One nation. One festival. Many colours: Holi!

We are just two weeks away from Holi, and it might be a good idea to plan a vacation to someplace, where Holi is played crazier than you have ever played.

As per the Hindu calendar, March is the month Magh and Phulgun, both of these are synonymous to festive fervour and bright colours. After the much-tensed last week, and the week before that, our country seems to be in a settled space now, to celebrate our most colourful festival -HOLI

One nation. One Festival. Many ways of celebration. Read below and choose where would you want to let your soul loose, and get drenched. I am celebrating mine, with my lovelies in ‘Delhi.’

·       Lathmar Holi, Barsana UP:

The Lathmar Holi is played in Nandgaon & Barsana near Mathura. It is actually celebrated days before the actually Holi. For the celebration, the locals recreate the famous legend based on the love story of Radha & Krishna. It is believed that Lord Krishna, who hailed from Nandgaon, had come to play Holi with his beloved Radharani and other gopis. As Lord Krishna’s gang started teasing girls, the boys were beaten and chased away from Barsana. Following the tradition till date, men from Nandgaon, come to the sprawling Radha Rani temple (the only temple dedicated to Radha) offer a small prayer and then welcomed by the ladies of Barsana, with sticks in their hands. The ladies of Barsana, chuck lathis on men. If caught, men are punished, which could be acting and dancing like women. These festivities go on for a week almost.

·       Manjal Kuli, Kerala:

In Kerela, Holi is played within the Kudumbi community. It is considered that these people were persecuted by the Portuguese in Goa, so they migrated to Kerala. As a tradition, an Arecanut tree (supari) is clear-felled and taken to the temple. This act symbolises the lord Durga’s victory over demons. Much like north India, the festival fervour is then joyed with Holi colours and various sort of sweets and savouries.

·       Phaguwa, Bihar:

Holi is called Phaguwa in local Bhojpuri dialect. The rituals around the celebrations remain same as that of north India, including holika dehan on the eve of phagun purnima. True to the nature of people from Bihar, the celebration here is replete with folk songs sung in a high pitch accompanied by bhang and pakoras. The air gets filled with excitement and carefree gaiety.

·       Deul, Phakuwah & Dol Jatra, Assam:

Assam celebrates the festival of colour in a very unique way. Especially, in Barpeta Satra of Barpeta district. In 1596AD, Shree Shree Mathura Das Ata, local missionary of Satra Monastery started the festival of Deul. The celebrations here are based on two legends. Going by one belief, the festival is to celebrate the engagement of Lord Krishna, called ‘Kalia Thakur’ in the local dialect, with his first wife Rukmani. The second legend, which is widely believed, is indeed very interesting. Apparently, once Lord Krishna had a domestic spat with one of his wife called Lakkmhi, because of the other wife called Gunchcha. The reason was, Lord Krishna married Gunchcha, despite being married to Lakkmhi. Of course, the first didn’t like it. So Lord Krishna was asked to stay out of the house. Lord Krishna had to persuade his first wife for seven days to let him in. The celebrations are spread across three days in a sort of a representation of the second legend. On the first day, the idol of ‘Kalia Thakur’ is immaculately dressed and brought in the courtyard from the inner sanctum of the temple. This day the bonfire is lit and dances are performed on local folk songs. On day two, it is considered that Lord Krishna was not permitted by his first wife Laksmi after returning from his new wife Gunchcha’s house. People take sides, and the idol of Krishna is prevented from entering the temple. Thus, after taking seven rounds, which symbolises Lord Krishna’s return to Lakshmi after spending seven days with Gunchcha, Mahaprabhu (main priest of the temple), pays a certain fine and brings the idol back to the inner sanctum. On the last day, the idol of Gunchcha is also brought in and Fakuwa is celebrated, which means, that people irrespective of their caste, creed or social status celebrate the happy ending with limitless joy.

·       Royal Holi, Udaipur, Rajasthan:

The Holi celebration in Udaipur is almost like attending an event of the royal family of Udaipur. A huge bonfire is set in the middle of the City Palace. Shri Arwind Singh Mewar, the king of the current royal family lights the bonfire. The evening is attended by various special guests, dignitaries and local people of Udaipur. Several dance troupes take part in the cultural extravaganza, which culminates with a royal parade across the city, followed by a dinner and a splendid firework. Next day, people play dry and wet Holi.

·       Yaosang, Manipur:

Yaoshang in Manipur is celebrated for six days starting from the Phalgun Purnima. Unlike other states, in Manipur, Yaoshang is celebrated as a sporting event. People, of all ages, take part in competitions like races, tug of war and soccer. On day one children go to the doorstep of all the houses in the vicinity to ask for money to celebrate the festival. In the evening a hut is set on fire as part of the celebrations. Ever smiling people of Manipur wear their traditional outfits to perform the folk dance called Thabal Chongba. Colours are played on both days of the festival.

·       Holla Mohallas, Punjab:

Started by the 10^th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, Holl Mohallas is celebrated a day after Holi. Held for two days at Anantapur Sahib, lakhs of people take part in the celebration. Starting with morning prayers and kirtan, the Guru Granth Sahib is brought out and kept on a dais. Huge langar is prepared and distributed amongst everyone present. Across three days, the Nihang Singhs (members of the Sikh army that was founded by Guru Govind Singh) carry on the martial tradition with mock battles, display of swordsmanship and horse riding. They perform daring feats, such as Gatka (mock encounters), tent pegging, bareback horse-riding and standing erect on two speeding horses. Sikh religion stands for brotherhood and service to the society, Holla Mohallas is celebrated in reverence of such valour and spirit.

·       Shigmo, Goa:

The festival begins on Falgun, culminates on Gudi Pawa, the Hindu New Year. The celebrations begin in South Goa’s Canacona, which is mainly a farmers’ village. Male dancers and musicians called mel at a maan, invoke the local deities by their soulful performances. Various other local dances are also performed during the course of three days. A massive Shigmo parade is organised at night time, which evinces all the aspect of this festival. Hundreds of people stand for hours along the roadside to experience this extravaganza.

The other popular dance is the ghodemodni, a warrior dance where men dressed in colourful attire perform with a sword and a wooden frame of a horse, around their waist.

Here the celebrations start in the last week of Falgun and on the last day the deity is taken in procession in a palanquin. At this time, devotees’ smear gulal on each other. However, no colour is smeared or thrown on women.

I am a bit of an antique soul. I love everything which is written on pale yellow pages and smells of history. It was exciting for me to discover these stories. Next year, one of these places will be my destination to celebrate Holi.

#holi2019 #holi #holiforfun #coloursof happiness