Breaking away from the societal pressures, thousands of Indian widows take part in playing Holi – a Hindu festival of colours – in the northern city of Vrindavan.
Organised by NGO Sulabh International, about one thousand kilos of colour has been arranged for the four-day long activity, which has conventionally remained a non-event for widows.
Having been bereft of their families and living life normally after the death of their husbands, any chance of indulging in festivities is enough to uplift their spirits.
Vrindavan, a historic town in the Mathura district of northern Uttar Pradesh state (150 km from New Delhi) is known for ‘sheltering’ widows, mostly destitute.
These women come from all across India after relatives and friends reject them.
In orthodox India, widows dress in white most of the time; forever grieving the loss of their husbands. They are not allowed to play with colours and partake in any function after their husbands’ death.
Bindeshwar Pathak, adivsor of the Sulabh Movement told a Pakistani private media agency that it is difficult to protest against the social order. He claimed that widows are not allowed to enjoy the arrival of spring and play Holi.
To Bindeshwari Devi, 92, whose husband died 25 years ago, her dream of playing with the colours has come true.
“It’s my first Holi after my husband’s death. It’s like a dream come true. None of my relatives are here. They have abandoned me. But I will remember this day. Not only did I play Holi but I was also photographed for the first time in my life,” she told a private media outlet.
India is celebrating Holi on March 6.
