Vrindavan, 2017.03.08 (VT): After Nandgaon and Barsana, it was the turn of Vrindavan to begin the celebration of Holi on the Rangbharni Ekadashi. On Wednesday, the celebrations began with the offering of gulal in the temples and performing the Panchakosi Parikrama. The colors of love and devotion were flung from the temples. The priests were throwing the flower petals and gulal from the temple.
While the maximum hordes of devotees were attracted to the Banke Bihari Temple, the temples which celebrate the festival in a traditional way attracted the ascetic folks. The tradition came alive in the temples of Radha Raman, Radha Ballabh, Yashonda Nandan, Madan Mohan (Bhattji), Radhika Ballabh, Shriji kunj and Topi Kunj. The regular visitors of Vrindavan made visit to these temples and enjoyed the unique way of celebrations in each temple.
The celebrations began with traditional fervor throughout the town. Holi Samaj Gayan, Holi Kirtan, Raslila performance were organized in different temples and ashrams. The famous Bhramar Shyam Ras Lila of Jai Singh Ghera began on Thursday by the troupe of Swami Fateh Krishna.
Right from the morning devotees swarmed in the temples to get sprayed with the colors thrown by the priests on behalf of the deities and danced on the tunes of the traditional songs being sung in the temples. They put colors on each other and visiting the temples. The big pichkaris (water guns) made of sliver and brass was used to throw water color on the devotees.
The organic colors were used in the most of the temples. The preparation for holi began months ago as the flowers of ‘Tesu’ were collected and dried up. The flowers were dried to make the colors and then grind-ed to a fine powder. The powder was then mixed with the water to produce a beautiful saffron and red color.
Large number of the rural folks performed the Panchakosi Parikrama of Shri Dham Vrindavan, and then went to play Holi with their favorite Lordships in the different temples of Vrindavan. The clouds of colors could be seen in the temples as well on the Parikrama Marg, when devotees flung colored powder in the air and thrown on each other. The entire atmosphere was filled with colors as the priests were throwing colors on the devotees from the ‘Sanctum Sanctorum’ of the Lord.
Several processions from the various temples and ashrams were taken out carrying the palanquins in which the deities were seated. The priests threw colors on the devotees. The festive mood in the town began on the Ekadashi and will prevail till the Purnima. Amid the typical folk songs of holi, the devotees were seen dancing to its music.
The markets were flooded with the heaps of gulal – they were arranged in pyramids and sold loose. Vendors sit on street corners selling gulal to the passer-by. The powder color is made up of many rich colors like pink, magneta, red, yellow and green.
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