We perform a unique ritual called Danda Ropan on the Shukla Paksha Poornima of Magha. We install a “Danda” – a 32 feet long wooden pole in or outside a village chowk. This Danda symbolises Prahalad.
Brahmins first offer their prayers to Bhu Devi and cleanse the Danda with Ganga Jal. They sanctify the place where they intend to install the Danda by smearing Gobar over it. Then they chant the appropriate Vedic mantras and tie a flag on top of the Danda.
For the next 30 days, we collect and place twigs, dried thorny shrubs and flat dried cow dung cakes (upalas) which have a hole in the centre around the Danda. This heap symbolises Holika’s effigy. We draw rangolis around it, offer our prayers to this entire set up and circumambulate it before setting fire to it in the evening. Vrajwasis sing Holi Rasiyas during the Danda Ropan ceremony which is performed in Girirajji, Vrindavan and the banks of Yamuna too.
We perform this Danda Ropan ceremony to reinforce to ourselves that like Prahalad, we too need to have absolute faith in the lord. Even during our most testing times. Since the Danda symbolises Prahalad’s Bhakti, we remove the Danda and keep it safely before we perform Holika Dahan.
Holika Dahan
30 days after Danda Ropan, on the Poornima of Phalgun, we perform Holika Dahan. Brahma blesses Holika with a boon that fire would never harm her provided she uses her boon for a good cause. But she uses this boon to destroy Vishnu’s bhakta, Prahalad. And ends up losing her life.
On Holika Dahan, some women make a garland out of 7 upalas using a jute string. They twirl it around the heads of the men of their families to dispel the negative vibrations around them. And toss this garland into the fire during Holika Dahan.
The Holika Dahan rituals vary from place to place. But when we set fire to Holika’s effigy, we all reinforce this to ourselves: It is always better to nurture our Bhakti instead of trying to deal with evildoers. For a higher force prevails over the cosmos. At all times. And He sets things right. In all our lives. At His own pace. In His own manner. Always.
Holashtak
We believe that Holashtak, which begins from the Ashtami of the Krishna Paksha of Phalgun and ends on the Poornima after Holika Dahan is inauspicious. Why?
Some people say that Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahalad in every possible manner during these eight days. Others believe that Shiva turns Kama Deva to ashes on this Ashtami. Following which an ambience of grief and mourning pervades the cosmos. Rati performs an intense tapasya during these 8 days. And on Holi, Shiva tells Rati that Kamadeva will be reborn as Pradyumna. So, we celebrate Kama Deva’s rebirth with a riot of colours on Holi.
But scholars say that 8 days before Holi, planets like the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Moon become fiery. And create negative energy in the cosmos. So, we consider this period to be inauspicious.
Krishna, Holashtak And PushtiMarg
Yes, in the earthly realm, we believe that Holashtak is an inauspicious period. But in Krishna’s realm such concepts cease to matter. And Krishna through his myriad leelas tells us how we can deal with such phases too.
During Holashtak, Krishna engages in His Nirguna Holi Khel leela. Krishna, the gopas and the gopis gather at the village chowk. The gopas and gopis form separate teams. And try to snatch the belongings of the other team members. The gopis do their best to snatch Krishna’s Venuji. But Krishna tucks it tightly in His waistband and smartly dodges them whenever they try to take it from Him.
Krishna creates so much Ananda during the Holi Khel leela that the Vrajwasis forget the divinity of Krishna and treat Him as their Sakha. The gopas and gopis shed all their cultural inhibitions and use abusive language whenever they lose a round in their game. No offence is intended. And no one takes any offence either.
After Holi, the Vrajwasis seat Krishna and Radha on a swing (Dol). And they all ensure Krishna engages completely in His Nirguna leela on this Dol. With His beloved Radha. In Radha’s Nikunj.
Even today, in Vraj, we recreate this fun-filled bhaav from Holashtak to Dol Utsav. The Vrajwasis engage in LathMaar Holi on the first three days of Holashtak. The residents of Baldeo (a small town in Mathura) offer their prayers to Balaram in the Dauji temple and play Huranga (an aggressive version of Holi). People from far and wide gather in large numbers to do the darshan of LathMaar Holi and Huranga. The people of Nandgaon, Barsaana and Naav Baithan host a big mela at this time.
And we perform the seva of our Nidhi swaroops with the bhaav of Yamunaji, Chandravaliji, Lalithaji and Radhaji. Because Krishna accepts all aspects of love in His Holi Khel leela. Yes, during the Holi Khel leela we ensure that we place Krishna’s Venuji in his waistband.
Kunj Ekadashi
Since Krishna engages in His Holi Khel leela in Radha’s Nikunj, we call the Ekadashi falls during Holashtak as Kunj Ekadashi. And on Kunj Ekadashi, we recreate a Kunj-like ambience in our shrines using banana stalks, asopalav leaves and roses. Our Kunj symbolises the 12 thickets and 24 gardens of Vrindavan in which Krishna plays Holi.
And to recreate Sakha bhaav of the gopas and gopis, even the keertans that we sing during the last 10 days of Holi are full of abusive language.
Krishna’s Dol Utsav
Before engaging in the Holi Khel leela, Krishna, the gopas and gopis seek the permission of Nanda, Yashoda, Vrishbhanu, Keerti, Balaram and the senior gopas and gopis of Vraj. The seniors don’t restrict them in any way. But when they see the youngsters having so much fun, they do not want to be left out either.
So, after Holika Dahan, Vrishbhanu and Keerti invite Krishna, Yashoda and Nanda to their home to play Holi with them. They offer Krishna and his family a sumptuous feast and express their desire to play Holi with Him.
Krishna fulfils the desires of His seniors a day after Holi – on Dol Utsav by playing Holi with them. That is why on Dol Utsav we recreate Vatsalya bhaav first while doing our seva. After playing Holi with the seniors of his family, Krishna goes to back again to His favourite places in Vrindavan and Girirajji to play Holi with his sakhas and sakhis on Dol Utsav.
Let’s reflect a bit on Krishna’s Holi Khel leela
Through His Holi Khel leela, Krishna says, “Know that I can incarnate in the fiercest of forms as Narasimha to protect devotees like Prahalad. And I do burn people like Holika to a cinder for indulging in evil. But remember that like Prahalad and Holika, you too are just living through your Karma.
Negative vibrations may permeate through the cosmos and in your lives. Periodically. But don’t succumb to fear. Nurture your faith.
Reflect on my leelas. Use your Gyan and awareness to understand my subtle messages. And use your free will judiciously to create your own share of positivity during crises too.
And when you seek refuge and surrender to me, I will give you the strength to cope with all your crises. In my own way. At my own pace. Always.”
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