Holi, the festival of colours, was celebrated with immense fervour across the Kullu Valley here today. Holi here is a spectacular blend of local traditions and the joyous spirit of the season. People from all communities passed through the streets of the town singing Holi songs and playing with colours.
Residents participated in processions accompanied by traditional flags and local ‘baza’ (orchestra) at Akhara Bazar, Sultanpur, Dhalpur, Sarwari and Gandhi Nagar areas of the town. The groups from various regions of the town assembled on the premises of the temple of Lord Raghunath at Sultanpur and played Holi with the chief deity. They also went to various houses in their locality and sang traditional Holi songs and played with gulal.
Holi is celebrated here for two days known as Chhoti Holi (small Holi) and generally a day earlier than other regions depending upon the full moon night. The last day of the Holi concluded today, in which local deities participated and the atmosphere was colourful with “gulal” and tapping of feet with the rhythmical beats of the drums.The festival here is compared to Holi of Vrindavan and Mathura, as many traditional rituals and customs are linked to this colourful event here. The celebrations here are distinct, owing to the region’s rich cultural heritage. The festival typically begins with the Basant Panchami festival, held on February 2 this year, and the Holi celebrations reach their peak in the days that follow.
Mahants, a community who came here along with the idols of Lord Rama and Sita from Ayodhya in the mid-17th century, take out processions at various places and sing holi songs for 40 days. The celebrations escalate during ‘Holashtak’, eight days before Holi, with numerous Holi events held across the town.
One unique aspect of Holi in Kullu is the “Phaag” festival, a significant post-Holi event held at the erstwhile ruler’s palace in Raghunathpur. The chief deity of Kullu, Lord Raghunath, is brought in a colorful palanquin, and people gather around a large pyre of dry wood and grass, which is lit to symbolize ‘Holika Dahan.’ A long mast with a flag is placed in the pyre, and Mahants from different parts of the town leap across the burning pyre to claim the flag. According to folklore, the family that secures the flag is blessed with fruitful returns, whilst it is surely a show of strength and courage.
The influence of the region’s religious and cultural practices gives Holi in Kullu a deeply spiritual dimension. It is not just about celebrating with colours, but also about worshiping local deities, seeking blessings for prosperity and happiness. Meanwhile a large number of youngsters also danced to the tunes of DJ in Dhalpur.
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