‘Will offer flowers to God to mark the festival’
AGRA : Chhavi Sharma, a 70-year-old widow in Vrindavan, is not worried about the cancellation of Holi celebrations this year. She is more concerned over the coronavirus scare after six cases were reported in nearby Agra district. “We would offer flowers individually to God to mark the festival. We will celebrate Holi with more enthusiasm next year. It is not good to have a gathering in such a situation” stated Chhavi and other widows residing at Vrindavan ashram.
Hundreds of widows in the temple town echoed similar views. The women said Holi can be celebrated next year and it’s no use taking risk just for the sake of celebrations for a day.
Sulabh International had scheduled Holi celebrations at Gopinath temple in Vrindavan on March 7, but called off the event in wake of coronavirus scare in Agra. The organisation had been holding celebrations for the last seven years. “Ek saal Holi nahi khelenge to kya hoga (If I do not celebrate Holi this time, what harm will it cause),” asked the widow while cherishing memories of Holi celebrations at Gopinath Temple in the past years. “It is also necessary to save oneself from disease,” added Chhavi.
“We used to wait for this occasion filled with colours, but if it is not being celebrated then also it is fine if it saves us from the threat of disease,” said Usha
Dasi, a 60-year-old widow also from Vrindavan ashram.
Apart from Holi, these widows celebrate Diwali and Raksha Bandhan when they make ‘rakhis’ and send them to the prime minister. “Preparations were on for organising ‘Holi’ for widows at Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan on March 7. Widows from Varanasi were also to join in,” informed Madan Jha, media advisor to Sulabh International.
“With the event getting popular, many photographers from foreign countries reach Vrindavan. This might add to the coronavirus risk,” he added.
“There had been appeals by various authorities to avoid gatherings and thus we thought of doing so,” stated Jha.