Holi, a Hindu religious festival of colours, will be celebrated across the country on Monday (Mar 25) with due religious fervour and much enthusiasm. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. The festival is also known as Dol Purnima (full moon day). Marking the festival, devotees will visit shrines, temples and offer colours (Abir) at the feet of Idols of the Sri Krishna and Sri Radhika.
'Abir Khela' is a significant part of the festival which means throwing of abir, a kind of perfumed and pink coloured powder and other colorful powders by revelers, on each other making festival-goers coated in colour to make the extravaganza enthusiastic.
Under the arrangement of Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee, religious songs in praise of lord Krishna and other rituals, including worshiping of lord Krishna, will begin in the morning at Dhakeshwari National Temple on the occasion of Dol Purnima.
Abir will be offered at the feet of idols of Radha Krishna and Chaitanyadeb. Devotees will also offer the Abir to god and goddess. Besides, the festival will be celebrated at different temples across the country, including capital Dhaka.
Marking the festival, the surroundings of Dhakeshwari Temple and Dhaka University campus usually wear a festive look as hundreds of youths irrespective of religions, castes and creeds celebrate the festival with different colors. At Dhakeshwari temple and Jagannath Hall, students will celebrate the festival colouring the fellow devotees and taking their photographs and selfies.
The festival has been introduced marking an auspicious day when Sri Krishna, Sri Radhika and their friends were playing with Abir at Brindaban in the ancient days.
The festival is known as Dol Jatra in many states in India, including West Bengal, Tamilnadu (Madras), Orissa and North, West and Middle regions of India.
Holi or Dol Jatra is also celebrated in neighbouring Nepal.
