PHOTOS: Widows in India celebrate spring color festival of Holi
March 14, 2014
An Indian widow throws petals while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. For the first time, about a 1,000 widows of Vrindavan played Holi with colors at an ashram. The event was organized by Indian NGO Sulabh International as at the behest of the Supreme Court. Sulabh International is trying to improve the condition of widows who are living in government shelter homes. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows living in Vrindavan separate flower petals before celebrating Holi with Gulal (coloured powder), flowers and water in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. Breaking centuries-old tradition, around 1,000 widows living in the holy city of Vrindavan celebrated the spring colour festival at Meera Sahabhagini Sadan in Vrindavan. In a symbolic gesture, the widows celebrated Holi with colors and gulal unlike the previous year where they only sprinkled flower petals over each other. As per Indian tradition, widows are considered social outcasts and refrain from celebrating Holi. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528055434 )
An Indian widow, seen smeared with coloured powder, rests after celebrating Holi in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. Breaking centuries-old tradition, around 1,000 widows living in the holy city of Vrindavan celebrated the spring colour festival of Holi at Meera Sahabhagini Sadan in Vrindavan. In a symbolic gesture, the widows celebrated Holi with colors and gulal unlike the previous year where they only sprinkled flower petals over each other. As per Indian tradition, widows are considered social outcasts and refrain from celebrating Holi. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528056491 )
Indian widows sing and dance while playing Holi with gulal (colored powder), flowers and water in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. B AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528055468 )
Indian widows and locals throw petals and spray colored water while participate in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. For the first time, about a 1,000 widows of Vrindavan played Holi with colors at an ashram. The event was organized by Indian NGO Sulabh International as at the behest of the Supreme Court. Sulabh International is trying to improve the condition of widows who are living in government shelter homes. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( epaselect INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows celebrate Holi with water and gulal (colored powder) in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528055790 )
An Indian widow is covered with colored powder while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
An Indian widow throws petals while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows are covered with colors while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( epaselect INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows attend a prayer as they participate in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. For the first time, about a 1,000 widows of Vrindavan played Holi with colors at an ashram. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian elderly widows look on as others participate in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows attend a prayer as they participate in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows and locals throw petals and spray colored water while participate in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows prepare flowers and colours as they participate in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
An Indian widow throws petals while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows are covered with colors while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
An Indian widow throws petals while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Two Indian widows sit surrounded by petals while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( epaselect INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
An Indian widow is covered with colored powder while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widow load their pump guns with colored water and stray at each other while participating in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widow participate in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows and locals throw petals and spray colored water while participate in the Holi festival in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 14, 2014. EPA/HARISH TYAGI ( INDIA WIDOWS HOLI FESTIVAL )
Indian widows sing and dance while playing Holi with gulal (colored powder), flowers and water in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. Breaking centuries-old tradition, around 1,000 widows living in the holy city of Vrindavan celebrated the spring color festival of Holi at Meera Sahabhagini Sadan in Vrindavan. In a symbolic gesture, the widows celebrated Holi with colors and gulal unlike the previous year where they only sprinkled flower petals over each other. As per Indian tradition, widows are considered social outcasts and refrain from celebrating Holi. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528055473 )
Indian widows refill their water guns with colored water as they celebrate Holi in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528055804 )
Indian widows celebrate Holi with water and gulal (colored powder) in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528055788 )
Indian widows celebrate Holi with water and gulal (colored powder) in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. B AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528055779 )
An Indian widow rests celebrating Holi with water and gulal (colored powder) in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528055822 )
Indian widows dressed as Hindu god Lord Krishna and Radha dance as Sulabh International founder Bindeshwari Pathak (R) sprinkles flower petals during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528056464 )
An Indian widow, seen smeared with colored powder, rests after celebrating Holi in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528056487 )
Indian widows dressed as Hindu god Lord Krishna and Radha dance with Sulabh International founder Bindeshwari Pathak (2nd R) during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528056472 )
An Indian widow prays while sitting next to trays of gulal (colored powder) during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528056614 )
An Indian widow, smeared in gulal (colored powder), prays during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528056617 )
Sulabh International Founder Bindeshwari Pathak (C) and Indian widows, some dressed as Hindu gods Radha and Krishna, cut a string symbolizing the breaking of tradition where widows are not allowed to celebrate Holi, during celebrations in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528056632 )
Indian widows smeared in gulal (colored powder) look on they and others participate in Holi celebrations in Vrindavan on March 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Prakash SINGH/AFP/Getty Images ( 528056626 )
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