Clad in white saree, a large number of widows gathered at one of the oldest Krishna temples in the crowded Gopinath Bazaar in Vrindavan braving the morning chill and splashed colours on each other.
Shunning age-old taboo, widows from Varanasi and Vrindavan played Holi on the premises of the 400-year-old Gopinath Temple on Thursday.
Clad in white saree, a large number of widows gathered at one of the oldest Krishna temples in the crowded Gopinath Bazaar in Vrindavan braving the morning chill and splashed colours on each other.
A large numbers of widows from Varanasi also participated in the event organised by social activist Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of NGO Sulabh International.
"Their participation in Holi symbolises a break from tradition which forbids a widow from wearing coloured saree, among many other things," Pathak said.
1,500 kg 'gulal' (coloured powder) and 1,500 kg of petals were arranged for the event, the NGO said in a press release.
The NGO has been paying Rs 2,000 to 800 widows living in eight Ashrams in Vrindavan and Varanasi for the last five years, the release added.
1. Celebrating Holi
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A widow dances during celebrations for Holi or "festival of colours" in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh on March 9.
Image courtesy: AFP
2. Vrindavan
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Widows celebrate Holi in Vrindavan
Image courtesy: AFP
3. Holi in Vrindavan
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Widows congregated on a small patio of the Gopinath temple in which they live and danced and played with coloured powder to celebrate the occasion.
Image courtesy: Reuters
4. Gopinath Temple
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One of the widows dances during Holi celebrations at ancient Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan on Thursday.
Image courtesy: PTI
5. Gopinath Temple
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A widow dances in front of the pictures of Lord Krishna and Radha as she celebrates Holi at the ancient Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan on Thursday
Image courtesy: PTI
6. Vrindavan's "phool ki holi"
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Widows playing Holi with flowers at Gopinath temple in Vrindavan on Thursday.
Image courtesy: PTI
7. Phool ki Holi
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Widows take part in Holi celebrations in the town of Vrindavan in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Image courtesy: Reuters
8. Festival of Colours
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Indian widows celebrate Holi in Vrindavan.
Image courtesy: Reuters
