Kumauni or Kumaoni Holi (कुमाँऊनी होली), is the historical and cultural celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi in the region of Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the most important festivals for the Kumauni people as it signifies not only the victory of good over evil but also 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. It is an amalgamation of the cultural traditions of North India and the local traditions of Kumaon.

The uniqueness of the Kumaoni Holi lies in its being a musical affair, whichever may be its form, be it the Baithki Holi, the Khari Holi and the Mahila Holi all of these which start from Basant Panchmi. That is to say the festivities of Holi last for almost two months in Kumaon.^[1] The Baithki Holi and Khari Holi are unique in that the songs on which they are based have touch of melody, fun and spiritualism. These songs are essentially based on classical ragas. No wonder then the Baithki Holi is also known as Nirvan Ki Holi or Holi of Salvation.

Kumauni Holi has characteristics which are very different from Holi celebrations anywhere in the country.^[2]

Forms of Holi[link]

The following are the various forms musical gatherings in which Holi songs are ceremonically 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 Panchmi Day

Origins[link]

The Origin of the forms of Holi especially Baithaki Holi musical traditions are in 15th century Champawat court of the Chand Kings and the adjoining regions of Kalikumaun, Sui and Gumdesh where the musical traditions of Braj mixed with Kumaoni musical traditions. With the spread of Chand rule and integration of Kumaon under them the Holi traditions spread all across Kumaon and acquired their distinct Kumaoni flavour.

Baithaki Holi[link]

Baithki Holi (बैठकी होली), (literally Sitting Holi) is a form of musical gathering starting from the day of Basant Panchmi held all across Kumaon till the Dulhendi (or the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna). In some areas of Kumaon it starts even earlier at the peak of winter on the first Sunday of the Indian month of Paush that is in the month of December.

The Baithaki Holi songs are based on the classical traditions of Hindustani Classical Music but have heavy influence of Kumaoni folk music traditions.

The Baithki Holi begins from the premises of temples, where Holiyars (होल्यार), (the singers of Holi songs) as also the people gather to sing songs to the accompaniment of classical music like harmonium and tabla.

Kumaonis are very particular about the time when the songs based on ragas should be sung. For instance, at noon the songs based on Pilu, Bhimpalasi and Sarang ragas are sung while evening is reserved for the songs based on the ragas like Kalyan, Shyamkalyan and Yaman etc.

The Baithaks or sittings are held in the local community centres and even at local homes.

The songs are usually religious in nature and concern tales from the life of the Hindu God Krishna. Still these Baithaks are an inter-religious affair as even Muslims and Christians participate in these gatherings.

होली राग--- समुझाय रही राधा नन्द, नन्द कुवर समुझय, होली खेलो फागुन ऋतु आयी,

Khadi Holi[link]

Khadi Holi (खड़ी होली), (literally Standing Holi) usually starts along with but sometimes a little later than Baithaki Holi. It is mostly celebrated in the rural areas of Kumaon. The songs of the Khari Holi are sung by the people, sporting traditional white nokdaar topi, churidar payajama and kurta, dance in groups to the tune of ethnic musical instruments like the Dhol and Hurka.

Men in groups singing Khadi holi songs which are much more Kumaoni in flavour than the classical renditions of the Baithaki holi visit different homes and greet the members of that house and chant hymns praying for prosperity of the householder. These groups of men are called Tolis. Khadi Holi is filled with excitement and frolic as opposed to the more sombre nature of the Baithaki Holi. Example of a few commonly sung Khadi holi songs.

• झनकारो झनकारो झनकारो

गौरी प्यारो लगो तेरो झनकारो - २ तुम हो बृज की सुन्दर गोरी, मैं मथुरा को मतवारो चुंदरि चादर सभी रंगे हैं, फागुन ऐसे रखवारो। गौरी प्यारो… सब सखिया मिल खेल रहे हैं, दिलवर को दिल है न्यारो गौरी प्यारो… अब के फागुन अर्ज करत हूँ, दिल कर दे मतवारो गौरी प्यारो… भृज मण्डल सब धूम मची है, खेलत सखिया सब मारो लपटी झपटी वो बैंया मरोरे, मारे मोहन पिचकारी गौरी प्यारो… घूंघट खोल गुलाल मलत है, बंज करे वो बंजारो गौरी प्यारो लगो तेरो झनकारो -२ ^[3]

• जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी -२

अहा, इस व्योपारी को भूख बहुत है, पुरिया पकै दे नथ-वाली, जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी। अहा, इस व्योपारी को प्यास बहुत है, पनिया-पिला दे नथ वाली, जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी। अहा, इस व्योपारी को नींद बहुत है, पलंग बिछाये नथ वाली जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी -२ ^[4]

Mahila Holi[link]

They are gatherings similar to Baithaki but composed exclusively of women. Example of a common Mahila Holi song.

• बलमा घर आयो फागुन में -२

जबसे पिया परदेश सिधारे, आम लगावे बागन में, बलमा घर… चैत मास में वन फल पाके, आम जी पाके सावन में, बलमा घर… गऊ को गोबर आंगन लिपायो, आये पिया में हर्ष भई, मंगल काज करावन में, बलमा घर… प्रिय बिन बसन रहे सब मैले, चोली चादर भिजावन में, बलमा घर… भोजन पान बानये मन से, लड्डू पेड़ा लावन में, बलमा घर…' सुन्दर तेल फुलेल लगायो, स्योनिषश्रृंगार करावन में, बलमा घर… बसन आभूषण साज सजाये, लागि रही पहिरावन में, बलमा घर ^[5]

Rituals[link]

Cheer Bandhan and Cheer Dahan[link]

The Holika bonfire in Kumaun is known as Cheer (चीर) which is ceremonically made in a ceremony known as Cheer Bandhan (चीर बंधन) fifteen days before Dulhendi. 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 as rival mohallas try to steal the others cheer. The cheer is the centre of the festivities.

The Cheer is burnt on the night before Holi and is known as Cheer Dahan is symbolic of the victory of the pious Prahlad over his evil father's plans.

Chharadi[link]

Dulhendi known as Chharadi (छरड़ी), in Kumaoni (from Chharad (छरड़), or natural colours made from flower extracts, ash and water) is celebrated with great gusto much in the same way as all across North India. Principal ingredients of the celebration are Abeer and Gulal, in all possible colours. Next comes squirting of coloured water using pichkaris. Coloured water is prepared using Tesu flowers, which are first gathered from the trees, dried in the sun, and then ground up, and later mixed with water to produce orange-yellow coloured water. Another traditional Holi item now rarely seen is a red powder enclosed in globes of Lakh, which break instantly and cover the party with the powder.

Shubh Kamna[link]

The culmination of the holi celebrations takes place with throwing abeer, gulal in the air and reciting out aloud in unison the following prayer in Kumaoni for a healthy and prosperous year ahead.

हो हो हो लख रे (may you live a hundred thousand years)

हमार आमा बुबू जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our grandparents live for a hundred thousand years)

हमार इजा बौजू जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our parents live for a hundred thousand years)

हमार दाज्यू भौजी जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our brothers and their families live for a hundred thousand years)

हो हो हो लख रे (may you live a hundred thousand years)

Cuisine[link]

Special culinary preparations for Holi include gujia (fried dumpling filled with a sweet filling of roasted khoya, a milk extract, and dry fruits and nuts) and Aaloo Gutuk (आलू गुटुक), which is fried potatoes seasoned with jamboo (a Himalayan spice).

Significance[link]

Apart from its symbolic significance of victory of pious Prahlad over his evil father Hiranyakashipu's plans. In Kumaon holi also signifies the end of the long Himalayan winter and the beginning of a new sowing season which is to be celebrated it also means a break from the rigorous life of hard agricultural labour for a few days for the Kumaoni peasantry.

See also[link]

• Holi
• Kumaon
• Kumaoni people

References[link]

• The Himalayan Gazetter by E. T. Atkinson
• The History of Kumaun by B. D. Pandey