Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Many residents of the city recall how they used to celebrate Holi when they were in their spring. On the eve of the festival, they told Free Press that the way of playing colours changed with the passage of time. The good old days linger on memory.
Excerpts:
In another world for 3 days
My brother Ramakant and I came to Bhopal in 1981 to learn classical singing from Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. The Ustads planned a Shahi Holi in 1982. Dried and crushed Tesu flowers, gulab jal and kewda were mixed in a tank full of water and every guest was given a mandatory dip into it. We were given the responsibility of preparing Thandai for the event. During grinding the cannabis leaves, which form part of the drink, we kept on tasting it. Thandai was served to the guests. We then ate whatever was left. It was too much for us. We came to ourselves after three days. We didn’t remember anything but others later told us how we made a fool of ourselves in those three days. It was unforgettable Holi of our life.
-Umakant Gundecha, Dhrupad vocalist
Match-making
In our village in Jhabua, preparations for Holi began at least 15 days in advance. We used to pick red followers from the Khakhra tree and after crushing them added them to water filled in earthen pots. We used this coloured water to play Holi. It was a very joyous occasion. Bhagoria fairs were also organised during this time. In these fairs, boys and girls met, fell in love and eloped with their sweethearts. The boys proposed by offering the girl a paan. If the girl also offered a paan to the boy, the deal was done. The girls and boys who decided to marry at the fair didn’t even know each-other’s name or village. And it did not matter if the girl was already married.
-Bhuri Bai, Bhil artist
Huriyaras rested on mosque stairs
When I was a student, the sons of many jewellers and businessmen from the Chowk area were my classmates. On the morning of Holi, embers from the place where Holika Dahan had taken place last night were brought to light the chulha at homes in Sarafa Bazar. Muslims also joined the Holi celebrations. Dr Katare, a dentist with his clinic in Ibrahimpura, was a passionate Huriyara. He marched on the streets, a dhol hanging from his neck, soaked in colour and his shirt torn, followed by a group of revellers. We played Holi like anything and rested on the stairs of the Jama Masjid.
-Rajesh Joshi, author
Hot chases
Holi was a day of great enjoyment when I was a child. You were chased by groups of your friends wanting to apply colour to you. You knew that you would be caught. But still you ran as if your life depended on it. And so did the chasers. Ultimately, everyone ended up soaked in colour from top to bottom. We were five sisters so our team was very strong. When we grew up and started studying in college, we used to play Holi in our colony. We danced, sang songs, laughed and had dishes which everyone brought from their home. Those days will never come back.
-Lata Singh Munshi, Bharatnatyam danseuse
