Rangpanchami
People of Maharashtra commonly know this festival of colours by the name of Rangpanchami as the play of colours is reserved for the fifth day here. Locals of Maharashtra also know Holi as Shimga or Shimgo.
An extension of Holi called Rang Panchmi is a very famous festival in Indore and few tens of thousands of people gather in front of Rajwada and surrounding areas to get colored by the famous color cannon.
The festival is particularly popular amongst fisher folk. They celebrate it in on a large scale and revel in the festivities by singing, dancing and merry-making. This special dance provide them means to release all their repressed feelings, needs and desires. People also utter sound through their mouths in a peculiar fashion by striking their mouths with the back of their hands.
Legend:-
Legend associated with this festival claims that Lord Ram Chandra crossed Chanderi in the month of Phalgun during his thirteen year long vanavas and sanctified the land. To this affect, Rang Panchami is celebrated five days after holi in the month of Phalgun on a hill top at Karila.
The celebration begins at dusk with the Rai dance performed by Bednis, women of the Bediya caste, under flaming torches held aloft by men. More than five lakh men from Chanderi and its surrounding areas are audience to this great spectacle.
Literally Holi is over, but it is yet not over if we talk about Indore. Here at Rajwada the complete city collects and the fervour for Rang Panchmi (5th day after Holi) is celebrated in a manner better than that for Holi itself. People gear up and “Jhankis”(floats) of all districts in Indore collect and people celebrate the festival of Holi again. Water tankers and Gulal pumps are a regular scenario in this celebration. You can also buy Bhaang here. A lot of politicians and leaders of different areas too join in the festivity. It is an experience of its own kind.
The fire, which shines with its brilliance on Holi, decomposes the raja-tama particles in the atmosphere and this helps activate various Deities in the form of colours. This bliss is celebrated by throwing colours in the air. Thus, Rang Panchami is a symbol of victory over raja-tama. Rang Panchami, played on Falgun Vadya Panchami involves invocation of Gods and is a part of worship of the manifest form of Gods. Its purpose is to activate the five elements of radiant manifest colours and to touch and feel the Deities who are attracted to the respective colours. These five elements are a source, which help activate the element of the Deities according to the spiritual emotion of the Jiva. Rang Panchami is the worship of the saviour form of the Deities.
The main objective of this festival is to activate the ‘Panch Tatva’ or the five elements that make up the universe. These five elements constitute of earth, light, water, sky and wind. It is considered that the human body is also made of these five elements. The festival of Ranga Panchami invokes these five basic elements that help to restore balance in life.
Scientific Reason for Celebrating the Holi:-
1) The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenhiet. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrima (circumambulation or going around) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it.
2) The day after the burning of Holika people put ash (Vibhuti) on their forehead and they would mix Chandan (sandalpaste) with the young leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume it to promote good health.
Rangpanchami Festival Exclusive For The Fishing Community:-
Rangpanchami holds very special significance for the fisher folks, as this day means celebration, singing and dancing for them. As per the tradition of Rangpanchami, people make a unique sound with their mouths, by striking the back of their hands on the mouth. To add on joy to the festive mood, Puran Poli, the special dish of this day is prepared.
Rangpanchami Festival For The Youngsters:-
Rangpanchami is celebrated with great zeal in Madhya Pradesh. On this day, young boys gather with friends and celebrate the day by splashing colors on each other. As per the customs of the state, several activities are also organized and held. As Rangpanchami is the last day of Holi, therefore, the level of festive mood and enjoyment is very high on this day.
Rangpanchami Elimination Of Evil:-
Rangpanchami is celebrated with a belief of abolition of negativity and evil. All the rivalries, jealousy, negative and harsh feelings are kept aside and the festival is enjoyed with enthusiasm, promoting affection and brotherhood.
This was all about Rangpanchami. We hope this article will help you in understanding the significance of this day more closely.
Rangpanchami in Rajasthan:-
In Rajastan, Rangpanchami preparations are mainly seen in the temples of Jaisalmer. Folk dances are enjoyed by the local people. The festival is enjoyed with different colors, especially red, orange and blue colors are seen everywhere.
Rangpanchami in Karnataka:-
Thousands of people celebrated the Rangpanchami by daubing each other with colours, singing and dancing in Karnataka. On Rangpanchami, the people seek to invoke Gods in the form of colours and to touch and feel them. In the Hubli in Karnataka, locals revelled in the festivities by singing, dancing and merry-making. The festival is particularly popular amongst fisher folk.
Rangpanchami in Madya Pradesh:-
Rang Panchami in Malvan is observed on the 5th day of Phagun. “Rang Panchami”.is the festival of colors, where panchami means the fifth day of Hindu lunar month Phagun.. On this day the locals rejoice to the fullest by throwing red-powder called gulal on each other as a sign of greeting and love. In Malvan this festival is also looked upon as the great day of religious importance and the symbol of victory over raja-tama particles in the atmosphere. In Malvan villages the village deities called Gram Devata are worshipped. During Holi and Rangpanchami locals of Malvan are dressed up in traditional Maharashtrian dresses, especially the ladies look more beautiful in the typical saris and the traditional ornaments like nathni and earrings. In the villages of Malvan colors are prepared in large quantities and people are virtually dipped in the colored water. No one in the villages hesitates to take part in the celebrations and even the ladies in the households offer eatables and sweets prepared for the festivals to the celebrating gangs. Hotels near malvan beach are fully occupied during the festive period.
Rangpanchami in Maharastra:-
Nasik follows many things in a way different from other places. Rangpanchami is probably the best example of it. Unlike some other cities, Holi is not the day when people play colors. Instead, usually, fifth day from holi is celebrated as Rangpanchami and Nasilkites find another occasion to enjoy festivity. The entire city starts preparing for it days before. It may be thunderous DJs or chilly shower dance set up, everything adds valuably to the celebration. This is what makes me to come to Nasik every time and enjoy Rangpanchami with my buddies.
Rang Panchami in Malvan is observed on the 5th day of Phagun. “Rang Panchami”.is the festival of colors, where panchami means the fifth day of Hindu lunar month Phagun.. On this day the locals rejoice to the fullest by throwing red-powder called gulal on each other as a sign of greeting and love. In Malvan this festival is also looked upon as the great day of religious importance and the symbol of victory over raja-tama particles in the atmosphere. In Malvan villages the village deities called Gram Devata are worshipped. During Holi and Rangpanchami locals of Malvan are dressed up in traditional Maharashtrian dresses, especially the ladies look more beautiful in the typical saris and the traditional ornaments like nathni and earrings. In the villages of Malvan colors are prepared in large quantities and people are virtually dipped in the colored water. No one in the villages hesitates to take part in the celebrations and even the ladies in the households offer eatables and sweets prepared for the festivals to the celebrating gangs.
Rangpanchami Different types of Celebrations:-
As per Lord Krishna’s story, Lord Krishna (a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu) liked to play pranks on the village girls (Gopika) by drenching them in water and colors; hence Holi associates with Lord Krishna’s mischief and joy.
The festival starts with Holika Dahan night before festival. All people of a particular locality meet at an open place for the formation of bonfire. Huge logs of wood, paper, cow dung cakes and waste material joined together and lit to burn to ashes. The act signifies the destruction of evil over good, and is believed to burn evil spirits.
On the next day, after praying to Gods at home, people assemble outdoors. The celebration starts in the morning itself playing with colors. In some regions the “Matka” ceremony takes place, which is a fun and cheerful event. An earthen pot filled with milk is hung high in an open area. A group of young men form a human pyramid to reach the pot and break it. Women from surrounding buildings throw colored water on these men to distract them from being successful.
People spend the day smearing colored powder all over each other's faces, throwing colored water at each other with water guns (pichkaris), balloons and throw friends to splash into a pool of colored water, dance under water sprinklers. Music, dance, games, entertainment are held on this day at various places. People gather for parties, Bhang liquid is also traditionally consumed during the celebrations. Bhang is made of a paste made from cannabis plants (mari juana) and almonds, mixed with milk. Holi gives a perfect opportunity to treat the taste buds with the delicious sweets, shared with each other during festival.
Rang Panchami, is the festival colorfully celebrated in some regions of India on the fifth day (Panchami) after Holi, that is after five days of full moon in the month of Phalguna. In Brindavan (Vrindavan) Lord Sri Krishna temple, Vasantotsav begins on Holi and ends on Rang Panchami, with Pooja of Lord Krishna. Rang Panchami festival is celebrated similar to Holi and people play with colors on day.
