Vrindavan: widows to play Holi with colours and gulal

Breaking social stigmas, thousands of widows living in Vrindavan will play Holi this year with colours and gulal, unlike last year when they had sprinkled flower petals on each other.
Around 1,000 widows will celebrate Holi on March 14 at Meera Sahabhagini Sadan, Vrindavan, where in a symbolic gesture, they will play Holi with colours and gulal.
The initiative will be taken by Sulabh International, which is working for improving the condition of the widows and bringing them to the mainstream besides ensuring their social assimilation.
"Vrindavan Holi is an effort to free widows from the shackles of age-old tradition. Not only will the widows play Holi, they will also participate in cultural programmes," Sulabh International Founder, Bindeshwar Pathak said in a release issued here.

Last year, these widows had played Holi with flower petals, but this time they have planned to celebrate the festival of colours with gulal and get soaked in colourful festivities.
As part of Holi celebrations, Sulabh is also organising traditional dance programme "Raas-Leela" and other events for them at Widow Ashram in Vrindavan on March 14, he said.
Generally, widows are refrained from playing Holi in the society.