Nilachakra

Dola Purnami and Holi

Jaya Jagannath,

With lots of mirth and merriment welcome to the bright spring morning of the most colorful day of this year. Time has rolled onto the full-moon day of Falguna month to celebrate a special event named in puranical texts as Basantotsaba or the spring-festival. Scriptures testify that the Madanotsaba, the festival to honor the Cupid was later transformed as Dolatsaba or swing-festival of Krishna propitiating him as Madanamohana.

although from socio-cultural, mythological, religious, archeological and biological heads there
are different reasons for Holi, but devotees celebrate this trend as a reformation of the Lord Krishna's Prank. With extreme delight, Lord Krishna was taking in applying fagu and avira on Radha and other gopis. This prank of Krishna later, became a trend as Holi.

Fagu 'Dasami' counts to the tenth day of bright fortnight of Falguna (Feb-March). In this four day Chachery devotees Smearing with Abira take round the idols of Madanamohana on a richly decorated palanquins known as Veemana in a procession along with drummers, pipers and the Sankirtana and bhjana Mandali. The procession halts in front of each household and the deity is offered Prasadam. Today being the final day of the purnima this celebration culminates in a swing-festival for the deities. All the Veemanas from neighborhood areas assemble at a melana where they are made to swing to the accompaniment of devotional music , bhajan and Janana sung in chorus. A spectacular show back at Orissa.

Team Nilachakra wishes a charismatic rainbow of happiness to everyone. Jaya Jagannath.

Regards
Team Nilachakra