Dola Holi the festival of Spring
Well Holi is often regarded as the festival of colours predominantly played in Northern & Western India. However, if Vrindavan is famous for week long observation of holi festival then the Fagu Dola is one of the most popular festivals of Holi seen across seven to ten days in Odisha is too no way a less important spring festival in hindu calendar.
Through the festival spring is welcomed and enjoyed with fun and happiness as is the last major festival before formal entry of Summer when earth temperature goes up. Worshipping of Radha and Krishna in this festival is the main event during the six-day long festival. The festival is also known as Dola Yatra or Dola Jatra falls on full-moon day in the month of Falguna. On this day Odia calendar becomes ready and it is worshiped on Dolabedi in front of Dolagovinda.
However, the festival often begins on Falguna Dasami day, when the idol of village deities, especially that of Krishna, are carried to all the homes in the villages. People carry the idols and those following it are smeared with Abhira, a violet colour powder. The idols are carried on a decorated palanquin, known as Vimana, and the procession is accompanied by singers and musicians. In each house the deity is offered Bhog — sweets made from the recent harvest and fruits. Mango is a popular fruits that gets decorated in the palanquin is believed to be first offered to deities before eaten by rest. In return, the deity distributes different powdered colors for the Holi festival.
This daily round of deity continues for four days and is known as chacheery. The four-day long procession culminates in a gathering festival of Radha and Krishna. As Idols from various villages assemble at a common place where the palanquin do move in various rotations while the air buzzes with traditional instruments, devotional music and people present enjoys playing holi with Goddess using Abhira a type of colour powdered made of natural ingredients. Then idols return to temples while the entire routes through which the procession moves are smeared with natural colours. People believe that these natural colours have medicinal properties. This is known as the Dola Utschaba festival.
The dola jatra is a major festival event associated with Lord Vishnu especially Sri Krishna. It is mentioned in the Puranas that one who witnesses this festival of Sri Krishna is cleansed of all sins. The very next of Dola Purnima or full moon day everyone around do play holi with colours to mark the Playing of Holi takes place on the next day and is primarily celebrated as the victory of good over evil including Vasanta Utschaba as earth remains much colourful like Spring.
