"DOLA JATRA" AND "HOLI" FESTIVAL: A FESTIVAL OF STRONG INDIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE

"DOLA JATRA" AND "HOLI" FESTIVAL: A FESTIVAL OF STRONG INDIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE


Dear Readers,

BEST WISHES ON "DOLA JATRA" AND "HOLI FESTIVAL" 
Dola Jatra and Holi Festival is an All India Festival, it is a Colourful Festival, dedicated to celebration with colours which is starting from today (this year from 3rd March 2026). 
Indians living abroad do celebrate in other countries hence it is a kind of international festival to say with this linkage. 
The festival has strong roots in Indian Culture and points to its timeless prevalence as it finds mentioned in Indian Scriptures.

It is widely recognized that Lord Krishna used to play holi in His Love for Devi Radha and the “Gopis of Braja” at the unset of Spring Season, hence it is also called Dola or “Vasant Ras” ( Vasant Celebration ) starting from Dola Purnima or Vasant Purnima (the Full Moon day of Indian month of Phalgun). 

“Holika” Dahan (burning of Holika) is another story linked to it, the name of “Holi” roots to that. Holika was the evil sister of “Prahallad” the ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu ( the other form of Him is Lord Krishna ). Holika was immune to be burnt by fire. So the tyrant king Hirankashyupu, father of Prahallad* with intention to burn and finish Prahallad and to show by his whim how Lord Vishnu saves his devotee, made both Holika and Prahallad sit on Bonfire. But the reverse result happened, Holika got burnt and Prahallad came out of fire untouched. It proved Lord Vishnu saved his Good Devotee and Holika being evil, got burnt by fire in spite of the fact that she was supposed to be immune to fire. The name of the festival as “Holi” has possible linkage to this story of Holika, as celebration of victory of Good over Evil. As an acknowledged tradition people burn bonfire with various materials prior to Holi Celebration as Holika Dahan (burning of Evil Holika). A true festival representing Indian culture since ancient times and times immemorial. 

The Festival is the same throughout India, however, it has some regional variations also, as it happens with all kinds of Festivals in India as we are a diversified country and we also have unity in diversity. 
In Eastern India such as West Bengal and Odisha, they call it "Dola Jatra" (Dola Festival or Vasant Festival ) starting each day as a "Dola" from the Full Moon Day of the Indian Month of Phalguna. It is like this, the Full Moon Day (Purnima Day) is Dola-1 and thus the next day is Dola-2 and like this Dola-days continue until Dola-10 and in some areas even up to Dola-14. Different Villages in Rural Odisha as I have seen, Each Village adopts a Dola-Day ( like Dola-1, 2, 3.......) as their Village Festival and the Festival is celebrated by the village with all pump and grandeur in their village on that Dola-Day. It is normally that the nearby villages do not adopt same Dola-Day number, they do on a Different-Dola Day Number,  therefore the nearby villages can visit the Dola -Festival celebrated by their neighbouring Village on a Different Dola-Day Number  and share the festival. It is really very interesting to observe this Dola Festival happening in Villages in Odisha State and the Festival Goes on for days together until 10days or even in some areas until 14-days in the villages of Odisha. 

When I was a child and in school, we used to enjoy this festival very well and excitedly. We used to not sleep during the nights and sleep during the days for at least 5-days, from Dola-1 to Dola-5, the Festivals were being celebrated in the nearby villages to my village in Odisha. It is good and happy to remember this experience of child hood rooted to this great festival of India.

It is believed that initially Lord Krishna used to play this Festival (Holi Festival) with Flowers of Different Colours that used to Bloom at the onset ot the Spring Season. However over the years and with progress of time line the Coloring Materials have been used to play "Holi" among the people.  

With best regards,
Dr. Nimain Charan Biswal,
Mumbai, India 



About the Author : Dr. Nimain Charan Biswal is a B.Sc.(Agri. Science and Technology), M.B.A. and Ph.D.(Management Area ) by qualifications; and he has 40 years of work experience in Social, both industrial and Development sectors in diversified fields of Social Importance. He has been educated at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)-Bhubaneswar, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and Gujarat University (with Resource Support of IIM-Ahmedabad). He is further educated at IIM-Calcutta, XLRI-Jamshedpur, Apple Computer Industries and Spar Inc., USA. He has worked for reputed National and International Organizations in Senior/Top Management Capacities at Board level as well as Managing Director and CEO. He is a management expert covering extensive areas from management in Social Sectors, industrial sectors, management in Agriculture, Dairy and Foods, Agri-Food and Management of Cooperatives, Development Management to management of Public Systems. He is a prominent professional of India and known Internationally as well. He is also a Business and Political Strategist. He lives at Mumbai in India. 

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