Residents of Garoth and Shamgarh in Mandsaur district celebrated Holika Dahan with great enthusiasm this year. People lit bonfires at 99 locations across the Garoth police station area, including 11 major sites in Garoth Nagar and 13 in Shamgarh Nagar.
The celebrations started at 11:30 PM and continued until 2:00 AM. Before the bonfire, women performed special worship at Holika sites. They offered yarn, wheat earrings, kumkum, and turmeric, and prayed for the happiness and prosperity of their families.
Key Locations in Garoth and Shamgarh
Major Holika Dahan sites in Garoth included Gandhi Chowk, Saji Mandi, Rampur Darwaza, Chowk, Bolia Road, Bagri Mohalla, and Ravidas Mohalla. The last bonfire of the night was lit at Brahmin Mohalla at around 2:00 AM.
In Shamgarh, residents lit bonfires at 13 locations. Notable sites included Shiv Hanuman Temple, Vegetable Market, Alamgarh, and Shamgarh village. DJ music and religious bhajans and kirtan added to the festive atmosphere across the city.
Holika Dahan marks the victory of good over evil. Hindus celebrate it on the eve of Falgun Purnima. According to Hindu mythology, demon king Hiranyakashyap tried to kill his devotee son Prahlad. He used his sister Holika, who had a boon that protected her from fire. He ordered Holika to sit in a burning pyre with Prahlad. By the grace of Lord Vishnu, Prahlad survived while Holika burned. People burn Holika bonfires every year to remember this event and to destroy negativity.
Traditional Offerings and Regional Customs
During Holika Dahan, people traditionally offer dung cakes, cande, cloves, and goular twigs. These offerings symbolise purification and prosperity.
Madhya Pradesh is home to many unique Holi traditions. In tribal areas, people plant the “Holi Ka Danda” before the festival. Indore’s Rajwara hosts a 300-year-old Holi celebration. Some villages also follow the tradition of sharing sorrows during the festival.
The Holika Dahan at Garoth stands as a strong example of community unity, devotion, and cultural pride.
Support Us To Sustain Independent Environmental Journalism In India.
Keep Reading
Highway Halt Puts Kashmirโs Fruit Economy at Risk
Railway line expansion plan put Kashmirโs apple orchards at risk
Warmer winters in Kashmir raise concerns over apple and crop yields
