Blog · Literatureनेपाली चाडपर्व तथा विशेष दिनहरू
Yesterday was the Holi for valley and hills and today, Terai is all colorful. Primarily, I want to clarify why is there a difference of one day between both Holi?
It is because, on the exact day of Falgun Poornima, which was yesterday, the Antargriha Parikrama of Mithila finishes. All pilgrims return to Janakpur and because of the travel and fatigues of pilgrimages and the involvement of city people in welcoming and accommodating pilgrims, Terai holi is celebrated the next day.
Happy Holi in the Nepali way!
Holi Heyyyy
Who could arrest the rising and receding sunlight of this life?
Who has imprisoned color or shackled beauty?
यस जीवनको उदाँउदो अस्ताँउदो सुर्यलाई कस्ले रोक्छ ?
रंगहरुमा कस्ले पहरा दिन्छ ? घामलाई कस्ले बाँध्छ?
Why bother to take these efforts? Every Hearts out there, a very happy Holi, festival of color and friendship wrapped in the packages of smiles.
Phagu, Holi, Phagu Purne, etc. There are many names for this festival. If we could, we would spread a few drops of cold and pure water of Nepal from your mobile screen to mark this Holi.
May this Holi flush out COVID terror and bring new colors to life.
The above lines are inspired by the couplet of renowned Indian poet/ lyricist "Sahir Ludhianvi", an effort to bring the infinity of pervasive sunlight and the importance upon the freedom of colors. Before getting into the Holi context, please allow me to bring the importance of colors in our life and their significance upon freedom and purity. Colors are the truest and purest appearance and no one has ever been successful in restraining these colors or changing their colorfulness. Colors are the best adjective to define or describe anything, as a small kid, I remember describing my school picnic to my father. My description was filled with colors, Dad the forest was green and the river was flowing brown, the color of the small boat was green and the sailor was wearing a black shirt. I bluntly remember those particular picnic incidents but I remember the color, color of the bus, my attire, and my friends too, color is unforgettable and the color is the best description. It has a huge impact on human life, perception, and thinking patterns, Holi is the day when Sanatan followers observe the importance and freedom of colors in their lives.
My mind grabs Holi memories as a box of crayons, the whole village, city and surrounding looks like a box of crayons and people and color becomes one on this day. The only festival on this earth which describes life like a rainbow, welcome to the Holi of this year.
Some people prefer color in their life but for me, I prefer living in color and living as color. Let's play Holi buddies, If possible, we would print a few drops of cold and clean water from Nepal by patching it from your mobile screen.
Take some time for yourself, visit relatives, or send a message or phone call at this spring festival of joy and excitement. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing and in any situation, Holi's diverse colors and enthusiasm must touch you.
About Holi, many timeless works and songs have been composed in different periods of Nepal, India, and adjacent nations of the Indian subcontinent, with the grace of this sacred feast that has been practiced since time immemorial, all of us lovers of dreams can find colors, rejoice and rejuvenate. Whether it is the Ayodhya kingdom or the Awadh state, the Mithila kingdom, or any corner of the world, the background of this great festival of spring is described by the tradition that celebrates it. Holi festival begins formally after a ceremonial Chir (A traditional pillar standing ritual) at Basantapur in Kathmandu. At the Gaddi baithak of Hanuman Dhoka Kathmandu, a three stored chir is placed. This signifies the victory of truth over untruth and later this chir is dissolved at Tudhikhel.
The ashes of the burnt chir are perceived as very holy and positive and are carried back home by devotees. Holi resembles the Bhakta Prahlad of ancient times, he was conspired to get burnt by his aunt (Dad's sister) under the consent of his dad. Bhakta Prahlad was accused of worshiping Lord Vishnu and chanting his hymns and prayers, Later his aunt gets burnt and he gets protected, a strong message is then delivered to the world that the truth is glorified against untruth.
Holi is also cited in Vawisya Purana and Narad Purana, it is also stated that on the day of this Holi Lord Krishna killed the demon "Putana" in her attempt of killing Lord Krishna during his childhood. Upon this victory of Lord Krishna, residents of GokulDham celebrated the day by marking the village, houses, and faces in blue color, the color of humanity and peace.
Blue is also the favorite color of Lord Krishna. The shadow of the full waxing moon and the prayers of Holi and songs, the brightness in darkness, the depth of the heights, and the smiles and ecstasy, Holi is everything a human heart desires to pump happily. Today is a public holiday in Nepal, Kathmandu valley and hilly areas celebrate Holi on the full moon day however the Terai observes Holi on the next day. This is because the Mithila Parikrama ends on the full moon and they observe Holi the next day.
"Malpuwa" a traditional sweet is very popular in Holi and Taruwa, Varuwa's (Traditionally deep-fried vegetables) are popular in the Terai region. Be it hills or flatlands, Nepal is colorful in Holi, the ponds in Terai are colored in the real color with semantic significance of integrity, brotherhood, and inclusion. The colorful villages and cities of Nepal are missing you, a huge wave of Happy Holi to everyone out there.
जोगिरा सरररररररर,
कुन तालमे ढोलक नाचे कुन ताल मजीरा
कुन तालमे नटुवा नाचे कुन ताल नजारा
के वोलो सारारारारारारारारारारा
के वोलो सारारारारारारारारारारारा
Happy Holi, Jogiraa sarararararararaaa
Jogira represents Jogi, a Sufi, saint or someone who is above the materialistic chase. This Jogi is tipsy today because of Holi and drinks, he dances along with the beat of "Dholak" traditional musical instrument. May everyone attain that organic ecstasy, may everyone love and get loved.
Happy Holi to the flatlands and scattered trees of Terai.
Tel Lagaune din ra Aapko majura khane din
When it comes to Holi, there is no limitation of colors and smiles. In this way, the color affects the skin and the effect of the color lasts for a few days or weeks. That is why it is customary to apply oil on the day of Holi, especially in the Terai. By doing this, oil stays on the surface of the skin and the colors come out easily and do not stick.
The scientific nature and experimental angle of Sanatan civilization is clear from here. Today, before playing Holi, people apply oil at home and the formally begins the Holi.
This spring, in the joy of Basanta, smiles are seen in every house and mango branches are also blooming. Nowadays, it is also customary to pick and eat the flowers that bloom on the mango tree. Thus, for formality, it is customary to pick and eat mangoes. By doing this, there is a strong possibility that in the coming days, the mangoes will sprout and all the flowers will transform to small green mini mangoes.
Ganagaur Puja starts
The worship of Lord Shiva's beloved mother Parvati in the form of Gauri is called Gangaur Puja. In this puja, married women fast and worship, wishing their husbands and children eternal life and health. Unmarried girls also observe fast with wishes for a skilled and worthy husband.
There is a story that once Lord Parvati was returning home from her family, Lord Shiva himself came to take Mother Parvati. In this way, Gangaur Puja represents the joyous farewell and worship of mother Parvati after the arrival of Lord Shiva.
According to another account, Narada Muni, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati once came to earth to wander. In this way, when they came to earth, they lived in a home of a socially excluded, discriminated and untouchable women. She was excluded by society because of her caste. It is mentioned that the woman welcomed the guests by cooking various dishes at night and Lord Shiva was pleased and blessed the woman to be a forever Suhagan. Today is also a day to eradicate racial discrimination. There is no discrimination in the house of God, it is clear.
Gangaur Puja is celebrated with great rejoicing in the Terai region and in various cities of India. In some places, this puja is celebrated from the beginning of the month of Chaitra. May this puja, which worships the power of women, advocating the oneness of Shiva and Parvati, bring happiness to all. Hail
Suyog Dhakal
