The Children's Post, 10th March 2020

Hello Readers,

Happy Holi to all of you out there!

Let me tell you of an amusing Holi that is played in Nandgaon and Barsana, about 40 kms from Mathura. Barsana is the birthplace of Radha and Nandgaon is the land of Krishna. Every year, on Choti Holi, the menfolk from Nandgaon come to play holi with the womenfolk of Barsana. But instead of abeer and gulal, these men are greeted with sticks. Hence this Holi is called ‘LathMaar Holi’. The men are not caught unaware though, they come fully padded with a shield made of bamboo. A mock battle of sorts is played between the men and the women with the aim to give a good thrashing to the men. The men have to save themselves while smearing abeer on the womenfolk when they get a chance. At the end of the day, the menfolk from Nandgaon wear embellished clothes and makeup just like Krishna and perform a dance for the people of Barsana. The next day, on Holi, it is the turn of the menfolk of Barsana to go to Nandgaon to play Holi with the womenfolk there. The same battle ensues there too. In Mathura, this Lathmaar Holi is played between a brother-in-law (devar) and sister-in-law (bhabhi). A similar battle takes place between the two.

Although it sounds like a violent sport, Lathmaar Holi is a colourful and joyous sight. It attracts the attention of people from all over the world so much that special vantage points are made for these tourists to save them from the thrashing. Needless to say, all is forgiven the next day, when the women tend to the wounded men.

Enjoy the edition!

Priyanka

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