Uttarakhand: Holi started in the mountains with rag bandhan, the color of fog started appearing on the Holiyars, know when is the auspicious time for Holika Dahan

In Kumaon, Chir or Nishan Bandhan is considered to have special significance during Holi. On the day of Holikashtami, rags are tied in public places in temples after observing the auspicious time of Ekadashi. After tying the rag, the Holyars start singing Khadi Holi from door to door. With the tying of rags, the mountains have started coloring in the colors of Holi with the songs and colors of Holi.

Before starting Holi in Kumau, one new colorful piece of cloth from each house is tied on a long log in the form of a rag. After that, Holi is started by singing Ram, Krishna, Shiva, Parvati, Kailai Bandhi Cheer, Ganpati Bandhi Cheer Holi. Chir Haran is also prevalent in Kumaon. In the village, Cheer is guarded day and night to protect it from the reach of other villagers. Once the rag theft goes away, the village’s tradition of tying the rag ends from the next Holi. In some villages, there is a practice of using red flags instead of rags.

In the temples, tying a rag on the day of Holi on the Ekadashi before Holi has its own significance. On this day, people tie clippings of new clothes on a long bamboo pole and install it in the temple. People stand around his body and sing Holi songs. Go from door to door and sing Khadi Holi. On the day of Holika Dahan, this rag is brought to the place of Holika Dahan. Clippings of clothes tied in bamboo are distributed as Prasad. Which people tie at the main entrance of their houses. It is believed that this prevents evil powers from entering the house. There is happiness and peace in the house.

Auspicious time for Holika Dahan

According to Astrologer Naveen Joshi, this time Holika Dahan will be done on 24th March. Whereas, Rangotsav will be celebrated on 26th March. According to astrological calculations, the best time for Holika Dahan will be from 11:09 pm on March 24 to 12:30 pm the next day i.e. on March 25.

According to Astrologer Joshi, according to Kashi tradition, Color Utsav is played on the next day of Holika Dahan, but according to Shastra traditions, there is a tradition of celebrating Color Utsav on Chaitra Krishna Paksha Pratipada. In such a situation, there is full moon till 12:30 pm on 25th March, but Holi festival is celebrated in Chaitra Krishna Paksha Pratipada, hence Holi will be celebrated in Kumaon division on 26th March.

Holika Dahan puja method

On the day of Holika Dahan, one should go to the place of Holi Dahan and sit facing east. Take the puja material which includes water, roli, akshat, flowers, raw cotton, jaggery, whole turmeric, moong, gulal and batasha as well as ripe ears of new crop i.e. wheat and gram. After this, keep a garland of garlands made of cow dung near Holika.

After this, wrap the raw cotton around Holika three or seven times and first meditate on the revered Lord Ganesha and offer all the things to Holika and devotee Prahlad and worship him. Salute the Narasimha incarnation of Lord Vishnu, pray for the happiness and prosperity of your family and burn Holika.

Tradition of celebrating holi

According to mythological beliefs, on the day of Holi, demon king Hiranyakashyap’s sister Holika (who had the boon of not getting burnt by fire) sat in the fire with devotee Prahvad, but nothing happened to Prahvad. Whereas, Holika herself got burnt in that fire. In such a situation, Holika Dahan is considered a symbol of the victory of good over evil. There is a tradition of celebrating Rangotsav on the next day of Holika Dahan.