Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Mar 20: The festival of colours, Holi was celebrated with grandeur on Saturday in the city.
Holi is the biggest festival for the Konkana Kharvi community. It celebrates Holi for one week. On Tuesday, colours were sprayed on one another as the last day of Holi.
Holi was not celebrated for the past two years due to the pandemic. This year, in the Holi procession, a portrait of late sandalwood actor Puneet Rajkumar was displayed.
The Holi festival that is celebrated in Kundapur has a special significance. Members of the Konkana Kharvi community celebrate this festival on a grand scale.
Konkana Kharvi community which is found on the coastal line from Mangaluru to Goa celebrates Holi Kamadahana. This community which adores Shakti is very devoted. Goddess Mahakali situated at Kharvi Kheri of the city is their community God. Holi festival starts and gets over at the same temple.
Holi is celebrated for a week. On the first day, a Holi Maand programme is held at Kundeshwara temple of the city. Adde Biluvudu is a special programme in this. Cultural programme, Kolata, dance and Holi songs are sung under the moon in respective areas.
On the second day, various religious formalities are held in the paddy fields where the Holi is burnt. On the fourth day of Holi Hunnime, Holi is burnt. More than 5000 people participate in this.
The graveyard visit is also a special programme during Holi. Holi festival is the adoration of Eshwara and Parvati. Graveyard is visited as it is symbolic of Lord Shiva's dwelling.
On Saturday, the festival was celebrated as colour Holi. More than 1000 people participated. Various religious formalities were held at Mahakali temple of Kharvikheri. Colours were offered to the Goddess and applied on the idol. The spraying of colours was given a ritualistic beginning. Later a grand procession was held.
Whole Kundapur was immersed in colours of Holi. The whole city was vibrant with colours, songs and dances.