Mariana Zilbershteyn, Holi, Nandgaon, India (TRAVEL 2020)

Holi is a Hindu festival that is celebrated each year at the beginning of Spring and signifies love and the victory of good over evil. Lathmar Holi takes place before the actual Holi in the neighbouring towns of Barsana and Nandgaon in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Nandgaon, so called because it is considered the birthplace of the Indian God Krishna, is situated roughly 170 Kms from  New Delhi. Legend has it that Lord Krishna would travel to his beloved's Rhada's town, Barsana, to visit her but also to tease her and her friends. Radha, and her friends responded to this teasing by driving him out of Barsana together. Lathmar Holi, then, in a recreation of this event and legend: the men from Nandgaon come and tease the women of Barsana, who in return chase and beat the men with long sticks, called lathis. The next day, to defend the honour of their village, it is the men of Barsana who now head to Nandgaon to play Holi and once again face a similar fate where this time it is the women of Nandgaon who "beat" the young men from Barsana with sticks. The men of Barsana carry the the flag of the Larily Lal Temple to Nandgaon where the devotees look to capture the flag, and this culminates in an ultimate battle but their attempts are foiled.

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