By: Nilesh Kr. Karna & Dr. Namrata GR Raut : Holi also known as the “festival of colors” is celebrated widely in Nepal, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Holi is also celebrated in the Republic of Suriname, Guyana, and countries in South America. Holi falls on the full moon day of Falgun, the eleventh month of the Bikram Sambat calendar, which usually falls in February-March of the Gregorian Calendar. As Holi falls in the month of Falgun, it is also known as Fagu. Holi marks the celebration of the arrival of spring.
Many ancient stories and rituals are associated with the celebration of Holi. One widely accepted belief is that it celebrates the victory of Lord Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana (good) over Hiranyakashyap(evil). Hence Holi is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. Furthermore, as I come from Mithila, I wanted to dive into the details of why Holi is celebrated in Mithila. Mithila was a prominent kingdom in the Treta Yug which extended to the Mahananda River in the east, the Gandaki river in the west, the Himalayas in the north, and the Ganges in the south, and still is the source of inspiration, devotion, and stories. The history of Mithila dates back to the 500BC before unified Nepal came into existence. So, I wanted to know the cultural and traditional aspects of the celebration of Holi in Mithila. One story that is very prominent in Mithila is Mithila Madhya Parikrama.
Mithila Madhya Parikrama is associated with the Swayambar ceremony of Sita (daughter of Mithila) and Ram (son from Ajodhya) and the first visit of Ram to Mithila. When Ram and his brother Laxman, along with their guru (teacher), Vishwamitra arrived for Dhaneshwor yagya in Mithila, they visited the kingdom of Mithila. All the places they visited are regarded as auspicious as per the Sanatan dharma and are covered during the Mithila Madhya Parikrama to date. According to the Mithila Mahatmya, there are three circular journeys or parikramas: Brihat Mithila Parikrama, Mithila Madhya Parikrama, and Antargriha Parikrama that happens in Mithila. Brihat Mithila Parikrama includes parikrama of the entire Mithila and some portion of Ajodhya. Mithila Madhya Parikrama covers a circular path of 128 km distance between India and Nepal. The path includes an area by the Ganga River, Gandak river, Koshi river, and the Himalayas when it was not divided into Nepal or India. It is also called Chaurasi-kosh parikrama, as it covers 84 kosh (1kosh ~1.5km approximately). “Kosh” is widely used for the measurement of length in Mithila.
The religious march begins on the aunshi/amabashya (no moon day, also called as the new moon) with the lifting of a Dola (palanquin) of Ram from the Mithila Bihari Temple of Khachuridham, Dhanusha. Khachuridham is the yagya-sthan ( a place where any ritual is done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras as per the Sanatan dharma ) of King Videha. From Khachuridham, the palanquin reaches the palace of king Janak. Then they lift the palanquin of Sita and will reach Hanumangadhi in Janakpurdham at the end of the first day. There is this belief that in Treta Yuga, Bajrangwali/Hanuman used to be the guard of sacred Janakpurdham, and hence called Hanumangadhi. The Hanuman temple, 180 years old is still situated at this spot and is guarding the Janakpurdham apparently.
The end of the second day happens in Kalyaneshwor Sthan, Bihar, India. This lies at the border of Nepal-India. In ancient Mithila, King Janak built the temple of Kalyaneshwor Mahadev, (Mahadev, deity of protection and destruction as per the Sanatan dharma). This is the place where everyone takes Sankalp (promise), to complete the Mithila Madhya Parikrama. This place is called Kalna in the present day.
The next stop on third day is Girija-Sthan Fulhaar in India. This is the garden-place where Sita used to pluck flowers to worship GirijaDevi, the supreme goddess of energy and power. This is the place where Ram and Sita saw each other for the first time.
The journey then stops in Matihani, at the border of India and Nepal on fourth day. This place got its name as the mud/soil from this place was used for the Matkor (refereeing to soil) for the wedding ceremony of Ram-Sita as mentioned in Vivah Panchami.
Jaleshwornath (Mahadev in water), in Mahottari, Nepal is the next stop on fifth day. Jaleshwornath is believed to be built by King Janak. As mentioned in the previous article, Mithila, was protected by four Shivalinga on four corners; Jaleshwornath is one of them. It’s usually on the day of Mahashivaratri, that devotees, remove water, so they can take a glance at Mahadev and offer prayers. The city Jaleshwor as cited in present Nepal is inspired by the name of this temple.
The next stop is Madai, Mahottari, Nepal on the sixth day. This is where the khar/khad, dried plants to put on the top of marba that is used as a spot to perform yagya for the marriage ceremony.
The journey continues to Dhurvakunda, Mahottari, Nepal on the seventh day. This is the place where Maharshi Dhurva, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, turned into a celestial body, and the brightest polar star, “Dhurva-tara”, performed meditation. Also, the trio of Ram-Laxman-Vishwamitra paid a visit to Dhurvakunda during Mithila-darshan.
Kanchanban, Mahottari, Nepal is a very important place in parikrama. This is the place where Ram-Sita played their first Holi and the place to rest by the end of the eighth day.
The journey then proceeds to Parbat, Dhanusha, Nepal on the ninth day. This is also known as Kshireshwornath. This is the third Shivalinga protecting Mithila. This is the meeting point of the five mountains as well. This is the Shivalinga believed to be built by King Janak.
The parikrama then reaches Dhanushadham, Dhanusha, Nepal on the tenth day. This lies in the outskirt of Janakpurdham, where the piece of Shiv-Dhanush (bow), named Pinak fell when Ram tried to use the Dhanush. This also revolves around the story of Sita-Swayambar. As a kid, Sita lifted the Shiva-Dhanush while cleaning, and King Janak was taken by surprise as it was a difficult job to lift the Shiva-Dhanush, and no one had done it. So, anyone who can lift the Shiva-Dhanush will be the groom for Sita was the condition from king Janak ????.
Satoshar Sthan, Dhanusha, Nepal is the next destination on the eleventh day of parikrama. In the ancient era, this is believed to be the ashram of saptarishi. These seven rishis are Agastya, Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Vashistha, and Vishvamitra. These seven names seem a little different as per the different Vedic textbooks.
Audhi, Dhanusha, Nepal is the next stop, and the temple of Ram-Janaki serves as another stop to relax at night on the twelfth day.
Karuna, India is the stop for the thirteenth day. There is a custom in Mithila in which a daughter is offered water to drink before she leaves for the groom’s place and is believed that Sita was offered water at karuna.
Bisaul, Harlakhi, India is the destination on day fourteenth. Ram-Laxman-Vishwamitra stayed over here before they entered Mithila for Sita-Swayambar.
Every night, the folks performing parikrama do born-fire, cook food, chant mantras and bhajans (songs describing different stories about deities), and hear stories about Ram-Sita and worship the Dola (palanquin). This parikrama is not only observed by Mithilabasi but people from all around the world who believe in and respect the culture of Mithila. This also symbolizes the historic, cultural, and religious relationship between Nepal and India.
The last day, i.e., the fifteenth day concludes in Jankpurdham via Kalyaneshwor again. After doing the celebratory parikrama of the Janaki temple in Janakpurdham, the promise made in Kalyaneshwor Sthan to complete the Mithila Madhya Parikrama is believed to be complete. This is the day when Dola (palanquin) is rested. This is the day when holika-dahan (a custom associated with Holi) is performed in Janakpur. The story behind holikadahan is that Holika, sister of Hiranyakashyap holds Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu who had a boon to be not destroyed by fire, sat in the fire to burn Prahlad. Hiranyakashyap wanted Prahlad to be killed as he believed that Prahlad is going to be the reason for him to be killed. But what happened instead is fire burnt Holika and nothing happened to Prahlad. This suggest that one should never misuse the boon/power. Hence Holi is the celebration of good over evil.
Also, one who can’t do Mithila Madhya Parikarma can perform Antargrih Parikrama or Panchakoshi Parikarma is an approximately 8 km long circular path of the city of Janakpur in Nepal. We remember doing this parikrama. We’ll start with picking a pebble marking the start of the journey and putting ash from Sammatt (a symbol of Holika-dahan, where wooden-log are used to make fire) on forehead and drops the pebble as we reach the starting point once we complete it. This is usually done on the day of Fagu. There is a belief that if you can’t do the full Madhya Parikrama, you can do Antargrih Parikrama, and is considered the same. There are so many medical camps, food, drink stalls from different national and international organizations to help those who need anything during the parikrama.
Holi, which seem to be started in ancient times still is celebrated with joy in different part of world. The story behind the celebration seems interesting. It’s entirely on an individual (Humanitarian morals) to believe it or not but one thing that is quite solid is “Good over Evil”, which is much needed in the present era. The celebration of Holi is accompanied by putting colors on each other’s, hugging and exchange of best wishes with lots of sweets with friends and family. It already has been taken over by drinking alcohol (that seems to be a celebratory custom for every celebration nowadays) and passing derogatory comments in the name of Holi. Again, we are not moral policing, we just need to be considerate that it’s not affecting anyone in an adverse way ????. This was our effort to know the tradition associated with the celebration of Holi in Mithila. As Mithila is full up of interesting stories and rituals, Mithila Madhya Parikrama seems to be one. Whether you believe in Sanatan dharma or not, it’s a choice. But what we want to mention is that every establishment has a story or history and believe it or not, Janakpur is one of the most ancient towns and has a different story of Sita-Ram in every household. Every daughter in Janakpur is still considered a Sita/Sia, and if you are blessed with a great dad, he is referred a Janak. This is because, Janak has most spiritual/supreme relationship with his daughters(two) and he wanted to be known by the name of his adopted daughter, SIA…dating back to 500 BC….just saying!
We also wish you all, those who celebrate/observe Holi, a very happy and colorful Holi!!!
(We would like to acknowledge Mr. Shambhu Kr. Pandey for the insight about all these places in Mithila).
