Holi Festival Officially Begins in Mithilanchal as Sadhus Celebrate in Kanchanban

Mahottari. The Holi festival has officially commenced in the Mithilanchal region today, marked by the playing of Holi in Kanchanban of Bhangaha Municipality-7, Mahottari, as part of the fifteen-day Madhyamaki Parikrama (pilgrimage).

Baba Nawalkishore Das, a participant in the fifteen-day Parikrama, stated that the Holi festival began across all of Mithilanchal today after Lord Mithilavihari (Ramchandra) played Holi with Kishoriji (Goddess Sita) in Kanchanban, Mahottari, this morning, amidst religious rituals attended by sadhus, saints, mahatmas, and ascetics participating in the Parikrama.

During the seventh day's halt at Kanchanban during the fifteen-day Madhyamaki Parikrama, idols and palanquins of Lord Ramchandra and Goddess Sita were ceremoniously smeared with colors and abir (colored powder) today. Baba Nawalkishore further mentioned that thousands of participating sadhus, saints, mahatmas, and householders exchanged colors and abir, marking the start of the Holi festival for all Parikrama participants.

The use of colors and abir has also begun in villages and homes throughout Mithilanchal. Furthermore, Pandit Dhirendra Jha of Jaleshwar Municipality-8, the district headquarters, reported that, as happens every year with the arrival of Holi, the tradition of singing Holi songs, dancing, joking, and presenting satirical poems and jokes has also commenced in villages across Mithilanchal.

Sadhus, saints, and householders in Mithilanchal undertake the 15-day Parikrama commemorating the day Lord Ramchandra went into exile. Remembering the day the Lord played Holi, all Parikrama participants celebrated the Holi festival today. The palanquins of Lord Ramchandra and Goddess Sita, along with the Parikrama participants, gathered at Hanumangarhi in Dhanusha on Monday, Falgun 4, for the Parikrama, which began from Kalaneshwar in India on Tuesday, Falgun 5, and is scheduled to conclude in Janakpur after fifteen days.

After spending the seventh night in Kanchanban, Mahottari, all Parikrama participants today moved the procession forward with the palanquins of Lord Ramchandra and Goddess Sita, heading towards Parvata in Dhanusha for the eighth day's halt.