Residents in various parts in Nashik celebrated the Holikotsav with traditional fervour on Sunday, 17 March 2014. At many places, eco-friendly ‘Holi’ was celebrated.
Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as “Holika”. The festival find a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini”s Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grahya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.
Besides having a detailed description in the Vedas and Purana such as Narad Purana and Bhavishya Purana, the festival of Holi finds a mention in Jaimini Mimansa. A stone inscription belonging to 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya has mention of Holikotsav on it. King Harsha too has mentioned about holikotsav in his work Ratnavali that was written during the 7th century. The famous Muslim tourist – Ulbaruni too has mentioned about holikotsav in his historical memories. As a token of burying the wickedness, residents lights up the ‘Holi’. There are many fables associated with this festival.
Meanwhile on Sunday Nashikites celebrated the festival with traditional fervour. Prior to lighting up the Holi, the place where the Holi was set up was cleaned. In evening after 6.30 pm, the residents lighted up the Holi in various parts in city.This year considering the importance of conservation of environment, residents preferred to use cow-dung instead of trees for the Holi. In the evening Holi were lighted up in in many areas of city. After lighting up the Holi women worshiped the Holi and offered it naivadya of Puran-poli. At this time children made rounds of the Holi. In Panchvati area there is a tradition of lighting up the Holi in midnight. Accordingly, at about 12 am, the senior police inspector of Panchvati police station Shantaram Avsare lighted up the Holi in Shani chowk, Nashik.
