Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Mar 22: Holi festival has its own tradition in the rural area. When the festival of Holi arrives, the actors don various traditional costumes, tie anklets and go around in the village. The village wears a festive look during the whole week of celebrations. However, the Holi celebration differs from one community to another.

Holi Hunnime Day is celebrated a day after the Kamadahana day. Holi festival is also called as Kamana Habba.

The traditional Holi was celebrated by the ‘Hathu Samastharu’ of the Marathi community that lives in Mundinajedku of Cherkady village from March 16 to 20. The actors of the community visited every house wearing glittering costumes and played Kolata.

This Holi festival is being celebrated since time immemorial. People from young boys till those who work in reputed MNCs dance during this festival. There are people, who arrive from the city of Bengaluru, taking vacation, to partake in this event. One community follows Kooduvali. There are 29 houses in Mundkinajeddu and one young man each from every house participates in the Holi dance.

Giving more details on this traditional Holi celebration, Umesh Cherkady says, “Generally we do not have much training for the traditional Holi dance. However, some sort of complimentary training is started a week before the actual celebration. Before starting the Holi dance, offerings are given to Goddess of Nature. With this, coconut pooja is offered to Tulasi and it is kept in the Tulasikatte. This is kept on the Tulasikatte for six consecutive days.

“During the Holi festival from March 16 to 20, the dancers performed Holi dance, wearing traditional costumes, visiting each and every house. The dancers are under vow and during the six days they do not cosume non-vegetarian food and walk barefooted. They go to the houses of those who invite them every year. Some inmates of the house light the lamp on the Tulasikatte, as a sign of the Holi dancers entering their house.

“The Holi dancers start the daily dance at 3.30 pm and end around 10pm. They receive the gifts given by the devotees and wish them all the good things in life.

“The team of dancers and band has 52 people in it. Of late, the younger generation is getting attracted to the traditional dances and art and understand the charm of rural tradition.”