Every part of India has its ancient civilization which is still alive today. It is these civilizations that make India special. But some of these customs are very strange and poor which makes you all think. Similar unique traditions are also prevalent in the country regarding Holi. Just like the seven colors of the rainbow are mixed in Holi, similarly, different colors of Holi are seen in different regions and caste tribes of India. This festival is celebrated in different ways across the country. Today in this episode we are going to tell you about the unique traditions related to Holi across the country which will surprise you too. Let's know about them...
Lath Maar Holi, Barsana
Although the festival of Holi is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm all over India, in the towns of Nandgaon and Barsana of Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, this festival of Holi is celebrated in a very peculiar way. Which is known as Lath Mar Holi. It can be guessed from its name what kind of Holi it will be. In Lath Maar Holi, women kill men with sticks while men protect themselves with shields. And for this reason, it has been considered a part of a strange tradition. They say that you will get to see many colors in India. These are also among the strange modes of those colors.
Marriage in Haat, Madhya Pradesh
There is an interesting tradition of Holi among the Bhil tribals of Madhya Pradesh. Before Holi, a market is held in this area which is called Haat. People come to this market to buy essential things, as well as young men and women also search for life partners here. Bhil youths play and dance with a musical instrument called Mandal in their hands. While dancing, the girl who is smeared with gulal, that girl also smears the young man with gulal in return, then it is understood that there is a mutual agreement between the two. After this, the Bhil youth runs away with the girl and both of them get married. If the girl does not apply gulal, then the boys look for another girl.
Walking on Ashes, Banswara
In Holi played among the tribes living in Banswara, Rajasthan, there is a tradition of walking on the ashes of Holika Dahan along with Gulal. The people here walk on the fire buried inside the ashes. Apart from this, there is also a custom of throwing stones at each other. There is a belief behind this practice that the blood that comes out from playing this Holi makes the future of a person better.
Holi of Widows, Vrindavan
Holi of widows is played in Vrindavan. A few years ago, the practice of Holi for widows in Vrindavan started at Pagal Baba's temple. Usually, this Holi is played in different temples on the next day of the Holi of flowers. It is a very beautiful sight to see these widows playing Holi away from the colors of life.
Khooni Holi, Dungarpur
People of the Chowatiya Joshi caste of the Pushkarna Brahmin community of Rajasthan celebrate mourning on the occasion of Holi. From Holashtak till Holi, even food is not cooked in the house of the people of this caste. Food and drink come for them from relatives. There is a curse and painful story behind it. It is said that years ago, a woman of this caste was doing parikrama of Holika with her little son in her lap, at the same time the child jumped from the lap and fell into the fire of Holika. To save the son, the mother also jumped into the fire and both died. While dying, the woman said that henceforth there would be no celebration on Holi, rather it would be a time of mourning.
Roti is sent to maternal home, Himachal Pradesh
In the Suket area of Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, on Holi, bread is sent to sisters and daughters from their maternal home and is also known as banta. The people there believe that the share of the crop grown in the maternal land is given to the daughters as a symbol.
