Aruna Samaddar threw fistfuls of colored powder into the air. Blue and red and green, the cheerful colors settled on her white sari and all over other women nearby. In most of India, widows like Samaddar have no place in this joyful celebration of Holi, the Hindu festival of colors.

The country’s millions of observant Hindu widows are expected to live out their days in quiet worship, dressed only in white. They are typically barred from all religious festivities because their very presence is considered inauspicious. So for Samaddar, Monday’s celebration was a joy long denied.

So deep is the ostracization of widows that they’re often shunned by their families and forced to seek shelter in temples. The holy city of Vrindavan, in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, is known as the City of Widows because it has given so many women shelter. And in recent years, widows have found a bit of color and joy here as well.

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Tucked away in the serenity of Vrindavan is the precious project that is called Krishna Bhumi. Being built as a haven for Krishna lovers all over the world, it is situated at the feet of the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, which is set to be a one of a kind skyscraper temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. As a resident of Krishna Bhumi you will not only get a feeling of being one with Krishna because of the proximity to the VCM, you will also enjoy special privileges like separate access to the temple and a chance to do a special puja once in a year.

Added to all of this, Krishna Bhumi is packed with all the amenities that are required to lead a modern and comfortable lifestyle. Starting from a wellness spa and Ayurveda centre and a gymnasium to a swimming pool and guest apartments where your friends can stay when they visit you. Krishna Bhumi is a project where you can choose to reside permanently or you can also opt for it as a weekend home.

The project is conveniently located just over an hour’s drive from South Delhi and is connected by the newly inaugurated six lane Yamuna Expressway. Krishna Bhumi, to put it in a phrase, is a divine combination of luxury and spirituality. Own your own piece of Krishna Bhumi today. Call +91 969696 8899 and choose from an array of studio, 1, 2 and 3 BHK apartments at our second phase, Tulsi Vas. Prices start from 20.87 Lacs only. 

In order to speed up the cleaning of sewer lines, the Water Corporation in Vrindavan has increased the number of workers who are engaged in this task. Corporation personnel say that within three or four days drainage into the Yamuna from several of these lines will be ended. The Yamuna Rakshak Dal’s national director, Jai Krishna Dasji Maharaj, said that he was happy with the action of the Corporation.

“We have been agitating for a full stoppage to the spilling of black water into the Yamuna for years. That some action is finally being taken is very encouraging. Let us hope that all sewers that are currently draining into the river be completely stopped.” Three days ago, company representative Suresh Pal Singh came to examine the river in Mathura.

He surveyed the river bank from the Masani Pumping Station to Swami Ghat, Vishram Ghat, Bangali Ghat, Mahadeva Ghat, and Dhruv Ghat.
The skimmer now being used in Mathura was made in the USA. The skimmer draws floating debris to a depth of one and a half meters below the surface. It has a storage capacity of 4.7 tonnes. Later the detritus is transferred to a landfill. National Secretary of the Yamuna Muktikaran Abhiyan, Radha Kanta Shastri said that after long efforts to move the Government to clean up the rivers, something is finally being done and they are very happy about it.

Holi falls on a Wednesday this year (March 23rd), followed by Good Friday. This gives an opportunity to travel to destinations far and near. Travelling during the festival of colors is a sure-shot way of experiencing the richness of cultures which come together to make the rainbow called India. If you are thinking of taking a Holi vacation, Mathura and Vrindavan should be at the top of your list!

Mathura and Vrindavan:

Both Mathura and Vrindavan are situated in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. People across the globe gather every year to feel the essence of the festival in these ancient cities that have for centuries celebrated the festival with full fervor. During this festival, people here relive the legends associated with Radha and Krishna. With an immensely strong bonding with Lord Krishna, the celebration of Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan continues for over a week. A week prior to the primary festival, Barsana Holi begins. Barsana is a village near Mathura which was the village of Radha. It is famous for its lathmar Holi in which women beat men (playfully) with sticks. On the very next day Holi is celebrated in Nandgaon (Krishna’s village). Nandgaon has found reference in religious texts as the place where Krishna spent most of his childhood days. According to legends, after Krishna went to Barsana, Radha and her friends came to Nandgaon on the next day to put color on Krishna. And hence, Holi celebrations shift from Barsana to Nandgaon. The Banke-Bihari Temple in Vrindavan is one such place to enjoy the festivities. In this temple Lord Krishna is dressed up in white clothes and is brought closer to his devotees to play Holi. Vrindavan Holi is played with colored water and gulal. Besides Banke Bihari Temple, every temple in Mathura and Vrindavan has some special celebrations during the Holi days. The Gulal-Kund in Braj is also another interesting place to celebrate Vrindavan Holi. It is a small lake near the Govardhan hill. Local people act in Krishna-Lila drama and re-enact the scenes of Holi for the pilgrims.

News Source: News X