Kumauni or
Kumaoni Holi (कुमाँऊनी होली), is the historical and cultural celebration of the Hindu festival of
HoliHoli , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
in the region of
KumaonFor Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
,
UttarakhandUttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
,
IndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is one of the most important festivals for the
Kumauni peopleKumauni or Kumaoni are people from Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India.They include all those who speak the Kumaoni language or any of its numerous dialects, living in the Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Nainital,Bijnor,Udham Singh Nagar,Moradabad, districts of Uttarakhand,...
as it signifies not only the victory of good over evil but also end of the winter season and the start of the new sowing season which holds great importance for this agricultural community of the North Indian
HimalayasThe Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
. It is an amalgamation of the cultural traditions of North India and the local traditions of Kumaon.
The uniqueness of the Kumaoni Holi lies in its being a musical affair, whichever may be its form, be it the
Baithki Holi, the
Khari Holi and the
Mahila Holi all of these which start from Basant Panchmi.
That is to say the festivities of Holi last for almost two months in Kumaon.
The Baithki Holi and Khari Holi are unique in that the songs on which they are based have touch of melody, fun and spiritualism. These songs are essentially based on classical ragas. No wonder then the Baithki Holi is also known as
Nirvan Ki Holi or Holi of Salvation.
Kumauni Holi has characteristics which are very different from Holi celebrations anywhere in the country.
Forms of Holi
The following are the various forms musical gatherings in which Holi songs are ceremonically sung which are viewed as the start of the Holi celebration. All of these celebrations in the form of musical gatherings start on the Basant Panchmi Day
Origins
The Origin of the forms of Holi especially
Baithaki Holi musical traditions are in 15th century
ChampawatChampawat is a town and a nagar panchayat in Champawat district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Champawat district.-Mythology:...
court of the
Chand KingsChand Kings were a medieval Raghuvanshi Rajput ruling clan of Kumaon region of the Uttarakhand state of India, which ruled the region after the decline of Katyuri Kings in 11th century AD., and continued till the rise of the British in 18th century....
and the adjoining regions of
Kalikumaun,
Sui and
Gumdesh where the musical traditions of Braj mixed with Kumaoni musical traditions. With the spread of Chand rule and integration of Kumaon under them the Holi traditions spraed all across Kumaon and acquired their distinct Kumaoni flavour.
Baithaki Holi
Baithki Holi (बैठकी होली), (literally Sitting Holi) is a form of musical gathering starting from the day of Basant Panchmi held all across Kumaon till the Dulhendi (or the last full moon day of the lunar month
PhalgunaPhalguna is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Phaalgun is the twelfth month of the year, beginning on 20 February and ending on 21 March .In lunar religious calendars, Phaalgun may begin on either the new moon or the full moon...
). In some areas of Kumaon it starts even earlier at the peak of winter on the first Sunday of the Indian month of Paush that is in the month of December.
The Baithaki Holi songs are based on the classical traditions of
Hindustani Classical MusicHindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
but have heavy influence of Kumaoni folk music traditions.
The Baithki Holi begins from the premises of temples, where
Holiyars (होल्यार), (the singers of Holi songs) as also the people gather to sing songs to the accompaniment of classical music like harmonium and tabla.
KumaonisKumauni or Kumaoni are people from Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India.They include all those who speak the Kumaoni language or any of its numerous dialects, living in the Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Nainital,Bijnor,Udham Singh Nagar,Moradabad, districts of Uttarakhand,...
are very particular about the time when the songs based on ragas should be sung. For instance, at noon the songs based on
PiluPilu is a raga of Indian classical music. It is mostly used in light-classical forms, like the Khayal, of north Indian classical style.-Aroha & Avaroha :Arohana'P 'N S g m P N S''N S G m P N S'S G m P D S'S R m P N S'Avarohana...
,
BhimpalasiBhimpalasi is a Hindustani classical raga.-Theory:Writing about the musical theory of Indian classical music is fraught with complications. First of all, there have been no set, formal methods of written notation...
and Sarang ragas are sung while evening is reserved for the songs based on the ragas like Kalyan, Shyamkalyan and
YamanYaman is a heptatonic Hindustani Classical raga of Kalyan Thaat.-Description:Yaman emerges from Kalyan Thaat.-Mechanics:...
etc.
The
Baithaks or sittings are held in the local community centres and even at local homes.
The songs are usually religious in nature and concern tales from the life of the Hindu God
KrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. Still these
Baithaks are an inter-religious affair as even Muslims and Christians participate in these gatherings.
होली राग---
समुझाय रही राधा नन्द, नन्द कुवर समुझय, होली खेलो फागुन ऋतु आयी,
Khadi Holi
Khadi Holi (खड़ी होली), (literally Standing Holi) usually starts along with but sometimes a little later than Baithaki Holi.
It is mostly celebrated in the rural areas of Kumaon. The songs of the Khari Holi are sung by the people, sporting traditional white
nokdaar topiThe Gandhi cap is a white coloured cap, pointed in front and back and having a wide band. It is made out of khadi. It takes its name after the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, who first popularised its use during the Indian independence movement...
,
churidar payajamaChuridars , or more properly churidar pyjamas , are tightly fitting trousers worn by both men and women in South Asia and Central Asia. Churidars are a variant of the common salwar pants. Salwars are cut wide at the top and narrow at the ankle. Churidars narrow more quickly, so that contours of the...
and
kurtaA kurta is a traditional item of clothing worn in Afghanistan, Pakistan , Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. It is a loose shirt falling either just above or somewhere below the knees of the wearer, and is worn by both men and women...
, dance in groups to the tune of ethnic musical instruments like the
Dhol and
Hurka.
Men in groups singing Khadi holi songs which are much more Kumaoni in flavour than the classical renditions of the Baithaki holi visit different homes and greet the members of that house and chant hymns praying for prosperity of the householder.
These groups of men are called
Tolis.
Khadi Holi is filled with excitement and frolic as opposed to the more sombre nature of the Baithaki Holi.
Example of a few commonly sung Khadi holi songs.
गौरी प्यारो लगो तेरो झनकारो - २
तुम हो बृज की सुन्दर गोरी, मैं मथुरा को मतवारो
चुंदरि चादर सभी रंगे हैं, फागुन ऐसे रखवारो।
गौरी प्यारो…
सब सखिया मिल खेल रहे हैं, दिलवर को दिल है न्यारो
गौरी प्यारो…
अब के फागुन अर्ज करत हूँ, दिल कर दे मतवारो
गौरी प्यारो…
भृज मण्डल सब धूम मची है, खेलत सखिया सब मारो
लपटी झपटी वो बैंया मरोरे, मारे मोहन पिचकारी
गौरी प्यारो…
घूंघट खोल गुलाल मलत है, बंज करे वो बंजारो
गौरी प्यारो लगो तेरो झनकारो -२
- जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी -२
अहा, इस व्योपारी को भूख बहुत है,
पुरिया पकै दे नथ-वाली,
जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी।
अहा, इस व्योपारी को प्यास बहुत है,
पनिया-पिला दे नथ वाली,
जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी।
अहा, इस व्योपारी को नींद बहुत है,
पलंग बिछाये नथ वाली
जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी -२
Mahila Holi
They are gatherings similar to Baithaki but composed exclusively of women.
Example of a common Mahila Holi song.
जबसे पिया परदेश सिधारे,
आम लगावे बागन में, बलमा घर…
चैत मास में वन फल पाके,
आम जी पाके सावन में, बलमा घर…
गऊ को गोबर आंगन लिपायो,
आये पिया में हर्ष भई,
मंगल काज करावन में, बलमा घर…
प्रिय बिन बसन रहे सब मैले,
चोली चादर भिजावन में, बलमा घर…
भोजन पान बानये मन से,
लड्डू पेड़ा लावन में, बलमा घर…'
सुन्दर तेल फुलेल लगायो,
स्योनिषश्रृंगार करावन में, बलमा घर…
बसन आभूषण साज सजाये,
लागि रही पहिरावन में, बलमा घर…
Cheer Bandhan and Cheer Dahan
The Holika bonfire in Kumaun is known as
Cheer (चीर) which is ceremonically made in a ceremony known as
Cheer Bandhan (चीर बंधन) fifteen days before Dulhendi. The
Cheer is basically a bonfire with a green
Paiya tree branch in the middle.
The
Cheer of every village and mohalla is rigorously guarded as rival mohallas try to steal the others
cheer. The cheer is the centre of the festivities.
The Cheer is burnt on the night before Holi and is known as
Cheer Dahan is symbolic of the victory of the pious Prahlad over his evil father's plans.
Chharadi
Dulhendi known as
Chharadi (छरड़ी), in Kumaoni (from
Chharad (छरड़), or natural colours made from flower extracts, ash and water) is celebrated with great gusto much in the same way as all across North India.
Principal ingredients of the celebration are Abeer and Gulal, in all possible colours. Next comes squirting of coloured water using pichkaris. Coloured water is prepared using Tesu flowers, which are first gathered from the trees, dried in the sun, and then ground up, and later mixed with water to produce orange-yellow coloured water. Another traditional Holi item now rarely seen is a red powder enclosed in globes of Lakh, which break instantly and cover the party with the powder.
Shubh Kamna
The culmination of the holi celebrations takes place with throwing
abeer,
gulal in the air and reciting out aloud in unison the following prayer in Kumaoni for a healthy and prosperous year ahead.
हो हो हो लख रे (may you live a hundred thosand years)
हमार आमा बुबू जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our grandparents live for a hundred thousand years)
हमार इजा बौजू जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our parents live for a hundred thousand years)
हमार दाज्यू भौजी जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our brothers and their families live for a hundred thousand years)
हो हो हो लख रे (may you live a hundred thosand years)
Cuisine
Special culinary preparations for Holi include
gujiaGujia , a Rajasthani cuisine, is a sweet dumpling made with suji or Maida flour wheat flour and stuffed with khoya.The packaging of a gujhia is very much like that of a samosa, however the gujhia has a very distinct shape...
(fried dumpling filled with a sweet filling of roasted khoya, a milk extract, and dry fruits and nuts) and
Aaloo Gutuk (आलू गुटुक), which is fried potatoes seasoned with
jamboo (a Himalayan spice).
Significance
Apart from its symbolic significance of victory of pious Prahlad over his evil father
HiranyakashipuHiranyakashipu [golden-haired] is an Asura from the Puranic scriptures of Hinduism. The Puranas describe Hiranyakashipu as an Asura. His younger brother, Hiranyaksha was slain by Varaha, one of the Avatars of Vishnu and angered by this, Hiranyakashipu decided to gain magical powers by performing...
's plans. In Kumaon holi also signifies the end of the long Himalayan winter and the beginning of a new sowing season which is to be celebrated it also means a break from the rigorous life of hard agricultural labour for a few days for the Kumaoni peasantry.