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Dolchi Holi of Bikaner
by Jethmal
Sharma
Bikaner:
With Holi, the biggest festival of colours in
India, being just a few days away, the general mood
in Rajasthan's Bikaner city is full of fun and merry-making.
The festival presents an altogether different picture
of celebrations at Bikaners's Harshoka Chowk where
the occasion is organized as the day of reconciliation
between two particular Hindu castes who lived as foes
for generations. Legend has it that about 400 years
ago members of Harsh and Vyas castes decided to mitigate
their differences and turn friends after being motivated
by the then Kings. The gesture of new friendship was
expressed by throwing water in "Dolchi", a shoe-shaped
leather container, at each other. Since then the festival
is celebrated as a reminder of that unforgettable
reunion. Today, men of both the communities arrive
in groups from either side of a half-a-kilometer road
of the Harshoka Chowk. Everyone comes shouting choicest
expletives for the other community to recall the old
rivalry. Once they assemble, water filled in "Dolchis"
is splashed at each other, dry colour is tossed and
bawdy songs are sung as a part of celebrations. The
women don't participate and enjoy as spectators while
standing on their rooftops. The throwing of water
at each other in "Dolchis" is considered auspicious,
as people from far off places arrive here just for
getting splashed on their back at least once. Thousands
of people irrespective of their religious identity,
caste, creed attend the celebrations and enjoy along
with the member of these two castes. Artists are also
invited from far flung areas to entertain through
their folksongs and comic presentations. "Thousands
of people gather here to get a glimpse of the celebrations.
The people from all religions be it Hindu, Muslim,
Sikh or Christian, we all celebrate the festival with
great zeal and enthusiasm. It is a festival of all
of us. We have been celebrating the festival since
our childhood," said Satyanarayan, another artiste.
Artistes, who are invited specifically for this occasion,
start preparation in a month in advance so that maximum
audience could be drawn at the venue for entertainment.
"We can leave work for Holi but not vice versa. We
are all prepared to celebrate the festival and dance
to its tune. It is a big festival in Rajasthan," said
Rakesh Chamiya, one of the artistes. "We book beauty
parlours a month in advance and begin preparations.
This festival is celebrated in such a spirited way
that everyone forgets about rest of the celebrations,"
said Raju alias Razia Sultan, another artiste. Holi
brings together people from all classes and age groups
in northern and western parts of India who regale
dancing to the tunes of folk songs.
-Mar 19,
2008
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