Traditionally a rite that celebrates the coming of spring, Holi is marked by joyous participants throwing colored water and powder. In northern Uttar Pradesh, "Lathmar Holi" is celebrated before Holi itself, and while it is a rite of spring there as well, the festival also features another layer of fun rooted in Hindu mythology. Lord Krishna is said to have visited the village of Barsana to tease his consort Radha. Women in the town responded by chasing him away. Today women from Barsana "beat" the men from Krishna’s village of Nandgaon with sticks for singing provocative songs and throwing colored powder on them.
A man daubed in colored powder smiles as he celebrates "Lathmar Holi" in the village of Nandgaon in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. In a Holi tradition unique to Nandgaon and Barsana villages, men sing provocative songs to gain the attention of women, who then "beat" them with bamboo sticks called "lathis". Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India.
People throw colored powder as they celebrate "Lathmar Holi" in Nandgaon, India. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
A child pauses as villagers smear themselves with colors during the Lathmar Holi festival at the Nandji Temple in Nandgaon, India.
An Indian Hindu family watches as a man from Nandgaon is hit with a stick on his shield by a woman from Barsana during Lathmar Holi in Barsana, India. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Lord Krishna’s village of Nandgaon are beaten by the women of Barsana, home of Lord Krishna’s lover Radha. It is said that Lord Krishna’s relatives used to tease Radha and her friends and were beaten by them in return. Even to this day, marriage between the two villages are not permitted.
A man daubed in colored powder lies on the ground as he celebrates "Lathmar Holi" in Nandgaon, India.
An old man daubed in colored powder celebrates "Lathmar Holi" at Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
A man from Nandgaon shouts as he is about to be hit with a stick by a woman from Barsana during Lathmar Holi in Barsana, India. According to tradition men from Lord Krishna’s village of Nandgaon are beaten by the women of Barsana, home of Lord Krishna’s lover Radha. It is said that Lord Krishna’s relatives used to tease Radha and her friends and were beaten by them in return. Even to this day, marriage between the two villages are not permitted.
Indian Hindu worshippers are covered in colorful powder thrown on them as they pray at the Radha Rani Temple during Lathmar Holi in Barsana, India.
en throw red powder as they celebrate "Lathmar Holi" at Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
People dance as they celebrate "Lathmar Holi" at Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Indian villagers smear themselves with color during the Lathmar Holi festival at the Radha Rani temple in Barsana, India.
Women walk with sticks during the Lathmar Holi festival in Nandgaon, India. The women of Nandgaon, the hometown of Hindu God Krishna, attack the men from Barsana, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their efforts to put color on them, reciprocating acts performed yesterday in Barsana between the women of that village with the men of Nandgaon as they observe the Lathmar Holi festival.
Indian villagers smear themselves with color during the Lathmar Holi festival at the Nandji Temple in Nandgaon, India.
Men drag a boy to the ground to cover him in red water during "Lathmar Holi" in Nandgaon, India.
A man throws powder celebrating "Lathmar Holi" in Nandgaon, India.
Men shield themselves from women playfully beating them with bamboo sticks during "Lathmar Holi" in Nandgaon, India. In a Holi tradition unique to Nandgaon and Barsana villages, men sing provocative songs to gain the attention of women, who then "beat" them with bamboo sticks called "lathis".
A boy daubed in powder celebrates "Lathmar Holi" in Nandgaon, India.
