Putting on their best colourful attire, Marwari women from across the city headed to Beach Road to celebrate ‘Holika Dahan’ on Sunday.
Ushering in the festival of colours that symbolises the victory of good over evil, men and women dressed in traditional attire offered prayers and took part in ‘Holika Dahan’ in large numbers.
Rajasthani Sanskritic Mandal organised ‘Holika Dahan’ on Beach Road opposite Kali Mata temple and the celebration of ‘Chhoti Holi’ continued till late in the evening.
“A sacred thread ( kachha soot ) is tied to ‘Holika Dahan’ as part of the ritual. The festival epitomises peace and happiness warding off negative energies. Many also prefer to organise get-together to celebrate the festival of colours like an extended family,” said Aruna Agarwal, a homemaker, before heading to Beach Road to offer ‘bhog’ as part of the ritual.
Mandal president Chandmal Agarwal, secretary Rajesh Agarwal, treasurer Shankarlal Sharma and executive committee members Bijendar Kumar Gupta and Jhabbarmal Jain took part in the celebrations.
A day ahead of ‘Holika Dahan’, members of Akhil Bharatiya Marwari Mahila Samiti celebrated Holi by bringing smiles on the faces of those residing in Shanti Ashram. More than 100 hearing-impaired students smeared colours and had fun as part of the celebrations. Samiti president Rachna Sancheti, secretary Uma Daga, treasurer Sunita Agarwal and member Shalu Agarwal, among others spent quality time with the students and wrapped up the day by distributing sweets to them.
‘Dola purnima’
Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj came alive with ‘Dola purnima’ celebrations. The venue reverberated with bhajans and hymns as Odiyas from across the city gathered to take part in the festivities that included special puja followed by the distribution of ‘bhog’. Here, the two-day celebration concluded on Sunday.
Bengalis in the city also celebrated ‘Dol utsav’ in the city at Kalimandir on Railway Station Road. Both young and old celebrated the festival of colours by smearing each other with different hues and participated in a community meal.
The little ones also get to hear the mythological story of the demon king Hiranyakashyap and his sister Holika and how Lord Vishnu in the form of Narasimha protects Prahlad.
It was a combined celebration at International Society for Krishna Consciousness as the shrine organised special puja to mark the birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and celebrate Holi. Starting at 4.30 a.m. on Sunday with ‘Akhanda Harinaam’ the celebration continues till next morning where ‘bhajan’, ‘kirtan’, ‘kalash abhishekam’, drama, spiritual discourse, ‘aarti’ and distribution of prasadam form a part of the two-day festival.
Smearing colours on one another, some of the revellers had a gala time by taking part in the festivities.
