 Holi
Holi heralds the
beginning of spring
and is celebrated
with great
enthusiasm all over
India. According to
a legend, Hiranya
Kashyap, the demon
who ruled over 'Sapta
Deep' believed
himself to be more
powerful than God.
He contemplated
killing his youngest
son Prahlad, an
ardent devotee of
Lord Vishnu after he
refused to worship
him as God.
Holika, the demon's
sister who possessed
a divine, garment to
protect her from
fire, agreed to
enter the burning
pyre with Prahlad in
her lap but got
burnt herself.
Holi thus signifies
the triumph of good
over evil and is
marked by grand
festivities all over
India and
particularly in the
Braj area where it
is celebrated with
great gaiety and
fervour. |
Nandgaon
The day after
Barsana Holi, it's
the turn of Nandgaon
to get soaked with
the myriad hues of
holi. The men and
women of Barsana go
to Nandgaon (7 km.)
to play Latthmar
Holi with each
other. |
Dadjee Ka Huranga
(Baldeo)
20 km. from Mathura,
the town is named
after Balram the
elder brother of Sri
Krishna. A temple
dedicated to Baldeo
stands in the centre
of the town. |
Kampil Fair,
Kampil
Kampilya called
Kampil today, is a
village in tehsil
Kasganj of Etah
district, situated
on the banks of the
Ganga. During the
epic period it was
the capital of King
Drupad, the father
of the Queen
Draupadi, wife of
the five Pandava's
of Mahabharat. It
was the birth place
of the 13th
tirthaiikar Brahlan
Vimal Nath and was
graced by the visit
of Lord Mahavir. The
neighboring ruins
and mounds contain
the relics and
sculptures of Jain
period. Every year a
Jain Mela is held
for five days in the
month of March
thronged by Jain
devouts. |
Bateshwar Fair,
Agra
Situated at a
distance of 70 km.
from Agra on the
banks of river
Yamuna, Bateshwar is
an important
spiritual and
cultural centre.
The place is named
after the presiding
deity of the region,
Bateshwar Mahadeo
and has 108 temples
dedicated to the
gods and goddesses
of the Hindu
pantheon. During the
months of Oct. &
Nov. a large fair is
organized from
Shashthi of Kartik
month to Panchami of
Agrahayan month.
Devotees congregate
here in large
numbers to worship
Lord Shiva and take
holy dips in river
Yamuna. A livestock
fair is also
organized and owners
and buyers conduct
serious business
combined with the
gaiety of a market
place. |
|
Deva Mela,
Barabanki
The annual urs of
Haji Waris Ali Shah
is celebrated during
Oct.-Nov. months at
Deva 10 km. from
Barabanki. This fair
attracts pilgrims
from as far as
Pakistan and the
middle east
countries. The
shrine of the Sufi
Saint is much
revered by Muslim
pilgrims all over
the world. |
