how to celebrate the color festival in different parts of india

How to Celebrate the Color Festival in Different Parts of India

Mathura and Vrindavan : The most traditional form of Holi celebration is done inMathura and Vrindavan, located four hours from Delhi. Mathura, the place whereLord Krishna was born. The celebration preparations get underway forty daysbefore the day of the festival on Vansant Panchami. Lord Krishna who was jealousof Radha’s fair complexion compared to his own darker complexion applied color onRadha as a mischief. Coloring their beloved on Holi is deemed an expression of love.The love story between Radha and Krishna are closely related to the celebrations ofHoli.


Orissa : The tradition of Holi celebration in Orissa is almost similar to that in Bengalbut for a single difference. Instead of Radha and Krishna idols, the idol of LordJagannath, another form of Lord Krishna is placed on the swings. Games such asDandhi Kela are played and a special tent to house the palanquin at night is erectedand called ‘jhoolan mandap’.


Dol Jatra – West Bengal : In West Bengal the Holi celebrations are different andinteresting. Dol Jatra (the festival of swings), as it is called locally is celebrated withidols of Krishna and Radha placed on swings and are swung by devotees on turn.Abeer (Colored powder) and colored water are sprayed at each other while womendevotional songs and traditional dancing around the swings. The celebration ofHoli as Basant Utsav was started by Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate RabindranathTagore in Shantiniketan where it is celebrated with great enthusiasm.


Delhi : Delhi with its amalgamation of cultures and traditions witnesses virtuallyevery aspect of Holi celebration from different parts of India. Feasts, dancing, musicand parties are held to celebrate the festival. Abeer, applied as tilak is used forgreeting people and bonfires and Holika are lit on the eve to celebrate the victory ofgood over evil. The Prime Minister and President of India also celebrate Holi withgreat fervor at their residences.


Manipur : In the Northeastern state of Manipur, the Holi celebrations are mostinteresting. Here, the celebrations begin on the day of Holi and go on for six days.The Yaoshang festival of Manipur that dates back a hundred years wasamalgamated with the celebration of Holi after the introduction of Vaishnavism inthe 18th century. A tradition of preparing a thatched hut made of hay, twigs andsticks are built and set ablaze to mark Holi. ‘Thabal Chongba’, a traditional form ofManipuri dance associated with this festival is performed on all six days. Thabalmeans moonlight and chonga means dance in the local language.


Punjab : Holla Mohalla, as it is called in Punjab is celebrated by the Sikhs in theirown style and elan. Anantpur Sahib where the late Guru Gobind Singh, the tenthand last Guru, instituted Pahul (the baptism of the kalsas), militarized his followersinto the order of Nihangs (Warrior-mendicants) and elected the Panj Pyare (thebeloved fire), the festival is celebrated with gusto. Martial arts and otherspectacular art forms of dare-devilry are performed by the Nihang Sikhs. Acommunity feast, Langar, is open throughout the day for everybody.


Rajasthan : The vibrant colorful state of Rajasthan celebrates Holi much in the sameway as it is done in Mathura. On the eve of the full moon, huge bonfires are erectedand the remnants of winter such as dried leaves and twigs are thrown into the fire.On the day of Holi, gulal is applied on each other to mark the festival. The royals ofRajasthan also join the festivities while mingling with commoners. That is thebeauty of this festival which goes by the famous saying, “bura na mano holi hai”.


Rajasthan-2 : Mali Holi, the holi tradition among the gardener community is suchthat the men color the women with water and women in turn retaliate by hittingthem with sticks. For more than 300 years, the ‘Harsh’ and ‘Vyas’ community havebeen celebrating Holi by throwing water at each other’s back forcefully. Dolchi Holi,as it is called is celebrated in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan since a vessel, ‘dolchi’made especially for this event using camel skin is used.


Maharashtra : In Maharashtra, the festival is called Shimga or Rangpanchami.Breaking the pot, “Dahi handi” is a famous event during Holi where young menbreak pots of butter-milk hung at a height while color water is constantly poured onthem.


Tamil Nadu : In the southern states, Holi is not celebrated as grandly as in the restof the parts of India. In Tamil Nadu, Holi celebrations revolve around the Legend ofKama Deva, the lord of love. It is called Kaman Pandigai or Kama-Dahanam and isknown as a festival that celebrates love.


Andhra Pradesh : In Andhra Pradesh, there is an increased feeling of communalharmony. Merry making is done by playing with powder colors and seeking theblessings of elders by putting Abeer on their feet. The Banjara gypsies in AndhraPradesh perform graceful dances and celebrate the festival in their own way.

how to celebrate the color festival in different parts of india

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