While Holi is a festival of colours, this Andhra Pradesh village adds another colourful way of celebration as men in the village ditch their usual attires to don the colourful sarees, jewels and flowers to make the village look colourful in an exotic way. But why is this tradition followed? In most Hindu practices, while priests are mostly men, most traditional rituals are prepared by women. Defying these conventional traditional practices, some men of a particular village in Andhra Pradesh cross-dress into beautiful sarees and jewellery as a part of Holi celebrations to worship a Goddess.
Why Do Men Wear Sarees And Jewels On Holi In This Andhra Village?
In the village of Santhekudlur, nestled in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, Holi takes on a unique form. Here, men shed their usual attire and embrace a vibrant tradition – dressing up in sarees and jewellery for the two-day festival.
This distinctive custom goes back generations. Dressed in colourful sarees, adorned with flowers and ornaments, the men transform themselves for the festivities. Villagers gather to celebrate, offering prayers to Rati and Manmatha, the Hindu deities of love and desire. This symbolises the deep-rooted spirits of traditional practices and faith in our culture.
The belief behind this practice is fascinating. Locals hold that Kamadeva, the god of love, bestows blessings of happiness and prosperity on families when worshipped by men in women's clothing during Holi and they will be blessed with marital bliss, fertility, and overall prosperity.
This defining feature of the village's distinctive Holi celebration is viewed by some as a blurring of gender lines, a celebration of inclusivity, while others see it as a way to appease the deities uniquely and symbolically.
As the video was shared by @umasudhir briefing about the practice in Andhra Pradesh on X (Formerly Twitter) a few users on social media shared having similar celebrations of cross-dressing take place in other states like Kerala as well.
This unique approach to the festival transcends typical gender norms and reflects the enduring spirit of tradition and faith in the village. The sight of men dressed in sarees, participating in the joyous revelry of Holi, is both captivating and intriguing. It's a testament to the rich tapestry of cultural practices that make India so diverse.
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