Residents of Varni Pada area in Khar Danda celebrated holika dahan, reported by The Hindu

The residents of Varni Pada area in Khar Danda celebrated ‘holika dahan’  ahead of Holi festival on Saturday.

Holika Dahan is a ritual of burning of a bonfire to mark the festival of Holi.

The ritual is performed in the locality two days before the Holi festival, keeping with an age-old custom dating back to the British Raj.

“In earlier times, we celebrated the festival on the same day as the other communities. However, in one particular year, there was scarcity of wood and our ancestors stole the logs that were placed near wells to help draw water,” Prasad Chavri, a Varni Pada resident said.

Goddess Holi appears in their dreams and threatens them to punish for their sin. The goddess has commanded them to light the bonfire two days before Holi festival.

Meanwhile, a complaint was filed with the local government about the theft of wood. The then administrator, after finding out the truth and hearing about the ‘divine command’, decided to implement an official rule commanding the residents to celebrate Holi two days early every year.

Residents of the area worship three different types of tree branches and then light the bonfire, going by the age old tradition.

“It has become a huge festival for the residents of Varni Pada. People from all koliwadas in the city come to attend the festival. We also invite our relatives and friends from our native villages to be a part of the occasion,” Mr. Chavri said.

Image Source: The Hindu