LUDHIANA: Steering clear of the harmful effects of chemical-based colours and the nuisance created by hooligans, the followers of Lord Krishna prefer celebrating Holi with flowers.

The city temples have seen an increasing trend of people preferring to celebrate the festival with the blooming beauties. This time round, the focus would be on Lathmar Holi, the way it's played in Barsana, Mathura, where womenfolk — representing Radha's friends — pick up batons to defend themselves from the menfolk who playfully spray colours on them. 

The birthplace of Lord Krishna's beloved Radha, Barsana celebrates the day with a lot of enthusiasm, as Krishna was famous for playing pranks on Radha and the 'gopis' (friends). In fact, it was Krishna who started the tradition of colours by first applying it on Radha's face, said Mahanand Pandit from Tapovan. He added that they would organize Lathmar Holi in the temple and a competition between women and men devotees would be held to depict the traditional form of this festivity. 

"Holi will be celebrated with flowers as this is the best way to pay reverence to the God of love," said Sunder Das Dhamija from Govind Gau Dham. "Moreover, it's safe to play Holi with flowers instead of colours as the later could react to skin and cause allergies," he added. 

In most of the city temples, the festivities would be held on February 28 instead of March 1 because devotees believe that the occasion is celebrated with Lord Krishna on 'purnima' (full moon night), which falls on the last day of the month.

The festival is also associated with Holika Dahan or the lighting of holy bonfire that takes place on Holi eve. Popularly called 'Chhoti Holi', the day symbolizes the victory of good over evil.