Kumauni (Kumaoni) Holi, is the
historical and cultural celebra-
tion of Holi in the region of Ku-
maon, Uttarakhand. It is one of
the most important festivals for
the Kumauni people as it sig-
nifies not only the victory of
good over evil but also the end
of the winter season and the
start of the new sowing season
which holds great importance
for this agricultural community
of the North Indian Himalayas.
The uniqueness of the Kumao-
ni Holi lies in its being a musi-
cal affair in the form of Baithki
Holi, Khari Holi and the Mahila
Holi. The Baithki Holi and Khari
Holi are unique in that the songs
on which they are based have a
touch of melody, fun and spiri-
tualism. These songs are essen-
tially based on classical ragas.
No wonder then the Baith-
ki Holi is also known as Nir-
van Ki Holi or Holi of Salvation.
Types
of
Holi
Cel-
ebrated
in
Kumaon
The following are the various
forms musical gatherings in
which Holi songs are ceremo-
nially sung which are viewed as
the start of the Holi celebration.
All of these celebrations in the
form of musical gatherings start
on the Basant Panchami Day.
Baithki
Holi
Baithki Holi (Sitting Holi) is
a form of musical gathering
starting from the day of Bas-
ant Panchmi held all across Ku-
maon till the Dulhendi (or the
last full moon day of the lunar
month Phalguna). The Baithaki
Holi songs are based on Classi-
cal Music with heavy influence
of Kumaoni folk music traditions.
The Baithki Holi begins from
the
premises
of
temples,
where Holiyars (the sing-
ers of Holi songs) and other
people gather to sing songs
with musical instruments like
harmonium and tabla. The
Baithaks or sittings are held
in the local community cen-
tres and even at local homes.
emony known as Cheer Band-
han fifteen days before Dul-
hendi. The Cheer is basically
a bonfire with a green Paiya
tree branch in the middle. The
Cheer of every village and
mohalla is rigorously guarded
Different songs are sung based as rival mohallas try to steal
on the time, such as, during the others cheer. The Cheer
noon the songs based on Pilu, is burnt on the night before
Bhimpalasi and Sarang ragas Holi and is known as Cheer
are sung while evening is re- Dahan is symbolic of the vic-
served for the songs based on tory of the pious Prahlad
the ragas like Kalyan, Shyam- over his evil father’s plans.
kalyan and Yaman etc. Most of
the songs are religious in na- Chharadi (Dulhendi): Dulhen-
ture and concern tales from the di known as Chharadi (from
life of the Hindu God Krishna. Chharad which means natural
colours made from flower ex-
Khadi
Holi tracts, ash and water) is cele-
Khadi Holi (Standing Holi) starts brated with Abeer and Gulal, in
a little later than Baithaki Holi. all possible colours. Next comes
The songs of the Khari Holi squirting of coloured water us-
are sung by the people, sport- ing pichkaris. Coloured water
ing traditional white nokdaar is prepared using Tesu flowers,
topi, churidar payjama and which are first gathered from
kurta, dance in groups to the the trees, dried in the sun,
tune of ethnic musical instru- and then ground up, and later
ments like the Dhol and Hurka. mixed with water to produce
orange-yellow coloured water.
Men in groups singing Khadi Holi
songs which are much more Ku- Shubh Kamna: The culmination
maoni in flavour than the classi- of the holi celebrations takes
cal renditions of the Baithaki Holi place with throwing abeer, gu-
visit different homes and greet lal in the air and reciting out
the members of that house and aloud in unison the following
chant hymns praying for pros- prayer in Kumaoni for a healthy
perity of the householder. These and prosperous year ahead.
groups of men are called Tolis.
Khadi Holi is filled with excite- C
u i s i n e
ment and frolic as opposed to
the more sombre nature of the Apart from these musical cel-
Baithaki Holi. Example of a few ebrations, Kumaoni Holi also
commonly sung Khadi Holi songs. witnesses a splendid feast
consisting of savoury Gujji-
Mahila
Holi as loaded with moist khoya
They are gatherings similar and dried fruits, delicious
to Baithaki but composed ex- and creamy raita, crispy sin-
clusively of womenLocal Ku- gal and crispy yellow aaloo
maoni Rituals during Holi gutuk. These lip smacking lo-
Cheer Bandhan and Cheer Da- cal delicacies are sure to tan-
han: The Holika bonfire in Ku- talise your taste buds and
maun is known as Cheer, which leave you wanting for more.
is ceremonially made in a cer.
8.