Baithaki Holi celebrations begin in Kumaon with musical notes
RUDRAPUR: Nearly three months ahead of Holi, a festival of colours, Kumaon has started celebrating its traditional Baithki Holi from Sunday.
Baithki Holi is a musical fiesta that brightens up the winter evenings in the hills every year. People have started gathering to sing Holi songs based on classical ragas. Colours are not used in Baithaki Holi.
Baithaki, Khari and Mahila Holi are popular local celebrations in Kumoan.
“Baithaki Holi singing is quite rich and a special tradition all over the Kumaon region. Baithaki starts from the first Sunday of the Paush month (tenth lunar month in Hindu calendar) and continues till Khari Holi. Khari Holi starts just 5-6 days before festival of colours. Colours are not used in Baithaki Holi. Baithaki Holi is very popular in all six districts of Kumaon,” said OP Pandey, a cultural activist from Haldwani.
How the tradition of Baithaki and Khari Holi started in Kumaon is not exactly known, but they are popular among Kumaoni hill folk, especially in Nainital, Almora and Champawat districts.
In Baithaki Holi people gather at some house, courtyard of a temple or in a community hall and sing songs based on ‘ragas’ like Bageshwari, Sahana, Kalyani, Kafi and Khamas. The venues are changed every day for the gathering in the locality and performance continues from evening till midnight. Musical instruments like harmonium, tabla and dholak are used during the singing, Pandey said.
He said Khari Holi starts after the end of Baithaki Holi and there is a shift from sitting to getting up and dancing to celebrate the advent of spring in the hills. Participants perform collective dance by making a round while singing songs. In some areas Khari Holi starts somewhat early. “Both Holis are celebrated with much enthusiasm,” said Dinesh Pandey, a resident of Champawat.