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Desh Mera Rangeela
“Diverse” being the best term to define a country consisting of so many different moods and cultures. The one festival that best represents our motherland in all its ‘colours’ so to say, is HOLI. Not only in the variety of the different shades of colours, but also in the several unique and hatke ways in which it is being celebrated in different parts of the country.
Let’s take a look at few colourful versions of the festival of colours:
1. Voila! Our very own CARNIVAL!
The Shigmo festival or the “Shigmotsav” as it is fondly called, is a 14 day long stretch of cultural practices in the state of Goa to bid adieu to winter and welcome spring. There are two forms of the Shigmostsav. DhaktoShigmo, which is celebrated by the rural population and VhadloShigmo celebrated by mostly everyone. The spectacular parades depicting a mix of traditional dances, art forms, ‘dhwajas’ or flags narrating scenes from regional mythology, acts as the major attraction of the festival.
(Sources: The Hindu, incrediblegoa.in)
2. Yaosang-A sporting fest?!
The Manipuri holi has seen several changes throughout ages and has subsequently mutated accordingly, although keeping the very essence of the festival intact. Anciently an agrarian festival, it transformed into Hindu one with the incorporation of Vaishnavism in the region. In recent times, the sports-loving region has come up with Sports meets involving all age groups as a way to mark the festival as well. A very popular approach, it has since gained momentum with even having a half marathon marking the end of the festival.
(Source: New Indian Express)
An interesting feature of Yaoshang festival is Thabal Chongba, dancing in the moonlight. Traditional Manipuri folk dance is performed in a circle under the moonlight.
(Source: Kumehei)
3. Paanch Tatva of Life
Celebrated in several parts of the country five days after holi, Rang Panchami is famous in Madhya Pradesh. The day is celebrated as a mark of purity, it is believed that the “Holika dahan” purifies the atmosphere and surroundings and fills it with positivity. Another perspective also being that the festival activates the five fundamental elements or the Paanch Tatva, which forms our entire universe and restores balance in life.
(Source: Free Press Journal)
4. Lath-maari!
The legend says that male folk from Nandgaon (Krishna’s village) visited Barsana (birthplace of Radha) in groups to tease the women in town by singing provocative songs and throwing colour at them. The women, very rightfully so, retaliated and beat them up with sticks. A condemnable offence turned into a festival for generations and still being celebrated with much fervour and a sporting spirit by the participants.
(Source: My Desi Look)
5. Gujju Dhuleti
The festival in Gujarat is celebrated over two days, 1st day of which is marked by the Holika dahan, and the next day is celebrated as Dhuleti, or the day of colours. Throwing water balloons at each other is a very common sight on the streets of Ahmedabad on Dhuleti. Pool-party culture has caught up a lot in the region in recent times as well.
(Source: Proud Indian)
6. Cupid's Holi; a festival of love!
In Tamil Nadu, Holi is known as Kamavilas, Kaman Pandigai and Kama-Dahanam. Legend has it that after Shiva’s consort, Sati committed suicide. Shiva was depressed, he started meditating and had lost interest in the world. Meanwhile Parvati also had started her tapasya to have Shiva as her husband. Gods were concerned about this state and asked Kaamdev to go and shoot his arrow of love at Shiva. While Kaamdev was at his task, Shiva woke up, extremely angered he opened his third eye and burnt Kaamdev to ashes.
A grief-stricken Rati, Kaamdev’s wife, pleaded to Shiva to forgive her husband. Shiva complied by half-restoring Kaamdev, though Rati could see Kaamdev, but she couldn’t feel him.
On this day songs are sung that tell the tale of Rati and her lamentations.
Shiva opening his Third eye towards Kaama (Source: Jagran Junction)
7. HOLA-MOHOLLA!
Celebrated a day after Holi in Punjab, specially by the Nihang Sikhs. Hola Moholla celebrated at Anandpur Sahib has a spiritual connect to it as well, as it commemorates Guru Gobind Singh ji, and his teachings. Martial arts like archery, sword fencing, fancy horse-riding, tent-pegging, and the deft handling of other contraptions of offence and defense are displayed by the Nihangs. It’s also very colourful with respect to the vibrant clothes and sometimes extraordinarily large turbans too.
(Source: Roundglass)
8. Tagore's Holi
Basant utsav, translating to festival of spring, our national poet; Rabindranath Tagore; made it a tradition in Vishva Bharati (the university that he founded). Here, boys and girls joyfully welcome Spring, the season of Hope not just with colours but with songs, dance, chanting of hymns in the serene ambiance of Shantiniketan.
(Source: Wedding Affair)
Dol Purnima is also another name given to the festival of colours in Bengal. The festival is celebrated in a dignified manner by placing the idols of Krishna and Radha on a picturesquely decorated palanquin which is then taken round the main streets of the city.
Your Holi might be in any part of the country, but we all know that one, one very dear thing you will absolutely not want to miss on the auspicious event.
*drumrolls*
Your favourite, GUJIYAAA!!
Click on the link to get yourself and your loved ones a bite full of the most treasured delight of the festival.
Have a safe, sound and lovely Holi!
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