Five days after Dulendi/Dol Utsav, many people celebrate another beautiful festival called Rang Panchami. Most of these people believe that the phase between Holi and Rang Panchami is ideal for finalizing wedding dates. But different people celebrate Rang Panchami for different reasons.
Rang Panchami: Dev Panchami
Some people call Rang Panchami as Deva Panchami. They believe that at the beginning of the Treta Yug, Vishnu, the preserver played Holi on Rang Panchami. And filled the Brahmanda with various energy-filled colours. After which He incarnates on Bhuloka as Vaman, Parashuram and Ram in the Treta Yuga.
They say, “Different colours manifest in the Brahmanda at different times. And each colour represents a particular deity. Yes, we worship different deities on different religious occasions. But on Rang Panchami, we revere all the deities by sprinkling different colours in our Brahmanda.
And by doing so we dispel the Asuri shaktis that prevail in the atmosphere. And invoke Daivi shaktis which are full of Sattvik tendencies in our hearts. We believe that by doing this, we can nurture positive energy in our hearts for one whole year.”
Some people believe that if we sprinkle so many colours, we can please goddess Mahalakshmi who blesses us with abundance. That is why on Rang Panchami, they worship Vishnu and Lakshmi and sing Stutis in Her praise.
Some common beliefs
Many other people say, “We believe that the fire we light during Holika Dahan shines most brilliantly on that day. Because this fire destroys the Rajasic and Tamasic shaktis in the atmosphere during that time.
So, after Holika Dahan gets over, we worship various Gods and Goddesses till Rang Panchami. With the hope that by invoking various deities, they will manifest on Bhuloka, spread Sattva guna everywhere and bless everyone with a deep sense of bliss. Yes, at an extremely subtle level, Rang Panchami signifies the victory of Sattva guna over our Rajasic and Tamasic tendencies.
That is why we sprinkle dry organic colours liberally everywhere on Rang Panchami. We believe that by following this simple ritual on Rang Panchami, we can cleanse the Pancha Tattva, the five elements – Akash, Jal, Prithvi, Vayu and Agni and dispel the negative energy which is full of Rajasic and Tamasic shaktis around us.”
But some people celebrate Rang Panchami in their homes itself. On Rang Panchami, they add a pinch of Haldi and Ganga Jal in water and bathe in this water. They perform a small puja at home, fill a Kalash with water and sprinkle it all around the house. And believe that by doing so they cleanse their home of negative energies and usher in peace and bliss.
Puranic beliefs
The nuances of Rang Panchami are beautiful. According to the Puranas, “Different colours symbolize different deities. And when we sprinkle a mixture of colours in the air, we invoke various deities at the same time. And attract Sattva Guna on Prithvi. We know for sure that when we worship all our deities with utmost faith, they will protect us from Rajasic and Tamasic tendencies.
That is why we use only dry organic colours like Abhir, Gulal, Haldi, Chandan and other colours made out of flowers on Rang Panchami. And do our best to ensure that these colours fly high up and linger in the atmosphere for a long time. By following the Rang Panchami rituals, we do our best to please all the Devis and Devatas. And hope they will help us in our mission of nurturing Sattva bhaav in our hearts. For us, Rang Panchami symbolizes love, friendship, and brotherhood.”
Rang Panchami in Indore
The people of Indore celebrate Ranga Panchami differently. For them, Rang Panchami is not another day when they get to play Holi. On Rang Panchami, they play music when they sprinkle colours on one another. Here, they mix organic colours with water and pour it on others. Most people go out in big processions and sprinkle colours on as many streets and people as they can.
In fact, on Rang Panchami, the services of the fire brigade are used to sprinkle colours mixed with water on all the main streets of Indore. This tradition was started by the Holkar kings. And the people of Indore celebrate it with great pomp and show even today. In Jaisalmer however, only red, orange, and blue colours are sprinkled everywhere.
Rang Panchami in Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, after Holi gets over, people sprinkle dry colours alone for five days i.e. till Rang Panchami. They call this period of five days Dhulendi. Yes, they celebrate it with great gusto. But on Rang Panchami they play with both wet and dry colours. They make puran poli and savouries too. And invite their friends and family members for lunch on Rang Panchami. After lunch, they hold sangeet sessions and dance and sing to tunes of folk songs on Rang Panchami.
Rang Panchami in Pushti Marg
We, Pushti Margiya Vaishnavs believe that several yugas ago, Damodarlalji arranged for Shrinathji’s journey from Jatipura to Rajasthan. Damodarlalji ensured that Shrinathji, the lord of the cosmos was seated comfortably atop an elephant when He went on this special journey on Rang Panchami. That is why, even today, we drape a Pichwai of an elephant procession on Rang Panchami.
Everyone celebrates Rang Panchami on the Panchami of the Krishna Paksha of Phalgun. But we, Pushti Margiya Vaishnavs celebrate Rang Panchami on the Panchami of the Shukla paksha of Phalgun. There is an interesting story related to this.
It all starts like this:
Gusainji’s fourth son, Gokulnathji goes to Kashmir because he has some urgent work. He gets delayed and cannot return home before Vasant Khel Utsav.
Gokulnathji regrets his inability to perform the Vasant Utsav and Dol Utsav. Gokulnathji, with his divine insight senses that Shrinathji wishes to engage in the Vasant Utsav and Dol Utsav. So, he makes amends for his absence.
Yes, officially the Dol Utsav date was already over. But Gokulnathji decides to fulfil Shrinathji’s desire by hosting Vasant Khel Utsav on Rang Panchami and Dol Utsav on Ekadashi.
That is why in all Pushti Margiya Havelis we celebrate Vasant Khel Utsav on Rang Panchami and on Ekadashi we celebrate Dol Utsav again.
Let’s reflect a bit…
Yes, we can overcome our Rajasic and Tamasic tendencies only when we create more Sattvic tendencies. That much is very clear. But our Sattvic tendencies have a subtle positive impact on us too…
When we have an abundance of Sattvic tendencies, we can nurture good thoughts. Good thoughts enable us to create the right attitudes in our lives. This in turn transforms our behaviour. Instead of foisting our beliefs, opinions, and perceptions on others, we now do our best to understand others. This helps us forge strong relationships. Which creates peace and harmony in our families, towns, cities, country, and the world at large.
And we dismissed Rang Panchami as just another minor colourful fun-filled festival. Without even realizing that it has such a profound impact on each one of us. Let us make amends. At least now.
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