Lucknow,

04 March (HS): With the full moon of Phalgun, all of Uttar Pradesh was awash in

colors, gulal, folk songs, and cultural fervor. From village squares to the

streets of metropolitan cities, Holi was not just a festival of colors, but a

vibrant celebration of social harmony, religious faith, and cultural heritage.

Celebrated in various districts of the state with diverse traditions and folk

cultures, Holi once again presented an example of Ganga-Jamuni culture. The

devotion of Braj, the joy of Kashi, the culture of Awadh, and the folk tunes of

Purvanchal bound the entire state in a thread of colors, where diversity

emerged as its greatest identity.

World

famous traditional Holi in Braj region: The mention of Holi of Uttar Pradesh is

considered incomplete without the Braj region. Thousands of devotees from India

and abroad reached Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon to see Lathmar

Holi, Phool Holi and Rangotsav. In Barsana's Lathmar Holi, women showered

sticks on men in traditional style. Whereas in Nandgaon, Huriyaras made the

atmosphere colourful by throwing Gulal. In the temples, a wonderful confluence

of colours and music along with Radha-Krishna devotion was seen.

Bhang,

music, and spiritual colors in Kashi: Holi in Varanasi was renowned for its

carefree spirit. Foreign tourists were also seen drenched in colors on the

ghats. The city of Baba Vishwanath was filled with festive atmosphere from

early morning with drums, cymbals, Phaag songs, and traditional bhang. The

festival of colors continued late into the evening amid chants of Har Har

Mahadev on the banks of the Ganges.

Holi

in the city of Lord Shri Ram was adorned with the colors of devotion and joy:

This year, the Holi celebrations in Ayodhya were linked to the dignity and folk

faith of Lord Shri Ram. The streets of Ramnagari were filled with colors and

gulal, creating a unique atmosphere of devotion, affinity, and social harmony.

From early morning, people began the celebrations by applying abir-gulal to

each other and chanting Jai Shri Ram. Families and groups of young

people celebrated Holi with traditional songs and enthusiasm. Holi

get-togethers held in local neighborhoods conveyed the message of embodying

Lord Shri Ram's ideals of love, dignity, and brotherhood. Everyone, from

children to the elderly, displayed special enthusiasm. The message of the

celebration was this: Holi in Ram's city is not just a festival of colors, but

a celebration of mutual love and social unity. On the land of Lord Shri Ram,

colors bloom with dignity, and festivals are celebrated with values.

Cultural

and Social Holi in the Awadh Region: A modest and cultural Holi was celebrated

throughout the Awadh region, including the capital Lucknow. Community Holi

get-togethers were held in neighborhoods, where Hindus and Muslims applied

gulal to each other, conveying the message of brotherhood. Poetry conferences,

Phaag singing, and folk dance performances at government institutions, social

organizations, and cultural forums added to the special significance of the

celebration.

Folk

songs and Phaag resonated in Purvanchal: Traditional Phaag songs were sung in

full swing in Purvanchal districts, including Mirzapur, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh,

and Ballia. Holi songs were sung throughout the night to the beat of dholaks

and cymbals in village squares. The tradition of using natural colors and

community feasts remained alive in rural areas.

Bundelkhand's

five-day Holi: In Jhansi, Hamirpur, and Banda, Holi is a multi-day celebration.

Here, special women's Holi celebrations, folk dances, and traditional rituals

give the festival its distinct identity.

Security

and administrative arrangements: The state government and district

administrations maintained peace and order by deploying police forces in

sensitive areas. Drone surveillance and control rooms monitored the situation

in major cities, leading to a peaceful Holi celebration in most locations.

Holi

also served as a social message: This year, campaigns such as no chemical

colors, water conservation, and a harmonious Holi were promoted in many

districts. Youth and social organizations appealed for an environmentally

friendly Holi.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi