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 in
Mathura and Vrindavan, located four hours from Delhi. Mathura, the place where
Lord Krishna was born. The celebration preparations get underway forty days
before the day of the festival on Vansant Panchami. Lord Krishna who was jealous
of Radhas fair complexion compared to his own darker complexion applied color on
Radha 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 of
Holi.

Orissa : The tradition of Holi celebration in Orissa is almost similar to that in Bengal
but for a single difference. Instead of Radha and Krishna idols, the idol of Lord
Jagannath, another form of Lord Krishna is placed on the swings. Games such as
Dandhi Kela are played and a special tent to house the palanquin at night is erected
and called jhoolan mandap.

Dol Jatra West Bengal : In West Bengal the Holi celebrations are different and
interesting. Dol Jatra (the festival of swings), as it is called locally is celebrated with
idols 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 women
devotional songs and traditional dancing around the swings. The celebration of
Holi as Basant Utsav was started by Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath
Tagore in Shantiniketan where it is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

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

Manipur : In the Northeastern state of Manipur, the Holi celebrations are most
interesting. 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 was
amalgamated with the celebration of Holi after the introduction of Vaishnavism in
the 18th century. A tradition of preparing a thatched hut made of hay, twigs and
sticks are built and set ablaze to mark Holi. Thabal Chongba, a traditional form of
Manipuri dance associated with this festival is performed on all six days. Thabal
means moonlight and chonga means dance in the local language.

Punjab : Holla Mohalla, as it is called in Punjab is celebrated by the Sikhs in their
own style and elan. Anantpur Sahib where the late Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth
and last Guru, instituted Pahul (the baptism of the kalsas), militarized his followers
into the order of Nihangs (Warrior-mendicants) and elected the Panj Pyare (the
beloved fire), the festival is celebrated with gusto. Martial arts and other
spectacular art forms of dare-devilry are performed by the Nihang Sikhs. A
community feast, Langar, is open throughout the day for everybody.

Rajasthan : The vibrant colorful state of Rajasthan celebrates Holi much in the same
way as it is done in Mathura. On the eve of the full moon, huge bonfires are erected
and 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 of
Rajasthan also join the festivities while mingling with commoners. That is the
beauty 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 such
that the men color the women with water and women in turn retaliate by hitting
them with sticks. For more than 300 years, the Harsh and Vyas community have
been celebrating Holi by throwing water at each others 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 men
break pots of butter-milk hung at a height while color water is constantly poured on
them.

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

Andhra Pradesh : In Andhra Pradesh, there is an increased feeling of communal
harmony. Merry making is done by playing with powder colors and seeking the
blessings of elders by putting Abeer on their feet. The Banjara gypsies in Andhra
Pradesh 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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How to Celebrate the Color Festival in Different Parts of India