Holi Festivities Begin In Ayodhya With Rangbhari Ekadashi Celebrations

(MENAFN- AsiaNet News)

Naga Sadhus and other saints celebrated Rangbhari Ekadashi with great enthusiasm and devotion in Ayodhya on Friday, playing Holi with gulal and the holy flag (nishan) of the Hanumangarhi Temple.

On the auspicious occasion, saints gathered at the Hanumangarhi Temple and applied gulal to each other, marking the start of Holi festivities in the temple town.

Speaking with ANI, Mahant Sanjay Das Ji Maharaj, National President of Sankat Mochan Sena (Hanumangarhi Temple), said that according to tradition, the saints took out the Panchkoshi Parikrama carrying the symbol of Lord Hanuman on their shoulders. “Today, on Rangbhari Ekadashi, all the saints of Ayodhya visited the temples and applied gulal… We are performing the Panchkoshi Parikrama as we do every year… We carry the symbol of Lord Hanuman on our shoulders, dip it in the Ganges, and then take a dip in the form of Prasad,” he said.

Rangbhari Ekadashi holds special significance in Ayodhya and marks the ceremonial beginning of Holi celebrations, with saints and devotees participating in rituals and religious processions across the city.

Lathmar Holi Begins in Barsana and Mathura

Earlier on February 25, the lively and playful Lathmar Holi started in the twin towns of Barsana and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, kicking off the week-long Holi celebrations that attract devotees and tourists from across the country and around the world.

Traditional Lore and Celebrations

This centuries-old festival, rooted in the Braj region’s stories of Lord Krishna and Radha, is celebrated with colors, music, sweets, and the iconic playful use of sticks, or lathis.

According to legend, Lathmar Holi symbolizes the playful exchange between Krishna’s village, Nandagaon, and Radha’s village, Barsana. It is believed that Krishna, along with his friends, visited Barsana to tease Radha and her companions, who responded playfully by chasing them away with sticks (lathis). As part of the traditional festivities, men from Nandgaon traditionally arrive in Barsana, where local women greet them with mock stick attacks while dousing them in vibrant colors.

The air was filled with Holi bhajans and chants of ‘Radhe Radhe’ as participants smeared gulal (colored powder) on each other, creating a joyful atmosphere. Streets were decorated with flowers, cultural ornaments, and traditional sweets, enhancing the festive spirit. People of all ages, from children to seniors, enthusiastically participated in the celebrations.

Security Increased for Festivities

The Holi celebrations in Mathura, widely regarded as Lord Krishna’s birthplace, will conclude with grand processions, cultural performances, and temple rituals leading up to the main Holi festival. Due to the large crowds, authorities have implemented additional security measures to ensure a smooth and safe celebration, with local administration closely monitoring crowd control and traffic management.

“Lakhs of devotees have arrived here. The entire region has been divided into 8 zones and 16 sectors for security purposes. Through CCTV, traffic diversion plans, holding areas, and barricades, a comprehensive security plan has been put in place. The goal is to ensure that devotees face no inconvenience and enjoy a wholesome celebration,” said Shlok Kumar, SSP Mathura.

“Any attempt to harass any woman during the celebrations will have legal consequences. To prevent this, we have Anti-Romeo squads and CCTV surveillance,” he added.

Speaking with ANI, Mathura District Magistrate CP Singh emphasized Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s instructions for “grand and devotional celebrations.” (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)