New Delhi: Every festival is enthusiastically celebrated in India and with the arrival of spring, it's time for the festival of colours- Holi. This enormous Indian festival is celebrated in March, immediately after the full moon. The Holika Dahan, or big bonfire, is celebrated the day before Holi to aid in driving away evil spirits. Interestingly, Holi is known by different names in separate parts of the country and is celebrated in different ways as well.
Let us know about the different ways in which Holi is celebrated throughout the country:
1. Phoolon Ki Holi in Vrindavan and Pushkar:
Holi, in Vrindavan, is celebrated in remembrance of Krishna and Radha's age-old love. Days prior to Holi, people are showered with flowers, holy water, and herbal colours in Krishna shrines as part of the celebration.
Similar to this, Pushkar's 'Phoolon ki Holi' or 'Holi of Flowers' raises the bar for enthusiasm and both places draw visitors from all over the globe.
2. Dol Purnima in West Bengal:
In West Bengal, Holi is celebrated as Dol Purnima. On this day, cultural performances are held at some places, with the performers clad in brightly coloured outfits. They sing and dance and the view is breathtaking.
The Krishna and Radha idols are placed on a picturesquely decorated palanquin, which is then driven through the city's major streets to commemorate the festival. The women dance and chant devotional melodies while men keep spraying coloured water and colour powder, 'abeer' at them, throughout the procession.
3. Lathmar Holi in Mathura:
In Mathura, there is a distinctive custom known as Lathmar Holi that is very popular. It is an additional local ritual that enhances the joy and laughter of the Holi celebration. The story of Krishna coming to colour Radha and being chased out of Barsana is imitated. Men from Nandgaon come to Barsana to paint the women. The sight of women beating up men is very entertaining to watch and the audience cannot stop laughing. The Lathmar Holi is celebrated with great excitement before the actual festival. Want to witness the historical tales come to life? In Uttar Pradesh, Holi is observed.
4. Kaman Pandigai in Tamil Nadu:
On the occasion of Holi, people in the state of Tamil Nadu worship Kaamadeva for making the ultimate sacrifice. People there know Holi by three different names Kaman Pandigai, Kamavilas and Kama-Dahanam.
Tamil Nadu residents believe in the Shiva and Kaamadeva legend. After the passing of his spouse, Sati, legend has it that Shiva entered a profound state of meditation. Shiva's indifferent demeanour caused the gods to become anxious and stressed. Parvati, a mountain-born woman, began meditating to get Shiva as her husband.
To get Shiva back to his original self gods sought the help of Kaamadeva- the god of love, who agreed to assist gods for the benefit of the world, despite being fully conscious of the consequences of such a deed. Shiva was in profound meditation when he was struck by the powerful arrow. Kaamadeva was reduced to ashes by Shiva's third eye, which he opened in fury. But the projectile had the intended result, and Shiva agreed to marry Parvati.
5. Phaguwa in Bihar:
In the state of Bihar, the exhilarating festival is known as Phaguwa. The region observes Holi in its purest form, with a day filled with vibrant colours, water drenching, and dancing. Popular folk songs performed in the Bhojpuri dialect add to the atmosphere by making it harder to avoid shaking a leg even though they may not be soothing. The paradise of gujiya, dahi balle, and the well-known lassi act as the cherry on the cake.
6. Manjal Kuli in Kerala:
In various temples throughout Kerala, the festival is celebrated as Manjal Kuli, which translates to 'turmeric bath'. Over the course of four days, the rituals are carried out in a number of temples, primarily the Konkani temple. On the day of the full moon in March, the Kudumbi community commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the devils. People congregate at these sanctuaries to celebrate the customs by dancing, singing, and sprinkling colour or turmeric water.
7. Hola Mohalla in Punjab:
The Sikhs of Punjab are known for their extreme bravery, generosity, and societal service. In the midst of the Holi colours, the Hola Mohalla celebration is well known for its artistic performers and is observed for three days.