Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Mar 4: Holi is a big feast for Konkan Kharvi community in the region. They celebrate it with gaiety every year. On Saturday March 3, the last day of the week-long festivities, more than a thousand people took part in the procession that drenched Kundapur town in colours of joy
There is a special significance to Holi festival here. Spread from Mangaluru to Goa, the Kharvi community also performs 'Kama Dahana' - burning of Kama, as part of this festival, which happens to be the major part of the festival. The community has extreme religious diligence towards Shakthi, the deity. They worship Mahakali who is also decorated as Maha Saraswathi and Mahalaxmi. The feast commences and concludes in Mahakali temple at Kharvikeri here.
The celebrations last for seven days. On the first day, they go in procession to Kundeshwar temple and conduct ‘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.
The entire Konkan Kharvi community goes to 'Holi' house. Women decorate Areca tree like Parvathi the next day and keep it in front of Kundeshwar temple. They hope that the sight of Kundeshwar may fall on the decorated Parvathi on the areca tree. The desire to wear down the anger of Shiva can be seen in the feast.
Colourful Holi on the Seventh Day
On Saturday, the seventh day of Holi was celebrated as the day of colours. More than a thousand people gathered and several religious customs were performed. Colours were applied to Devi and different colours were were placed before the deity. A large procession was held later.
Konkan Kharvi community members, who normally depend on fishing activity for a living, observe holiday for this activity during this festival.