Lathmar Holi Festival - Where women can freely beat men with sticks

During the colorful Lathmar Holi festival, the local women had a special time to 'get out' with men.

Channel DW (Germany) reported that the Hindu festival Lathmar Holi is held annually in the two cities of Barsana and Nandgaon in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Participants Lathmar Holi.

Lathmar Holi originates from the legend of the Hindu god Krishna at Nandgaon who came to Barsana to visit his beloved Radha. Krishna then wanted to spray colored powder on Radha and her friends at the Holi pigment throwing festival to tease them. But this god was playfully chased away by Radha with a stick. Accordingly, every year during Holi festival, men from Nandagaon will come to Barsana and cover themselves with shields for local women to beat with sticks.

Men gather at the Radha Rani temple in Barsana, humming songs that are sometimes provocative to the displeasure of the women and beating them with sticks.

This festival is said to have a health purpose because the pigment used in the event is a traditional medicine called gula, which is often used to treat colds and fevers. People often use gula during the changing weather in spring.

However, today, many festival-goers say that the pigments are no longer used from gula, but in many places, synthetic colors are used, causing them to have skin and eye allergies.

This year, Lathmar Holi festival is held on 11/3.

For many Hindus in India, Holi is one of the most important cultural events of the year.