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胡里節

胡里節 Holi festival

According to an old tale of India, Krishna, a young god, once complained to his mother Yashoda that it was unfair for Radha, a goddess, to be so fair while he was so dark-skinned. Amus

ed Yashoda suggested her son smear some color on Radha’s face. Krishna and his fellows from his native village of Nandgaon then went to Radha’s native village of Barsana and smeared some color on her and her friends’ faces. The girls in turn chased the boys with sticks. That was said to be the beginning of Holi, the festival of colors. Holi is celebrated with gusto and rambunctious verve in the Indian subcontinent. But in Braj Bhoomi, a vaguely defined area in Uttar Pradesh encompassing Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon as well as villages of Barsana, Govardhan and Phalen, Holi takes on a particularly special meaning.Temples are suddenly packed with devotees. From dawn to dusk, priests spray crowds with saffron-colored water from pichhkaris, and fling colored powder. Hordes squeeze into temples, hoping to catch a glimpse of the idols of Krishnaa and Radha. Processions jostle along the already-crowded streets and alleys of Vrindavan. Frenzied chants of Radhe Radhe blend into the euphoric Holi Hai! The festival has changed of course. What used to be a 16-day celebration now lasts a week. Traditionally-colored powder is still used but chemical colors are now making inroads. Traditional singing is being replaced by recorded music. How long Braj Bhoomi will retain its old ways in the face of changing times remains to be seen.

在印度傳說中，年輕的Krishna神對母親Yashoda抱怨說，女神羅陀是白皮膚，而他是黑皮膚，這不公平。好笑的Yashoda建議兒子抹一些色彩在羅陀的臉上。據說Krishna和追隨者從他住的Nandgaon村來到羅陀的Barsana村，把彩色泥漿抹到羅陀和她朋友的臉上。女孩們拿著枝條追逐男孩們。這據說是印度胡里節（色彩節）的開始。胡里節是一個熱情和狂暴的節日。在Braj Bhoomi地區，這一節日被賦予特殊意義。節日傳統現在已經發生變化，16天的慶祝改成7天。傳統的彩粉被化學粉末代替。人聲歌唱被錄音代替。這個傳統能保留多久，還是未知數。

10-01:On March 8, 2009, footprints were seen left on the wet floor of the temple after a day of Holi celebrations.

一天慶祝后濕地上的腳印。攝于２００９年３月８日。

10-02:On March 1, 2007, devotees were in a state of trance in Banke Bihari temple, waiting to catch a glimpse of the Krishna and Radha idols behind a curtain.

信徒等待看打扮成神的偶像。攝于２００７年３月１日。

10-03:On Feb. 26, 2007, Holi was celebrated in Nandgaon.

Nandgaon的節日慶祝活動。攝于２００7年2月26日。

10-04:On March 7, 2009, a group of pilgrims rest in the village of Nandgaon before going into the temple to celebrate Holi. People, mostly pilgrimscome from all corners of India, came to the different villages in the holy land of Braj Bhoomi to celebrate Holi.

一隊朝圣者在進神廟前休息，他們來自于印度各個地區，來到Braj Bhoomi慶祝胡里節。攝于２００7年３月7日。

10-05:On March 8, 2009, in the streets of Vrindavan, children celebrated Holi by putting color on each other.在Vrindavan的大街上，孩子們互相涂抹色彩。攝于２００9年３月8日。

10-06:On March 1, 2007, devotees were carrying children dressed as Krishna, Radha and another of Krishna's gopis (cowgirls) to a nearby temple so that people can pay their respect and seek blessings from them.

信徒帶著打扮成Krishna，羅陀gopis的孩子們去神廟，人們在那里祈福。攝于２００７年３月１日。

10-07:On Feb.25, 2007, men of Nandgaon cheered on as their wives play "Latthmaar Holi" with the men from the neighbouring village of Barsana by beating them on their heads.

Nandgaon的男人們在他們的妻子用枝條鞭打Barsana村的男人們時歡呼。攝于２００7年2月25日。

10-08: On March 7, 2009, a man sits down as elders from both Nandgaon and Barsana gather together singing Hori songs to celebrate Holi in devotion of Krishna and Radha. Nandgaon和Barsana的老人們一起慶祝胡里節。攝于２００９年３月７日。

10-09:On March 7, 2009, in a Nandgaon temple, the elders from both Barsana and Nandgaon sit together and sing Hori songs in a deluge of colors.

在Nandgaon神廟，來自兩個村子的老人們唱著圣歌。攝于２００９年３月７日。

10-10:On Feb. 25, 2007,a man lays with his face down on the wet temple floor in Nandgaon while paying respect to Radha and Krishna.

一名男子在神廟濕地上俯臥，表達對神的敬意。攝于２００７年２月２５日。

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