Although holi, the festival of colors, is celebrated all throughout India, Braj's celebrations—which include Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, and Nandgaon—are especially well-known for their size and cultural importance.
But the festivities here can also present safety risks for women, particularly those who are here for the first time. Despite the fact that holi is supposed to be a festive time, incidents of inappropriate conduct, harassment, and overcrowding have sparked worries about women's safety.
Travel and lifestyle influencer Reha Adani, who goes by @stichyourmap on Instagram, recently posted a video that highlights the negative aspects of celebrating holi as a woman in Uttar Pradesh. Every travel enthusiast's dream is to spend holi in Braj and Nandgaon, but Reha shared her experience with us while she was in Braj. "Braj Ki holi has two sides - one that exists for men and the other that men create for women," she remarked, sharing a video of her encounter. In answer to numerous girls' inquiries concerning the safety of women traveling alone to celebrate holi in Uttar Pradesh, I have been quite clear: "Don't Go Solo."
According to Reha, "Bura na mano holi hai" is a pretext used by odd men to paint your face and touch you without your consent or when you misbehave. During holi, she asks women to cover themselves entirely before leaving the house in Braj. "The crowd is very boisterous and has decided that 'Krishna Bhagwan bhi toh Gopiyon ko chhedte the, toh hum kyun nahi?'" This is especially true in Barsana and Nandgaon, where Lathmar holi is celebrated. In order to do jabardasti, they will locate and target girls in the crowd, aim pichkaris, and ring at their asses and private areas. Even when you go in a group, it can still become overwhelming. It doesn't stop the audience from getting touchy with ladies, even if your group includes lads," she said.
Women are saturated with color, whereas men are left unaffected.
Reha also emphasized how people in Braj are eager to splash tourists and stranger ladies with color, but males stay clean and colorless. For other people, the deeply ingrained joy of touching women and painting them in the name of holi can be a sad experience. However, as Vrindavan also offers tranquility, women shouldn't be excluded from this experience.
If you're a lady who wants to enjoy holi, here's how the influencer suggests traveling in Braj.
1. Look for a respectable and safe group there that you can stay with.
2. Dress in boyish attire. Keep a low profile and cover yourself from head to toe.
3. Keep essential defense tools on hand, such as selfie sticks and pepper spray.
4. Avoid drawing too much attention to yourself and keep your distance from males who may appear to be attempting to assist you but have ulterior motives; you'll be able to read their emotions and trust your instincts.
But the festivities here can also present safety risks for women, particularly those who are here for the first time. Despite the fact that holi is supposed to be a festive time, incidents of inappropriate conduct, harassment, and overcrowding have sparked worries about women's safety.
Travel and lifestyle influencer Reha Adani, who goes by @stichyourmap on Instagram, recently posted a video that highlights the negative aspects of celebrating holi as a woman in Uttar Pradesh. Every travel enthusiast's dream is to spend holi in Braj and Nandgaon, but Reha shared her experience with us while she was in Braj. "Braj Ki holi has two sides - one that exists for men and the other that men create for women," she remarked, sharing a video of her encounter. In answer to numerous girls' inquiries concerning the safety of women traveling alone to celebrate holi in Uttar Pradesh, I have been quite clear: "Don't Go Solo."
According to Reha, "Bura na mano holi hai" is a pretext used by odd men to paint your face and touch you without your consent or when you misbehave. During holi, she asks women to cover themselves entirely before leaving the house in Braj. "The crowd is very boisterous and has decided that 'Krishna Bhagwan bhi toh Gopiyon ko chhedte the, toh hum kyun nahi?'" This is especially true in Barsana and Nandgaon, where Lathmar holi is celebrated. In order to do jabardasti, they will locate and target girls in the crowd, aim pichkaris, and ring at their asses and private areas. Even when you go in a group, it can still become overwhelming. It doesn't stop the audience from getting touchy with ladies, even if your group includes lads," she said.
Women are saturated with color, whereas men are left unaffected.
Reha also emphasized how people in Braj are eager to splash tourists and stranger ladies with color, but males stay clean and colorless. For other people, the deeply ingrained joy of touching women and painting them in the name of holi can be a sad experience. However, as Vrindavan also offers tranquility, women shouldn't be excluded from this experience.
If you're a lady who wants to enjoy holi, here's how the influencer suggests traveling in Braj.
1. Look for a respectable and safe group there that you can stay with.
2. Dress in boyish attire. Keep a low profile and cover yourself from head to toe.
3. Keep essential defense tools on hand, such as selfie sticks and pepper spray.
4. Avoid drawing too much attention to yourself and keep your distance from males who may appear to be attempting to assist you but have ulterior motives; you'll be able to read their emotions and trust your instincts.
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