CHANDIGARH: Throwing colours on Holi, is, of course, the reason why this spring time festival became uber-popular across the world. In the ensuing melee though, certain nuances of traditions that coloured every community in a shade slightly different than the other got lost. With Chandigarh being home to thousands of residents from Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan , Gujarat, Bengal and Manipur, it is only fair that we bring you a refresher on colourful traditions that celebrating Holi involve in different parts of India.“In UP and Bihar we have traditional folk songs that we play on the eve of Holi when Holika Dehan takes place. The lyrics of these songs are playfully abusive and everyone abuses each other too in a fun way, irrespective of age, as it is believed that on this day all are one,” says P N Shahi, member of Purvanchal Welfare Association. “On the day of Holi, the eldest member of the family puts tilak on the forehead of family members and then everyone put colour on each other’s face. There are also dishes, like pua pakwan, gujiya, dahi vadey, pakode and sharbats that are prepared on the occasion,” he adds.In Haryana the female members hit the male members of their community with a rope made out of cloths to celebrate Holi, says Haryanvi Pranjal Rathee. “There is a ritual in Haryana that brother’s wife beats her brother-in-law with her sari or duppatta rolled up into a rope. All this is done in a fun way and, despite being beaten up, he bring brings sweets for her in the evening,” says Rathee, a resident of Sector 7 in Chandigarh.Paurnima Das, a city-based Bengali resident, says Holi is a big deal for Rahda Krishna devotees. It goes by the name Dol Purnima or the swing festival. Icons of Krishna and Radha are placed on decorated swings and watch as people play Holi, says Das.“The rest is not really different, we exchange sweets and apply colours on each other. Those who believe in Radha Krishna go to temple.”In Gujarat, the festival begins with a fast. “A day before Holi, the ladies of the house keep a fast and break it after the Holika Dehan in the evening.And then we go to our friends and relatives home to apply colours and have fun,” says Sarita Patel, a city-based Gujarati. There are also communities that do not celebrate Holi back home, but since they have been living here for decades, they have gladly embraced the traditions and have been observing Holi. “We do not celebrate Holi in our culture, but since we have been living here for many decades it has become an important festival for us. My children love the festival, as they have grown up playing holi,” said T Raman, a city-based Tamilian, who has been living here for the last 40 years.

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