The festival of colours witnessed a full-blown celebration after three years of the Covid19 with an unsurpassed Holika Dahan program organised by RWCS on 7th March.
Holika Dahan was organised at the lawns and the entire lawns were decorated with lights, and tents and the atmosphere was electric. The evening began with a pujan around a huge pile of wood that represents Holika. A large gathering of people participated in the pujan with many residents carrying thalis. Gobar ke uple (cow dung cakes) and wood pieces were placed around the fire and many ladies also lit a diya as they worshipped. Residents roasted bushels of hara chana (green gram) and genhu ki bali (wheat stems) as they did parikarma around the holy fire. The warmth of the holy fire had all greeting each other with many youngsters seen touching the feet of elders and hugs were seen all around.
At the other end of the lawn, a beautiful stage was put up and Savita Saxena compered the programme. Swapna Chakraborty and other ladies sang beautiful Holi songs that had the audience enthralled. Two ladies performed kathak showcasing the eternal love of Radha-Krishna, setting the stage on fire. A male dancer, a student of Pt Birju Maharaj ji, put forth an energetic performance. Soon flowers were showered all around which had the audience cheering and clapping. RWCS President, Govind Sharma, unveiled a pristine white statue of Radha-Krishna that was placed on a special pedestal decorated with flowers. He garlanded the statue and sprinkled flower petals on it. As if on cue, many ladies wearing rajasthani pagdis came into the arena and it was announced that they would be enacting the role of Krishna with their own version of ‘Ras Leela’. Soon many plates of flowers were carried in and residents joined in to play ‘phoolon ki holi’. To this heady mix, was added gulal and soon the air was filled with colours of all hues and joyous cries of “Holi Hai’ as the DJ belted out Holi songs! People danced with abandon and smeared colour on each other. The Radha-Krishna idol too was covered with gulal, which added to its beauty. Soon the Thandai was served to all present and sounds of laughter and gaiety were heard all around. Words fail to capture the beautiful scene and the bonhomie that was created, making this the best Holika Dahan ever organised by RWCS. Hats off to the whole team.
