Born and brought up in a tiny artistic town called as Ilkal which is famous for its six
yards of saris. Perfect drape for the evening, the elegance untouched, Sarees which
make Indian women look more beautiful and die for saris.
The Town is also famous for red colored polished
Granite's which makes the floors of temples, bungalows, offices, laboratories
look glistened like flattened and polished mountain.
Apart from these, there are lots of colors to watch
out in the town. When it comes to Holi it will be even more
color-full than the rest of the world, since the town is not far from Bagalkot.
Holi has
been celebrated with lot of Liveliness and eagerness. Quality of elevation
of mind and exaltation of character conducted by the people of Bagalkot and
all the places nearer to Bagalkot including our town.
Along with briskness and grandeur, Holi also symbolizes
religious unity and harmony; where, people of all sects come together to
celebrate it.
During Holi it's not just Bagalkot or
nearby places; but the whole of the north Karnataka people goes live wire.
Holi is
a symbolic festival of burning "Kama" which literally means
being lustful, in broader sense festival represent's burning of evil thoughts.
In most of the part of the country the Holi may
be celebrated for one to five days, but in our town it starts with the end
of "Mahashivaratri", 15 days before the "Holi Hunnime"
the full moon cycle. The festival has a lot to watch, other than just
colors.
The Bagalkot district has its own way of celebrating Holi which
arouses the artists by a percussion instrument made of skin of Buffalo's and
cow's tied to huge bangles made of iron, we call it "Halige".
The orchestra of this instrument blended with some Desi drums, huge
anklets, its called as "Haligemela".
I think 90% of the male population
take part in the festival this geographical area, and they all seeming to
be experts in beating the instrument. Haligemela runs for
18 days from Shivratri to end of Rangapanchami. Haligemela starts
in the evening in every street and the tuning will be of a unique folk style
which is a delight to hear. There are hardly few people in my town who doesn't
take part in Haligemela.
Just before two days to full moon day; there commences
a special fancy dress being organized from the traditional old street people.
The fancy disguised Blokes dressed themselves like women, film actors,
actresses, political leaders, gods, mythological hero's, etc. They show off
themselves while standing in a tractor of their street and this tradition
called as "Sogu" which literally means
"Disguise".This not just describes the fun but also
teaches social lessons to the viewers.
On full moon day each streets compatriots make a group
and set up idols of Rati and Kama the Hindu
God of love and desires. They worship them for the whole day and pay offerings,
orchestra , dance will be although the day until the next morning around 3 am,
at which the Kamadahan the burning of Kama being
performed. Youth dance in joy at the site of the blaze and there are also
rituals to bake sweet potatoes in the blaze of Kama and distribute as Prasad( deity's blessings).
After littering Kama, Holi continues with pomp
with beginning of color playing . Each street ties a colored pot and
break it to fill the color to the ground, this officially begins Holi, everyone
throws colors on each other; while the whole of the town unites as a symbol of
unity, peace and harmony which will be the real treat to eyes.
From the full moon day the colorful Holi is celebrated
for 1-5 days in different towns of the district. Where ever your eyes go, there
will be color, sadly people won't even leave their pet animals. I
took part in Holi in my town until my age reached 18. Face,
head, and every part of the body full of colors, even our parents feel
difficult to recognize us.
Then I moved to Gulburga university campus, though the city
will not be busy playing Holi, but the university will be. The Boys tear each other's shirts and then
play more with water than colors, for this there was a reason too; probably, the
temperature which will never be less than
40 at the time of Holi.
After all this boy's roam all through the university,
half-naked . They move towards girls hostel
which will be tightly locked than any day in the year. Crazy guys scream
the girls' names with whom they want to play Holi, or to whom they want to propose or the girl whom
they feel pretty enough to have a crush. They kick the huge entry gate in
frustration, kick the boards beside the hostel and move back to their place
like a fox scolding grape as sour for not getting them. After this we too moved
to our respective hostels; where, our group members do mass bath or community
bath at cloth washing areas.
Despite of slight differences,, it will not be much
different in all parts of North Karnataka; in-fact throughout India.
We enjoyed our childhood, gone past the college days. We are
now under stalemate of struggle at corporate; where, the Holi day not being declared holiday., it does not seem
like a holy-day. Even if, it is holiday accidentally, no environment or mood to
play Holi at metropolitans.
At last left is song "jaane kaha gaye wo din"
And a feel "Holi we missed you Wholly".
