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Men in Barsana get caned in run-up to Holi

     Barsana (Uttar Pradesh): Every year, the narrow bylanes of Barsana in Uttar Pradesh become the stage for enacting a colourful ritual that was begun over 5000 years ago. Barsana, the birthplace of Lord Krishna's consort Radha, hosted the annual festival of "Lathmaar Holi" on Wednesday, marking the beginning of spring festivities throughout the region. Legend has it that Krishna, accompanied by several of his friends used to visit Barsana to play Holi or the festival of colours with Radha. After a bit of teasing by Krishna, the Gopis or Radha's friends duly chased away Krishna and his friends using canes or "lath". Even today, the ritual is followed in all its festive glory. Faces smeared with bright colours, men from Krishna's birthplace Nandgaon barely seven kilometers away, don the characters of Krishna's friends and descend on the town to play Holi with the modern-day "gopis". The festivities start as the men try and hoist a flag atop a temple devoted to Radha and the women prevent them. A mock battle then begins. After engaging in ritualistic teasing of the women, the men cover their heads with leather shields to save them from the hearty blows rained down by the women. On their part, the men put up a brave front. "The canes that the women wield are actually a cane of love. It does not hurt. Still, we do have a shield to save us. Sometimes, even if it does hit us on the feet or hands, we don't feel it," Harimohan Goswami, a resident of Nandgaon said. The ritual is a colourful sight for onlookers as well, who keenly watch all proceedings from rooftops and balconies. "Its fun seeing it since the sentiment in hitting them is different. Otherwise it would not make anybody happy seeing this caning. We are enjoying this," said Mamta Gupta, a resident of Barsana. At a given time, one man could be surrounded by three to four cane-wielding women who lash out a volley of blows on him, as he accepts it all good-naturedly.
-Mar 9, 2006