Jayati Godhawat
JWB Blogger
First Time Ever, Widows In Vrindavan & Varanasi Play Holi In Gopinath Temple
- JWB Post
- March 23, 2016
Drumrolls, Whistles, Victory Dance, please? First time in the history, the widows of the Vrindavan played Holi inside the temple.
Vrindavan is also called as the ‘City of Widows’ as a large number of widows and women who are left by their families find shelter here. Most of them hail from West Bengal and Bihar.
On Monday, the widows from Vrindavan and Varanasi participated in the Holi celebrations at the ancient Gopinath Temple. Many Sanskrit students and pundits also took part in the celebrations. There was abundant excitement and satisfaction as they smeared each other with Holi colors, amidst blowing of conch shells and showering of flower petals.
Many NGO’s in the past have initiated with Holi celebrations in the city for such women. But, it’s the first time that they have played Holi in a temple of Lord Krishna.
A well-known social reformer and founder of Sulabh International, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, said that this was an attempt to bring widows closer to the social mainstream.
Sulabh International has been working towards widows’ participation in all Hindu festivals. It started taking care of around 1,500 widows in Vrindavan and Varanasi since 2012. Since then, it has been organizing Holi and other festivals for them.
I think it’s an exemplary start by the temple authorities and NGO’s. In my opinion, this is truly empowering the roots of womankind.
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