Nowhere is Holi celebrated with such fervour as in Vrindavan, the land of Radha and Krishna. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists throng Brajbhoomi during this festival. Ironically for the countless widows who call Vrindavan home, indulging in Holi was a social taboo.

Meera Sahbhagini Ashram was adorned with rangolis, made of rose petals and gulal. There was fragrance in the air, as the widows threw flower petals at each other and played 'phoolonwali holi'.

Dr Bindeshwar Pathak realized the social acceptance of these women was only possible through their inclusion in festivals and cultural events. This photo was taken in Meera Sahbhagini Ashram in 2014.

There was no dearth of colour that day, not one saree was left untouched, there was no face that wasn't smeared by vermilion.

The sense of joy and celebration that had taken over everyone after years of confinement was heartening to watch. Women embraced each other and lay on the beds of flowers, while being showered with petals by their friends.

In 2013 when for the first time in 250 years, celebrations and vibrant colours made a riotous comeback in their lives. This Holi it was more than a mere exchange of colours. It was the breaking of taboos, a defiance of tradition. Dr Bindeshwar Pathak started the celebration with bhajans and everyone joined in. This photo was taken in Meera Sahbhagini Ashram in 2014.

Meera Sahbhagini Ashram was adorned with rangolis, made of rose petals and gulal. There was fragrance in the air, as the widows threw flower petals at each other and played 'phoolonwali holi'.

They were deliberately kept away from all festivities, specially Holi.

As onlookers stood in awe, one by one the pots were smashed open. Within seconds the air was filled with bright hues of gulal, colouring everything that came its way.