Silvester D'Souza
With Additional Pics by Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur/Udupi (SP)
Kundapur/Udupi, Mar 14: Konkan Kharvi community which has a predominant presence here, celebrated Holi, which has traditionally been a very important festival for them, and played with colours which depicted traits of brotherhood, celebration, and unity. For them, Monday happened to be the festival of colours, which signifies culmination a week-long Holi festival. Over a thousand people took part in a procession that was taken out through the town on the last day of the festival, and painted the town with various colours. It looked like colourful rainbows were flying through the air.
The Holi festival being celebrated here has remained an important festival of the region. Members of Konkan Kharvi community celebrate this festival with grandeur. Every member of this community takes part in the celebrations and ensures that it leaves a strong imprint. As part of the festival, the Kharvis also perform 'Kama Dahana' - burning of Kama, as part of this festival, which happens to be the major festival for them.
For Konkan Kharvi community spread form Mangaluru to Goa, Holi has traditionally been the grandest of festivals. The community, which worships Goddess Shakti, continues to remain devoted to religious principles even now. For the Kharvi community here, Mahakali, a temple dedicated to whom is located at Kharvikeri here, happens to be the deity to pray to. Goddess Mahakali settled here also takes the forms of Maha Saraswati and Mahalaxmi. Holi festival celebrations begin at this temple and conclude at the same point.
On the first day of the week-long Holi celebrations, Kharvis take out procession to Lord Kundeshwara temple and hold 'Holi Mandd' programme. At night, under moonlight, cultural programmes, Kolata, dances, and Holi songs are presented at various places.
On the second day, different religious procedures are undertaken in the fields where Holika is meant to be burnt. On the fourth day, which falls on full moon day, 'Holi burning' programme is held. Over 5,000 people gather for this programme. Before this, people go to the graveyard and collect pieces of bones. The burning programme is undertaken after these bones are discharged. It is said that the people make it a point to go to the graveyard even now on this day as it is believed that graveyard happens to be the abode of Lord Eshwara, who is worshipped along with his consort, Goddess Parvati, on the occasion of Holi.
Burning is undertaken to reminisce the episode in which Lord Shiva burns down Kama or Manmatha by casting his eyesight on him. As per the story, after Dakshayini, who jumps into the sacrificial fire during the sacrificial Yaga undertaken by Daksha Prajapati, Shiva loses interest in everything and undertakes penance. The gods want to cool the anger of Lord Shiva and make him to marry Parvathi. They seek help of Manmatha to wake Shiva from the depths of penance. After Manmatha fires five arrows meant to disturb the denial mood of Lord Shiva and get him interested in worldly affairs again, the angry Lord opens his third eye and burns Manmatha down. In memory of this incident, 'Kama Danaha' is performed during Holi festival.
People from all Konkan Kharvi community families goes to the specific 'Holi' house. Married women decorate an areca nut trunk to reflect Goddess Parvati and keep the same in front of Lord Kundeshwara temple. The purpose of doing this ritual is to ensure that the Lord gets to see Goddess Parvati in the form of areca nut tree at sunrise. It may be observed that the celebrations during Holi are aimed at calming of Lord Shiva who was in angry mood during Kamadahana.
Monday happened to be the seventh day of Holi festival, which is reserved for festival of colours. Over 6,000 people had gathered there. Different riligious rituals were undertaken at Goddess Mahakali temple at Kharvikeri, after which different colours were set out in front of the Goddess and offered to her. Then, the festival was given initiation by applying colour to the Goddess. Thereafter, a grand procession was taken out. The entire town looked like having been hit by a wave of numerous colours.
Jayanand Kharvi, leader of Kharvi community, said that Holi happens to be the most important festival for Kharvis. "The festival, which entails worshiping of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, has a rich background of ancient mythology. We have been celebrating this festival as per traditions. This seven-day festival comes with various procedures, belief systems, and religious background. People of our community come together and celebrate this festival," he added.
On the occasion of Holi, people from Kharvi community celebrated this festival by singing traditional songs for several days. Konkan Kharvi community members, who normally depend on fishing activity for a living, observe holiday for this activity during this festival. People arrive to the houses of their relatives to celebrate this festival. On the last day, they catch hold of colours in powdered form, and throw them at each other.
Manipal: Manipal, which happens to be the meeting point of multifarious cultures from all over India, celebrated Holi on Monday. Students of Manipal Institute of Technology and other colleges here celebrated Holi in their campuses by coming together and getting busy throwing colours at one another. Regional and cultural differences were forgotten and the youngsters found pure joy in making others happy. They chased one another, spread colours, sang songs, and felt generally happy, having forgotten the study blues. Students of foreign origin too bathed in the celebrations by taking active part in the celebrations, which gave them a new experience.