Widows Play 'Holi of Hope' In Vrindavan

Mathura, March 2 (TNA) Continuing to defy Hindu tradition, large numbers of widowed mothers once again splashed colours with each other in the courtyard of the historic Gopinath temple in the holy city of Vrindavan on Monday.

Vrindavan's Holi celebrations for Widows organised by Sulabh International in recent years have become memorable occasions for the hundreds of widows who, till the recent past, used to face humiliation.

The Executive Convenor of Sulabh International, Nitya Pathak, said that participating in festivals like Holi lifts their spirits to move on with life with hope and confidence.

She said that large numbers of mothers living in five ashrams have actively participated in the festival of colours. Widows gathered and played Holi with dry colours and flowers with each other in front of Lord Gopinath jee. They chanted and danced splashed colours.

More than 1000 kilograms of flowers and 700 kilograms of Gulals( dry colours) were arranged for the celebration, she added. Pathak said that over the years, a large number of widows have embraced change and have come forward to participate in festivals like Holi and Diwali.

In 2013, Well known Social Reformer and Founder of Sulabh International, late Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, had initiated efforts to mobilise thousands of widows who have made Vrindavan their home to celebrate Holi. But their life changed for the better when the Supreme Court intervened and asked NGO Sulabh International to take care of the widows waiting for death in despair in the last stages of their lives.

In 2012, the Supreme Court of India expressed concern that the government and its agencies were not doing enough to mitigate the suffering of the widows of Vrindavan.