Thousand widows celebrate Holi with fervour

Over a thousand widows from the ashrams in Vrindavan and Varanasi began a special four-day Holi celebrations in Vrindavan this morning.
At least 1,000 kilograms of 'gulal' in different colours and 1,500 kilograms of rose and merry gold petals have been arranged for the Holi programme organised at Pagal Baba Widow Ashram here by noted NGO Sulabh International.
The Holi revelries began with much fanfare amid song and dance performances.
A few days ago, hundreds of widows living in Varanasi played Holi with 'gulal' for the first time at the famous Assi Ghat on the bank of river Ganga in Banaras as a prelude to Holi festivities.

"Holi will bring some colour to the lives of the Vrindavan and Varanasi widows," said Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, mentor of Sulabh Movement.
Sulabh has instilled a sense of well being among the widows ever since it took up their cause on humanitarian grounds and made various arrangements for their health care, food and other necessities.