Tesu flowers are soaked in water overnight, and alum and lime are mixed in to enhance the medicinal properties of the flower. After the color is prepared, it is filtered through a cloth to remove any impurities. The result is a lovely fragrant color that is easily removed from the skin.
2023.02.23 (Vrindavan Today News): The month of Phagun is here, and Holi celebrations have started in the Braj region of India. Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country, but the traditional events of Holi in Braj have a unique charm of their own.
Unlike other regions of India, where this festival is referred to as Holi or Hori, the festival of colors in Braj is referred to as Hora, and rightly so.
The celebration of Holi in Braj starts a month before the actual date. The festivities begin with the Phoolon wali Holi or the Holi of flowers. During this celebration, people gather in the temples and throw flowers at each other, symbolizing the beginning of the festival.
The next event is the Laddu Holi, where laddus (Indian sweet balls) are thrown at each other. This is followed by the Dauji ka Huranga, where women playfully beat men with sticks, while men try to protect themselves with shields.
However, the most famous celebration in Braj is the Barsana Holi, which takes place in the village of Barsana. Here, women from the village beat men from the neighboring village of Nandgaon with sticks, while the men try to drench them with colored water. This unique celebration is known as Lathmar Holi and attracts a large number of tourists every year.
The festival culminates with the main event of Holi, which is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna.
One of the other highlights of Holi in Braj is the use of natural colors made from Tesu flowers. This unique saffron color is limited to Brajbhoomi and is considered a cultural treasure. The use of Tesu flowers for the preparation of Holi colors has been a tradition for centuries and is still prevalent today.
Flower sellers like Kapil Mahavaniya sell the flowers for Rs.80 per kilo, and on Holi alone, he sells over a thousand kilos of flowers.
According to reports, the color prepared from Tesu flowers is considered to be the cheapest and most accessible. In fact, in Braj, the color of Tesu flowers is so important that it is used in the celebrations of Holi as well as in everyday life.
In Baldev’s Dauji temple, concrete cisterns have been made specifically to prepare colors from Tesu flowers. These cisterns are used only during Holi, and the process of preparing the color is quite fascinating.
Tesu flowers are soaked in water overnight, and alum and lime are mixed in to enhance the medicinal properties of the flower. After the color is prepared, it is filtered through a cloth to remove any impurities. The result is a lovely fragrant color that is easily removed from the skin.
The color prepared from Tesu flowers is not only all-natural, but also beneficial for the skin. The antioxidant and anti-infective properties of the flower make it an effective treatment for skin problems such as ringworm, boils, pimples, ulcers, and inflammation.
Furthermore, the use of Tesu flower color can also result in glowing skin and relief from skin diseases.
Holi in Braj is much more than just a festival; it represents a jubilation of heritage, customs, and togetherness within the community. Anyone who has the opportunity to experience this celebration will be left with a memorable and lasting impression of India’s rich cultural diversity.
