Author: Gozocabs

In Bengal and Odisha, Dol Purnima or Dol Jatra (Bengali: দোল যাত্রা); is a major festival. This festival is dedicated to Sri Krishna. On this auspicious day, an image of Krishna, richly adorned and besmeared with colored powder (Abir in Bengali), is taken out in procession, in a swinging palanquin, decorated with flowers, leaves, colored clothes and papers.[1] The procession proceeds forward to the accompaniment of music, blaring of conch shells, trumpets and shouts of ‘Jai’ (victory).

Bengal observes Holi  festival as Dol-purima or Dola-yatra (the festival of the swing). The festival, said to have been initiated by the king Indradyumna in Vrindavan, is spread over 3 or 5 days, starting from the shukla-chaturdashi of Phalguna. A celebration in honour of Agni. and worship of Krishna in image kept on a swing (dola) are the important features.

The day is also celebrated as the birthday of Sri Krishna Chaitanya (A.D. 1486-1533), mostly in Bengal, as also Puri (in Orissa), Mathura and Vrindavan (in Uttar Pradesh).

The festival is observed in the following way by the monastics at Belur Math: On the night just before the Dol-purnima day, a heap of the twigs of trees is set fire to in a simple ceremony. On the Dol-purnima day, a picture of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is placed in the Main Temple. The monastics sing devotional songs on Krishna and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in front of the picture in the morning. Then they go to the different temples in the Math campus, singing and dancing in a procession. They also throw on one another gulal (coloured powder). After the evening arati of Sri Ramakrishna in the Main Temple, a simple worship of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is performed, which is followed by a talk on the life and teachings of the Mahaprabhu by a senior monk, and devotional singing.

Kumauni or Kumaoni Holi (कुमाँऊनी होली), is the historical and cultural celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi in the region of Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the most important festivals for the Kumauni people as it signifies not only the victory of good over evil but also end of the winter season and the start of the new sowing season which holds great importance for this agricultural community of the North Indian Himalayas. It is an amalgamation of the cultural traditions of North India and the local traditions of Kumaon.

The uniqueness of the Kumaoni Holi lies in its being a musical affair, whichever may be its form, be it the Baithki Holi, the Khari Holi and the Mahila Holi all of these which start from Basant Panchmi. That is to say the festivities of Holi last for almost two months in Kumaon. The Baithki Holi and Khari Holi are unique in that the songs on which they are based have touch of melody, fun and spiritualism. These songs are essentially based on classical ragas. No wonder then the Baithki Holi is also known as Nirvan Ki Holi or Holi of Salvation.

Kumauni Holi has characteristics which are very different from Holi celebrations anywhere in the country

*Baithaki Holi*

Baithki Holi (बैठकी होली), (literally Sitting Holi) is a form of musical gathering starting from the day of Basant Panchmi held all across Kumaon till the Dulhendi (or the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna). In some areas of Kumaon it starts even earlier at the peak of winter on the first Sunday of the Indian month of Paush that is in the month of December.

The Baithaki Holi songs are based on the classical traditions of Hindustani Classical Music but have heavy influence of Kumaoni folk music traditions.

The Baithki Holi begins from the premises of temples, where Holiyars (होल्यार), (the singers of Holi songs) as also the people gather to sing songs to the accompaniment of classical music like harmonium and tabla.

The Baithaks or sittings are held in the local community centres and even at local homes.

The songs are usually religious in nature and concern tales from the life of the Hindu God Krishna. Still these Baithaks are an inter-religious affair as even Muslims and Christians participate in these gatherings.

*Khadi Holi*

Khadi Holi (खड़ी होली), (literally Standing Holi) usually starts along with but sometimes a little later than Baithaki Holi. It is mostly celebrated in the rural areas of Kumaon. The songs of the Khari Holi are sung by the people, sporting traditional white nokdaar topi, churidar payajama and kurta, dance in groups to the tune of ethnic musical instruments like the Dhol and Hurka.

Men in groups singing Khadi holi songs which are much more Kumaoni in flavour than the classical renditions of the Baithaki holi visit different homes and greet the members of that house and chant hymns praying for prosperity of the householder. These groups of men are called Tolis. Khadi Holi is filled with excitement and frolic as opposed to the more sombre nature of the Baithaki Holi.

*Mahila Holi*

They are gatherings similar to Baithaki but composed exclusively of women.

On the Ekadashi before Holi, the Banke Bihari temple at Vridnavan celebtrates a unique Holi which is not celebrated with conventional dry or wet colors, but with flowers, and hence the name Phoolon wali holi (Flowers’ Holi)

Hola Mohalla or Hola Mahalla or simply Hola is a Sikh festival that takes place on the first of the lunar month of Chet which usually falls in March. This, by a tradition established by Guru Gobind Singh, follows the Hindu festival of Holi by one day; Hola is the masculine form of the feminine sounding Holi.
The word “Mohalla” is derived from the Arabic root hal (alighting, descending) and is a Punjabi word that implies an organized procession in the form of an army column. But unlike Holi, when people playfully sprinkle colored powder, dry or mixed in water, on each other, the Guru made Hola Mohalla an occasion for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles.
Together the words “Hola Mohalla” stands for “mock fight”. During this festival, processions are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one gurdwara to another. The custom originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh who held the first such mock fight event at Anandpur in February 1701.

Guru Gobind Singh started this festival as a day for Sikhs to practice their military exercises and hold mock battles.

Today, Sikhs celebrate by watching and partaking in martial arts parades, led by the nishan sahibs of the Gurdwaras. These are followed by poetry readings and music

more at Sikhwiki.org

Legend has it that Lord Krishna visited his beloved Radha’s village on this day and playfully teased her and her friends. Taking offence at this, the women of Barsana chased him away. Keeping in sync with the story, the men from Nandgaon visit the town of Barsana every year, only to be greeted by sticks (aka lathis) of the women there. The ladies hurl sticks at the men, who try to shield themselves as much as they can. The unlucky ones are captured by the enthusiastic women who then, make the men wear female clothing and dance in public.

In the sprawling compound of the Radha Rani temple in Barsana, which is said to be the only temple in the country that is dedicated to Radha. Thousands gather to witness the Lathmaar holi when women beat up men with sticks (laṭh or lāṭhī) as those on the sidelines become hysterical, sing Holi Songs and shout Sri Radhey or Sri Krishna.

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