bedd84702742b0-5760-3840/holi13.jpg" border="0" alt="holi13" /><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Anupam Nath</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Most often, children are sprayed with the color solutions.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737f36bb3f73726bdf855-3500-2492/holi6.jpg" border="0" alt="holi6" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Babu</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>While adults get smeared with the dry colored powder. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737e76bb3f7a02abdf857-3402-2312/holi7.jpg" border="0" alt="holi7" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Amit Dave</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>The festival is craziest for kids, but everyone gets in the on the fun.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737f16bb3f7f42ebdf858-3500-2471/holi5.jpg" border="0" alt="holi5" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Amit Dave</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Widows do not usually partake in Holi, as they are supposed to renounce earthly pleasures. However, this year, the nonprofit Sulabh International organized a celebration for widows at an ashram in Vrindavan.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737d9eab8ea3304a06142-3500-2444/holi9.jpg" border="0" alt="holi9" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Ahmad Masood</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>The celebration is not wild in every part of India. In some Western parts of India, the festival includes far more praying and singing of hymns.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737f4ecad04f343a6d9e3-3500-2376/holi4.jpg" border="0" alt="holi4" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Amit Dave</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>In most regions of India, however, there is no prayer. The day is meant for partying and fun.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5327391d6da8119235d9dac6-3500-2350/holi3.jpg" border="0" alt="holi3" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Utpal Baruah</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>After everyone is soaked in color, participants clean up and head to their family's and friends' houses for traditional delicacies. The festival is an opportune time to mend fences with estranged friends and family - it is also considered "the festival of forgiveness."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532737f66da8111136d9dac5-3500-2442/holi1.jpg" border="0" alt="holi1" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;" /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Babu</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></h3>

You Searched For "widows in Vrindavan" and got 4 results

Vrindavan will stay away from Holi amid coronavirus outbreak

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In pictures: This is how widows in Vrindavan celebrated Holi

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