Holi in Maharashtra

Holi is a colorful festival celebrated during the spring season (March), in India. It is the time, when people let their hair down and enjoy the time with fun and fervor. As the festival falls on the transition stage from chilly winters to summers, it brings in a degree of warmth and fills the air with festivity. Few days prior to the festival, people indulge in the merrymaking. They shop for new clothes and furbishes for the festival. Little children take immense pleasure in moving around the street and splashing water on the passers-by, using pichkaris.

The celebrations on Holi are not bound to the boundaries of North India. The festival is celebrated with great vigor in western parts of the country as well. The people of Maharashtra observe it in their unique and grand manner. To begin with, Holi is known as Rangapanchmi here. Unlike people in the north, the festival is celebrated five days after Phalgun Poornima. On this day, natives play with colors and drench themselves in the spirit of festivity. Bonfires, known as Holika, are burnt to symbolize the victory of good over evil. Read on to know more about Holi festival in Maharashtra.

Holi Festival In Maharashtra
During Holi, people in Maharashtra rejoice by treating themselves with mouth watering sweets and delicacies. 'Puran Poli' is the famous sweet dish, prepared on the occasion of Holi. In addition to this, people also drink sugarcane juice and feed children with watermelons. Holi is also popular amongst the fisher folk of the region. They celebrate the festival elaborately, by singing and dancing. Not to forget, the main attraction of the festival is the pot breaking sport. The sport has roots in the ancient Era of Lord Krishna.

It is celebrated to commemorate the innocence of Krishna as a child, who used to steal butter from the nearby houses in his village. The revelry of the festival reaches at its peak, when it comes to breaking the pot. Trained groups of youngsters form huge pyramids to break the pot, hung high on the streets. Restricting their access is the constant splashing of water on them, by the women folk. During the festival of Holi, you can see every street filled with people, who participate in the pot breaking sport, with much enthusiasm.

Significance
Historical significance is linked with the celebration of Holi in Maharashtra. According to the historical records, the festival was celebrated with great fanfare during the Maratha regime. It was on the festival that five-year-old Jijabhai, daughter of Lakhooji Jadhav, playfully splashed colored water and threw gulal on young Shahaji, son of Malajirao Bhowale. This gestured was considered auspicious and on the very same day, the engagement of the two children was announced. They tied the wedding knot soon. Later on, Shivaji, the founder of great Maratha Empire was born as the son of Jijabhai.