In Vrindavan, this year, more than 2,000 widows will set a historical record for celebrating Holi together and be under the impact of color accompanied by an aura of positivity breaking the stereotypes. Social organizations of Vrindavan and the UP tourism department have joined hands in celebrating a remarkable 'Widows' Holi-2025' with the ambition to clutch a Guinness World Record.

Positivity Among the Viewers

After the videos went viral on the internet. The social media got enriched with full of positivity. "Breathtaking! Heart Warming!" a user commented. Another user commented, " This is wholesome to another level".

A Brief History

'Widow's Holi' is an outstanding cultural celebration held in the city of Vrindavan, which has now become a symbol of change and stands as a bright testimony to inclusive and compassionate action. Vrindavan is where Lord Krishna spent his childhood, serving as a haven for widowed Hindu women for centuries.

Shunned and neglected by society, widows suffer hardships and lead lives dependent on aid from the government and organizations besides the many temples and ashrams in town. A large paradigm shift from the old tradition is this. Such traditions allow widows access to bright celebrations, which had previously been denied participation but now offer the happiness of celebration.

The widows were caught in the net of the social conventions, which shattered due to the intervention of the Supreme Court in 2012 and the incessant persistence of Sulabh International-an NGO. Sulabh International is renowned for promoting social inclusion and women's empowerment and launched a revolutionary program for improving the standards of living for widows in Vrindavan. A noteworthy landmark towards this journey included the staging of a special Holi festival at the Gopinath Temple devoted to the widows of Vrindavan.

But until 2013, the widows could only celebrate Holi by applying colour on "Thakurji" or Lord Krishna. With time, it began to be celebrated by the widows without much fuss and merriment together and all clad in bright colours joined in the celebrations by putting gulal on each other and hugging each other for comfort.

What happened this year?

This year, the "Rangbhari Ekadashi Festival", which happened on Monday (March 10, 2025), the devotees celebrated within the Kashi Vishwanath Temple premises. This forms a splendor and the initial festival of Holi-in-waiting, which is celebrated five days before the main celebration of Holi. This gives the atmosphere a great thrill, color, and devotion as the devotees engage with the joyous fun.

^{Image credit: Amar Ujala}

The UP Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, inaugurated Rangotsav 2025 in the Shri Radha Bihari Inter College at Barsana in Mathura and showered flower petals upon the people gathered there. During his visit, Adityanath further informed that after the development works at Ayodhya and Prayagraj, it was now up to Mathura and Vrindavan to get revitalized, and the State government will not leave any stone unturned for developing the place. After inaugurating Rangotsav 2025, he offered prayers at Shri Radha Bihari Inter College, Barsana, Mathura.

To Conclude..

While such celebrations mark a giant leap toward inclusion, it is also crucial to understand that sustained advocacy is needed for deep-rooted societal norms to change. Events like the Widows' Holi serve as space for dialogue and reflection. Continuous advocacy, policy interventions, and grassroots initiatives must address wider problems facing widows: economic dependency and social ostracism, for only then will change be lasting.

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