Holi Celebrations by Marathi Community in Pernankila

By Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Pernakinla, Moodubelle 19 March 2011: Marathi community residing in the Kenakunja region of Pernankila celebrated the Holi festival recently. This community has been celebrating the festival of Holi in a unique way since about 100 years. As per their tradition the festive celebrations started from the Dashami day. On that day the elders gathered at the Marathi Samaja Bhajan Mandir and put up the pandal and decorated it.

 

In the evening rituals included offering of coconut and fruits to the Tulasi and hoisting of the saffron flag. After the meals the men and women started the ceremonial Holi dance. On the Ekadashi day, the people visited the Mahalingeshwara temple at Pernankila and later the Holi dancers visited different houses. Some of the youngsters had worn the dress of women for the Holi dance.

 

 

As the Holi dancers moved from house to house they were greeted with areca nuts and betel leaves and were presented with coconut and rice from each house. Upon blessing the family members, the Holi dancers proceeded to other houses. On the last day of the festivities on Chaturdashi, all the Holi dancers and others gathered in the house of the Head of the Marathi community.

 

After Bhajan for one hour in the night, the Holi dancers danced till early morning to the accompaniment of singing the traditional folk songs and the music of gumate, thala and jagate. Early in the morning, the Holi dancers with thick colour paste on their face and body went to the nearby rivulet to wash off their colour and give up the flowers that they had been wearing for the last four days.

 

Coming from the rivulet they went around the bonfire three times that had been lit in the field and walked over the embers three times in fast strides. After breaking coconuts in front of the bonfire the pieces were distributed as ‘prasad’ to the members of the Marathi community.