Folk Lore Notes. Vol. II—KonkanJackson, A. M. T. (Arthur Mason Tippetts)
Religion
Folk Lore Notes. Vol. II—Konkan
Jackson, A. M. T. (Arthur Mason Tippetts)
Folklore -- India
After the kindling of the Holi the people assembled there offer to
the Holi a Naivedya (god's meal) of poli--a sweet cake made of Jagri,
wheat flour and gram pulse. Cocoanuts from all the houses in the
village are thrown into this sacred fire. Some of these cocoanuts
are afterwards taken out of the sacred fire, cut into pieces, mixed
with sugar and are distributed among the people assembled as prasád or
favoured gift. Lower classes of Hindus offer a live goat to the Holi,
take it out when it is half burnt and feast thereon.
On the night of the fullmoon day and the first day of the dark half
of Fálgun, the people assembled at the Holi fire wander about the
village, enter gardens and steal plantains, cocoanuts and other
garden produce. Robbery of such things committed during these days
is considered to be pardonable. Some people take advantage of this
opportunity for taking revenge on their enemies in this respect.
The fire kindled at the Holi on the fullmoon day is kept constantly
burning till the Rangpanchami day i.e., fifth day of the dark half of
Fálgun. Next morning i.e., on the first day of the dark half of Fálgun,
the people boil water over that fire and use it for the purpose of
bathing. It is believed that water boiled on the sacred fire has
the power of dispelling all the diseases from the body. People go on
dancing in the village and sing songs for the next five days. They
generally sing Lávanis, a kind of ballad, during this festival. Among
these dancers a boy is dressed like a girl and is called Rádha. This
Rádha has to dance at every house while the others repeat Lávanis.
The second day of the dark half of Fálgun is called Dhulvad or dust
day when people start in procession through the village, and compel
the males of every house to join the party. They thus go to the Holi
fire and raise loud cries of obscene words throwing mud and ashes
upon each other. They afterwards go to the river or a pond to take
their bath at noon time and then return to their houses. The third
day of the dark half is also spent like the previous one with a slight
difference which is that cow dung is used instead of mud. This day is
called Shenwad day. On the fourth day the Dhunda Rákshahasin (a demon
goddess) is worshipped by the people, and the day is spent in making
merry and singing obscene songs called Lávanis. The fifth day of the
dark half is known as Rangpanchami day and is observed by the people
in throwing coloured water upon each other. Water in which Kusumba and
other colours are mixed is carried in large quantity on bullock carts
through the streets of a city and sprinkled on the people passing
through these streets. On this day the sacred fire of the Holi is
extinguished by throwing coloured water over it. This water is also
thrown upon the persons assembled at the Holi. The money collected
as post during this period is utilised in feasting and drinking.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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