Documentary backdrop image for Holika (2015)

Documentary backdrop image for Holika (2015)

201510 minPGdoc-short

Holika

201510 minPGdoc-short

Veiled women in Nandgaon and Barsana strike men with large staffs during Holi celebrations, reenacting an ancient Hindu legend.

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Veiled women in Nandgaon and Barsana strike men with large staffs during Holi celebrations, reenacting an ancient Hindu legend.

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Kaveh Nabatian

Kaveh Nabatiandirector

Synopsis

In the towns of Nandgaon and Barsana, veiled women wield large staffs during Holi celebrations, striking men in a reenactment of an ancient Hindu legend. This 10-minute documentary captures the vibrant chaos of the festival, marked by bursts of color, sound, and violence. Filmed on 16mm, the work immerses viewers in the sensory experience that heralds the arrival of spring in Uttar Pradesh, blending tradition with the exuberance of the occasion.

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