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Elephants set the tune of Holi festival in Jaipur
by Lokendra Singh

     Jaipur: Hundreds of tourists who thronged Jaipur city on Tuesday were entertained to a visual treat as they got an opportunity to witness magnificently painted elephants on the eve of Holi. The elephant festival, which is an annual feature, is organised during "Phagun"(February/March) month as per Hindu calendar. Celebrated by as one of the most fascinating and favourite festival by the State tourism department for giving a first hand experience of the pachyderms. Held ahead of the festival of colours, the procession is marked by traditional dance and songs with men and women dressed in traditional costumes. "It's very exciting. All this culture, music, elephant are beautifully coloured and painted. We just love it," said Jennifer, a foreign tourist. The elephant show felt so fantabulous that it won everyone's heart. At least forty-one elephants attracted everyone with their majestic march. The elephant, leading the group, was specially decorated with a five-colour flag "Fathe Nishan" (Emblem of Supremacy), followed by two elephants carrying musicians who played wind instruments. The event finally concluded with a brilliant display of fireworks. Rajasthan, is a major tourist attraction owing to its rich heritage. Lavish palaces, lakes and traditional music and dance draw a large number of tourists to the desert State.

Floral Holi in Govind Devji temple in Jaipur

     Jaipur: To many around the world the Holi festival is all about colours of different hues and water balloons, but not many would be familiar with the fact that this fun-filled festival is also celebrated with flowers and scent with participants dressed as Lord Krishna and Radha. In Govind Devji temple, it has been a tradition for almost 400- years now that people play Holi with Lord Krishna. For seven days thousands of devotees congregate to celebrate Holi with Lord Krishna using sweet-scented fresh flowers. The mood is full of devotion as people play Holy with children dressed as Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. Visited by the residents and many foreign tourists, the spireless temple is one of the most revered by erstwhile royal families. Colourful and fragrant petals are showered on the child Gods, instead of coloured water. The devotional hymns and folksongs continue to create an ambience full of devotion all around. The temple of Govind Devji is following this tradition since 17th century. "We believe God is too delicate and so we do not use colour. We play Holi with flowers and express our devotion to the God," said Sudhir Srivastav, event coordinator, Govind Devji temple. "It is a wonderful way to play Holi. When I play Holi with powder, I end up with pink hair for months," said Chelsy, a foreign tourist.

Phaag songs are integral to Holi festivities in Gaya
by Surya Pratap Singh

     Gaya: For the farmers living in rural India, Holi has a dual significance. Besides being a gala day of colours, it reflects the end of winter season and states the onset of spring. In Gaya, a huge congregation of villagers ensures that the traditional "Phaag" songs, especially devoted to Holi, entertain everyone. The festivities start a month earlier than the day of Holi, with several sessions of "Phaag" songs and grinding "Bhang"(or, a drink made of herbs. Often a "Phaag" singing session sees the impromptu participation of youngsters in the gathering, who sing songs in a question and answer form. Words like "Genda","Garu" or "Gajra" are some of the frequently used words in these songs to address a lover. After the hard labour in the fields, local villagers gather to sing Phaag songs."We love to celebrate Holi in a grand manner. We apply "Gulal" and "Abeer' on each other and enjoy, " said Rajkumar Prasad Yadav, a resident. . People forget the caste differences during Holi and gather together to celebrate. "Its a big festival and comes only once in a year. We enjoy it by grinding lot of Bhang believed to be the favourite drink of Lord Shiva. For us, Bhang is prasadam. We sing folk songs, dance and enjoy in full spirit while others watch and encourage us with claps," said Lakhan Prasad, a villager. Music adds a special flavour. "A Holi devoid of music feels like an incomplete marriage. We organize our local drums and other musical instruments a day earlier and dance to their tunes on Holi while singing "Phaag" songs.. All form a large group and celebrate, irrespective of caste and creed on this day. This festival conveys the message of love, peace and brotherhood. Indeed, Holi is a great festival," said Sanjay Kumar Sinha, another villager.

'Hola Mohalla' celebrations in Punjab

     Anandpur Sahib (Punjab): Lakhs of devotees from all over the state have gathered here to celebrate the three-day "Hola Mohalla festival" that began here yesterday. The fair began with religious prayer by Jathedar Tarlochan Singh, along with head granthi, Sukhwinder Singh, and head granthi of Darbar Sahib, Gurbachan Singh, at Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib Gurdwara. Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh is scheduled to address a political conference here today. To prevent any untoward incident, security has been tightened and at least 1,500 police personnel have been deployed in the town to maintain law and order. Besides, ten duty magistrates have also been deployed in wake of the large gathering. Devotees from the villages around Anandpur Sahib have been visiting the town riding on trucks, tractor-trailers and motorcycles. Besides, political parties are also using the occasion for reaching the general public. Hola Mohalla is a Sikh festival that takes place on the first of the lunar month of Chaitra, which usually falls in March. This follows the Hindu festival of Holi.

    Hola is the masculine form of the feminine sounding Holi. The word "Mohalla" is derived from the Arabic root hal (alighting, descending) and is a Punjabi word that implies an organized procession in the form of an army column. But unlike Holi, when people playfully sprinkle color, dry or mixed in water, on each other, the Guru made Hola Mohalla an occasion for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles. Together the words "Hola Mohalla" stands for "mock fight". During this festivals, procession are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one gurdwara to another. The custom originated during the time of Guru Gobind Singh who held first such mock fight event at Anandpur in February 1701. Since then, the foothills of the Shivaliks in Ropar district of Punjab's north-eastern region, especially around the historic townships of Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib, have been playing host to the festival. The Indian government has accorded it the status of a national festival. For people visiting Anandpur Sahib, langars (voluntary community kitchens) are organized by the local people as a part of sewa (community service). Raw materials like wheat flour, rice, vegetables, milk and sugar is provided by the villagers living nearby. Women volunteer to cook and others take part in cleaning the utensils. Traditional cuisine is served to the pilgrim who eat while sitting in rows on the ground. During the three days of festival mock battles, exhibitions and display of weapons are held followed by kirtan, music and poetry competitions. The participants perform daring feats, such as Gatka (mock encounters with real weapons), tent pegging, bareback horse- riding, standing erect on two speeding horses and various other feats of bravery. On the last day a long procession, led by Panj Pyaras, starts from Takhat Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five Sikh religious seats, and passes through various important Gurdwaras like Qila Anandgarh, Lohgarh Sahib, Mata Jitoji and terminates at the Takhat (Keshgarh). A festival of joy and social merriment, it proclaims the passage of winter and the onset of the harvest season.
-Mar 14, 2006