Unconventional ! White turns colourful for Vrindavan widows

Vrindavan: Vrindavan, the town of widows, on Monday witnessed an unusual sight when around 1,000 widows played Holi inside the ancient Gopinath temple of Vrindavan in Mathura of Uttar Pradesh.

Making a departure from old tradition, the widows played colour amid the echo of blowing conches. The festival was also marked by the presence of Sanskrit scholars and punditz, founder of Sulabh international Bindeshwar Pathak said.

“The participation of widows, who are forbidden of wearing colourful attire, symbolizes the break of tradition,” he adds.

Widows playing Holi

Colours:

• Around 1000 widows played Holi.
• 1200 kgs of gulal (herbal colour) was used.
• 1500 kgs of rose and marigold petals were arranged for the rare occasion.
• Vrindavan is a home to lakhs of widows.