Huranga

While the celebrations of Holi in the twin towns of Nandgaon and Barsana is stuff of legends, few know of a strange ritual performed at the Dauji Temple of Baldev. Soon after the mornings prayers, veiled women dressed in bright traditional sarees fill up the temple courtyard (An empty space is left at the center, for men to move around). Then as the temple flag is hoisted, the ritual dance begins and then soon after, a bizarre sight unfolds. Small groups of women catch hold of men, tear off their shirt and trash them hard with it. The ritual it is believed, has its roots in the mythical stories of Lord Krishna. While all year round men play pranks on the village women, Holi is this one time when women get a chance to get back at them.

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Published : Scroll.in
Location : Kashmir, India

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Huranga

Huranga

Info

Published : Scroll.in

Location : Kashmir, India

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Dauji ka huranga is a festival of special magnificence. The spectacular play of colours, song and dance make it a visual treat like no other in these lands

It is customary for women to wear a veil for the whole length of Huranga and men are not allowed to touch it

A devotee pays his respects to Lord Balram, elder brother of Lord Krishna and the presiding deity of Baldev

The little Krishnas come dressed in full regalia, with peacock feathers for the headgear, pearl earrings and a flute to their lips

Generous glasses of thandai mixed with bhang is distributed before the play beings to get devotees in a merry mood. In one of the temples near Mathura bhang is also offered as bhog to Lord Krishna

A small group of men carry a bamboo stick with a flag tied to its head. This heralds the beginning of Huranga and devotees make parikrama of the temple with it. When it is kept down, it signals the end of the day’s celebrations

For the initial an hour or so only the devar and bhabhi play Huranga. Later once the water sprinklers are turned on everyone else joins in the celebrations

The game starts with the play of dry gulal. Over a dozen men armed with large sacks sit on the roof and spray generous quantities on the crowd throughout the celebrations

Temple priests offer prayers before the start of celebrations. Devotees bring garlands, which are offered to the deity and then handed back as prasad

Women take up corners of the courtyard while men go around in circles. This way, men are at the mercy of the women and not a soul is spared

If you wish to catch the action from the ground then it would be wise to carry an extra pair of shirt and ample protection for the camera

Men come armed with buckets from home, as the only way they can retaliate, is by pouring water on the women

The festival of Holi heralds the arrival of spring. So the celebrations are as much a time for cheer, as seeking for blessings for the new crop

The Hindu scriptures hold the color orange sacred, symbolizing a quest for enlightenment. In accordance to the tradition earlier Huranga was played only with one colour, but today there is no such restriction

Kids have the most fun once Huranga is over. They get the entire place to themselves and it so happens, that the temple priests have to literally drag them out to begin the cleaning of the premises