Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Mar 23: Kharvi community celebrates annual Holi festival for a week. They celebrated the final day of the celebrations as the festival of colors. More than a thousand people took part in the procession held on March 22.

There is a special significance for Holi festival in Kundapur. Konkani Kharvi community celebrates the festival with pomp and gaiety.

The officials had said that they will not permit processions due to Model Code of Conduct. The community had threatened to boycott elections and campaigned for permission. The permission was finally obtained subject to certain conditions.

Traditional belief

The community is spread from Mangaluru to Goa. It adores Mahakali, which is also seen as Mahakali, Maha Saraswathi and Mahalaxmi in Kharvi slums. The seven day long festival begins and concludes in Kharvi keri here. They go in procession on the first day and hold Mand programme. ‘Adde Beeluvudu’ is a special programme among them. They hold cultural programme, Kolata, dances and sing Holi songs later in the moonlight.

Tradition of going to crematorium

Similar programmes are held on the second day. Several religious customs are held on the field where Holi is set on fire. The programme of burning Holi is held on fourth day, the full moon day. They go to crematorium where Santushti of Shiva Gana is held. More than five thousand people take part in the programme of burning Holi.

Colourful Holi on seventh day

Saturday, the seventh day was celebrated as the day of colour. Several religious programmes were held in Mahakali temple of Kharvikeri. The colours were offered and applied to the deity followed by procession. Entire Kundapur looked colourful.