DHAKA, March 9, 2020 (BSS) – Holi, a Hindu religious festival of colours, was celebrated across the country today with due religious fervour and much enthusiasm.
The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.
The festival, also known as Dol Purnima (full moon day), began in the morning and continued till afternoon.
It also usually lasts for two days starting on the Purnima in several parts of the country.
As a ritual in celebration of the festival, the devotees visited temples and shrines and offer colours (abir) at the feet of idols of the God Sri Krishna and Goddess Sri Radhika.
Abir Khela, a significant part of the festival, means throwing of abir, a kind of perfumed and pink coloured powder and other colorful powders by revelers, on each other making festival-goers coated in colour to make the extravaganza enthusiastic.
“Religious songs in praise of lord Krishna and other rituals, including worshiping of lord Krishna, began at 8am at Dhakeswari National Temple on the occasion of Dol Purnima to be followed by Abir Khela,” Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary Nirmal Chatterjee said.
In accordance with mythology, Dol Purnima, also known as Dol Jatra or Holi, is regarded as the festival of the believers of Boishnobism.
Apart from Dhakeswari National Temple, Dol Purnima was celebrated across the country with worshiping and recitation of kirton (devotional songs) in the morning.
Abir was offered at the feet of idols of Radha Krishna and Chaitanyadeb. Devotees also offered Abir to god and goddess.
Marking the festival, the surroundings of Dhakeswari National Temple and Ramna Kali Mandir as well as Dhaka University campus usually wore a festive look as hundreds of youths irrespective of religions, castes and creeds celebrated the festival with different colors.
At Dhakeswari templel, devotees celebrated the festival performing rituals, offering Abir to feet of lord Krishna and goddess Radhika, coloring the fellow devotees and taking their photographs and selfies.
Members of Hindu community in old part of Dhaka will celebrate the festival tomorrow as well.
The festival was introduced marking an auspicious day when Sri Krishna, Sri Radhika and their friends were playing with Abir at Brindaban in the ancient days.
The festival is known as Dol Jatra in many states in India, including West Bengal, Tamilnadu (Madras), Orissa and North, West and Middle regions of India.
Holi or Dol Jatra is also celebrated in neighbouring Nepal.