HOLI: FAGUA

Abir: A colored powder usually made of arrowroot

Dumpha: A flat drum.

       Holi, better known as Fagua is celebrated in Mithila and Bengal on the last day of the month of Falgun, i.e., Falgun Poornima. A symbol of the commencement of Spring, it is a festival of color. Any celebration in Falgun must have a sprinkling of color. The pooja should have kumkum (abir) to symbilize the advent of spring. The main fagua-festival stars with Rangvari Ekadashi and continues till Poornima.

In the night encompassing Poornima, Holika fire is lighted and in the morning people smear the ash on each others face. On the day when Poornima falls at sun-rise time, Fagua is celebrated. People throw colored water on each other. In the afternoon, they wash, wear new clothes and play with dry colored powder (Gulal, Abir). The family goddess is offered special pooja where the special preparations include Maalpooa, Urad Vada, Sweets etc. The family members offer abir on the feet of elders and on face to equals and juniors. Some people take bhang-sherbet  in the evening. Special Songs known as Faag are sung in accomplishment of Dumph. It was customary to sing lewd songs with the view that this is permissible for one day in a year.

For those newly married, the groom (and the bride, if present) are felicitated (chumaon) in the evening. They receive gifts (vaar) from in-law's place.

Abberation: Due to effect of neighbouring states, Fagua has mingled with Pachhiyali Holi which is celebrated on first of Chaitra which is the first day of the Hindu Year. Taking liquor in place of bhang and taking meat have become more prevalent.

25 songs composed by Choudhary Kedarnath Thakur of Singhwara (Darbhanga) have been included here. Click here to go to the booklet Hori pachisi.

     CHUMAON   ON    THE  CCASION
      OF         PHALGUN    POORNIMA

In the first year of marriage, the bride and groom are felicitated (chumaon) in the evening of Poornima. The male members of family and guests sprinkle (rice-doob-grass) doorwakshat and bless the couple. Ladies, on the other hand, touch the knees, solders and forehead with rice-doob-grass.