Udupi:Marathi Community celebrates Holi in unique way with dance and songs

By Eugene and Elias DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 16 Mar 2014: Marathi and Kunbi Communities spread across coastal areas in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttar Kannada districts  celebrated Holi in a unique way, quite different from that is being celebrated in either North India or Maharashtra. Marathi and Kunbi  are the two important tribal communities of the coastal area, having Marathi and Konkani as their mother tongue. However, they are fluent in local languages such as Kannada and Tulu as well. Originally the residents of Maharashtra and Goa, these tribal communities migrated to Karnataka many years ago for various reasons. With them they carried their tradition and culture. Hard workers by nature, they settled in coastal regions and some of them owned small pieces of land. Holi is one of the important festivals for the Marathis as well as the Kunbis.

 

Both Marathis and Kunbis are organized in small groups identified as ‘Koodukattu’ or ‘Koodalike’. Some of the important decision regarding the communities are taken in the presence of Koodalike. The heads of such groups are called as Gurkar or Gaonkar. Usually Holi is celebrated near the house of a Gurkar or in a place specified by him. They cultivate Tulasi (basil plant) in front of their house. Marathis adore Tulasi as Bhasmeshwari, whereas Kunbis respect this plant as Tulasije.

 

We had an opportunity to witness the Holi dance of the Marathi community in Kodangala. According to the Gurkar of Kodangala Marathi community-Vittala Naik, in Udupi district the Marathi  community has been living since many years in areas such as Kdangala, Mukkuda, Kanaradi, Pernankila, Hirebailu, Kanchina Bailu, Kojapadi, Padu Alevooru and other regions. Their occupation has been primarily agricultural. However, since few years some of the youth of this community has ventured in other occupations including government service.

 

Vittal Naik-Gurkar

Vittal Naik said that the Holi festivities begin from the Palguna Shuddha Dashami. On this day members of the community assemble for celebrating Holi. After the arival of all the people, the Darshana Pathri takes a holy bath and makes himself ready for offering pooja in front of the Tulasi. He decorates a coconut and offer Dhoopa, Deepa and Arathi for it. All members touch the coconut before the Pathri places it on the earthen mound of Tulasi. During this ritual people pray for successful completion of the five-day Holi festival. Then they move around the Tulasi plant thrice beating gong (Jagate), sticks (Kolata), cymbals (Thala) and other musical instruments.

 

Both trained and amateur dancers participate in the Holi dance. They wear attractive and colourful dress, resembling those of Yakshaga artistes. Marathis have unique kind of colourful designs for the dance and wear a crown on their head. Their songs, based on folklore, have a traditional appeal in them. They seem to be picked from myths such as Ramayana and Mahabharatha and contain the description of Spring Season and some are in praise of Goddess Shri Durga Parameshwari. The attractive and unique style of dance has been called as ‘Holi Habbada Kunitha’ (Dance of the Holi Festival).

 

The dancers move from one house to the other  in villages giving their performances in front of every house. The members of each house welcome these dancers by placing a dot of vermilion on their forehead. They invite the dancers into their houses and some offer food. When the satisfied dancers leave the house, they receive gifts in the form of coconuts, money or food grains from the owner of the house. Then they proceed to the next house for performing dance. While Kunbi  dancers do not return home till the end of the five-day festival, the Marathis, who are not so rigid in their tradition, return home every evening and start off the next morning.

 

According to Vittal Naik, the dance that started on the Phalguna Shuddha Dashami, continues for five days and comes to an end on the full moon day (Holi Hunnime). On the day of Hunnime, all dancers arrive at the village Temple and worship the goddess. After that, they assemble at the Koodukattu place, from where they started their dance on Phalguna Shuddha Dashami. Once again they go in circle the Tulasi plant. Thereafter the  dancers take off their costumes and apply colour to their face and body. Meanwhile, women spread some straw on the ground and set it on fire and  all dancers leap  across the fire and proceed to take bath. The ritual is called as ‘Kama Dahana’.

 

After bath, the  dancers return from the pond and the chaste women carry out the rituals to neutralize the evil eye(Duradrishti). Thereafter, the Pathri puts down the coconut and all the community members join in the meal.