Matching the rest of the nation with the same enthusiasm and flamboyant preparations, Shigmotsav is celebrated for 14 days and begins with the ‘mel’ (male dancers and musicians) gathering at a ‘maand’ (sacred space) and the invocation of local deities known as ‘naman’ before going from house to house presenting folk dances like tonya mel, talgadi, lamp dance, hanpet and gopha to the tune of unique, traditional instruments like dhol, tasha, conches etc.
A riot of colours, fun and frolic “ that is how many Indians will describe the the pan-Indian festival of Holi. It is also how many Goans characterise the spring festival of Shigmotsav that also begins on the same day. Steeped in ritualistic traditions, Shigmotsav begins in the month of Falgun and culminates on Gudi Padwa, the Hindu New Year that falls on March 25 this year.
Then comes the Shigmo parade “ colorful street floats, folk music, sword dances and horse dances (called ghode-morni) “ held across the state in major towns and cities giving you just a glimpse of the cultural richness of the villages and the people that live there.
There are two variants of the Shigmo festival. The Dhakto Shigmo, celebrated by the rural communities, which starts five days before the full moon night of the Indian lunar month of Phalgun or spring, and ends on full moon night.The second is Vhadlo Shigmo celebrated by everyone in different temples on different dates around the same period.
The true essence of the festival, however, can only be understood by joining in the celebrations and witnessing the parade that is famous for its larger-than-life installations, psychedelic light effects and hypnotic music and is certainly something to be seen at least once in your life.
What’s colour got to do with it?
Krishna, who is the incarnation of Vishnu is once said to have complained to his mother, Yashoda about the injustice of nature which made Radha light in colour and him of a darker complexion. To pacify the crying young Krishna, the doting mother asked him to go and colour Radha’s face in whichever colour he wanted. In a mischievous mood, naughty Krishna heeded the advice of mother Yashoda and applied colour on her beloved Radha’s face making her one like himself. Somehow, the lovable prank of Krishna where he applied colour on Radha and other gopis using water jets called pichkaris gained acceptance and popularity. So much so that it evolved as a tradition and later, a full-fledged festival.
Once upon a Holi
The name of the festival tells you exactly what to expect, colours everywhere, nothing less. You will find joyous groups of people at random places throwing colours on each other and dancing to music. It is commemorated almost everywhere in the country. The festival begins with the bonfire ritual the previous night which symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. In some states of India, there is also a tradition to place the idols of Radha and Krishna in a decorated palanquin, which is then carried along the main streets of the city. All this while, devotees chant Krishna’s name, sing devotional hymns and dance in the name of the lord.
