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Lost in Red Holi Series
- Collection of Images From Barsana,Nandgaon and Vrindavan
Devender Meena, a travel and landscape photographer, visited these villages to capture the essence of this festival in its most authentic form. He says, “When I was capturing the images at these locations, it felt like a different world to me. Everything was happening in slow motion in front of my eyes while I was holding the camera and trying to capture the moments from those magical moments. The colors, the water, and the excitement of the samaj people were mesmerizing.
I was inside the temple with Few Friends when there was nobody except us ,some security people from the administration And some Pujari’s Along with few local people. So, We were waiting inside and both the front and the back doors were banged by the Samaj People. It was the festival time and the energy inside them was just on another level.
So, The samaj people came at the gates and started banging them, Giving the sign to the priests and the administration that they had arrived So Open these Gates so they can start their rituals. When the doors opened, me and my Friends who were along with me got goosebumps. The samaj people entered the premises with unbeatable energy.
They started taking their places, Some sat on the temple floor and some headed over to the balcony where they had prepared natural water color from tesu flowers. They also had bags of gulal that they could use once the program started. They used pichkaris to throw water from the top onto the people who were sitting inside the temple and chanting mantras
When the program started, the madness started. They emptied the bags full of colors one after another and then threw water to settle the gulal. This whole thing went on for 30–40 minutes.
In all this action, I wanted to capture the best formations and the color play. I also wanted to find patterns and emotions in the chaos. I was using a Canon 550D and a kit lens. I covered my camera with poly wrap to save it from getting destroyed.
It was so dreamy when they threw the colors and the colors flowed with air and created different moods altogether. It was like a painting come alive.”
The series of images captured by Devender Meena show the vibrant colors, the festive mood, and the cultural traditions of the people who participate in this celebration. They also show how these people have lost themselves in the red hues of holi, which reflect their passion, their devotion, and their joy.
The Colors of Holi
The colors used in holi are called gulal, which are made from natural ingredients such as flowers, herbs, spices, and minerals. Each color has a meaning and a significance in Hindu culture. For example, red represents love, fertility, courage, and purity; yellow represents happiness, prosperity, and knowledge; green represents harmony, health, and nature; blue represents faith, loyalty, and peace; and pink represents friendship, compassion, and grace.
The colors create a striking contrast with the white clothes worn by the people and the temple architecture that surrounds them. The white symbolizes purity, innocence, and simplicity; while the colors symbolize diversity, complexity, and richness. The colors also enhance the beauty and the emotions of the people who are smeared with them. They highlight their features, their expressions, and their personalities.
Devender Meena says, “I wanted to capture the contrast between the white and the colors in my images. I also wanted to capture the emotions of the people who were playing with colors. I tried to get close to them and capture their smiles, their laughter, their excitement, and their love.”
The Mood of Holi
The mood of holi is one of joy and enthusiasm. The people express their happiness through music, dance, and laughter. They sing traditional songs that praise Radha and Krishna, as well as folk songs that tease and taunt each other. They dance to the beats of drums, cymbals, flutes, and trumpets. They laugh as they splash each other with water guns, buckets, balloons, and syringes filled with colored water.
The mood of holi is also one of interaction and community. The people mingle with each other regardless of their age, gender, caste, or status. They greet each other with “Happy Holi” or “Radhe Radhe” (the name of Radha). They hug each other warmly or playfully hit each other with sticks or fists. They share sweets, snacks, drinks, and bhang (a cannabis-infused beverage) with each other.
The mood of holi is also one of unity and harmony. The people overcome their differences and celebrate their common bond as human beings. They forget their worries, their grudges, and their conflicts. They forgive, they apologize, and they reconcile. They embrace, they accept, and they respect. They celebrate, they cooperate, and they appreciate.
Devender Meena says, “I wanted to capture the mood of holi in my images. I wanted to capture the joy, the enthusiasm, and the happiness of the people who were playing with music, dance, and laughter. I also wanted to capture the interaction, the community, and the harmony of the people who were sharing with each other their sweets, their snacks, their drinks, and their bhang.”
The Traditions of Holi
The traditions of holi at Barsana and Nandgaon are rooted in the legends and rituals associated with Radha and Krishna. According to one legend, Krishna, who had a dark complexion, was jealous of Radha’s fair skin. He complained to his mother Yashoda, who suggested that he should color Radha’s face with any color he liked. Krishna followed her advice and playfully smeared Radha’s face with gulal, making her look like him. Radha was amused by his prank and reciprocated by coloring him back. This started a tradition of lovers coloring each other on holi.
According to another legend, Krishna visited Barsana to play holi with Radha and her friends, the gopis (cowherd girls). The gopis were not pleased by his arrival and tried to chase him away by throwing gulal and water at him. Krishna defended himself by throwing gulal and water back at them. This started a tradition of men from Nandgaon visiting Barsana to play holi with women from Barsana, who try to beat them with sticks while they try to shield themselves with shields. This is called lathmar holi (stick-beating holi).
The people of Barsana and Nandgaon reenact these playful romances of Radha and Krishna every year during holi. They also honor their elders and their deities by performing various rituals. For example, they visit the temples of Radha Rani (the queen of Radha) in Barsana and Nand Baba (the father of Krishna) in Nandgaon. They offer prayers, flowers, fruits, and sweets to them. They also participate in processions, dances, dramas, and bonfires that depict the stories of Radha and Krishna.
Devender Meena says, “I wanted to capture the traditions of holi in my images. I wanted to capture the legends and the rituals that are associated with Radha and Krishna. I wanted to capture the reenactment of their playful romances by the people of Barsana and Nandgaon. I also wanted to capture the honor and the devotion that they show to their elders and their deities.”
FAQs
Q: What is Holi?
A: Holi is a festival of colors that marks the arrival of spring and celebrates the victory of good over evil.
Q: When is Holi celebrated?
A: Holi is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Phalguna (February-March) according to the Hindu calendar.
Q: Where is Holi celebrated?
A: Holi is celebrated all over India, but nowhere more fervently than at Barsana and Nandgaon, two villages near Mathura
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