Tribals celebrate Holi in a different way

Nalgonda: Hundreds of villagers in tribal hamlets in Nagarjunasagar constituency in Nalgonda district performed Holi in a different form on Thursday. Sakru Naik, a teacher and tribal, said the festivities were designed by their predecessors in a grand and different way as per their rituals. They celebrated Holi in a distinct way once in 12 years, Naik said.

The members from various thandas in the constituency revelled with colours and performed rituals in order to ensure prosperity and well-being of their families. As a part of the once-in-12-year festival rituals, a week before the festival, women from the thandas roam in other villages and collect money by singing festival songs. The collected money is used to celebrate the Holi in a big way. In the morning hours of the festival day, men of the hamlets collectively go to nearest forest or hillock to get sticks for Kamadhanam.

They wear their traditional attire while participating in Kamadhanam. Families of thanda enthusiastically participate in the event with songs and dances. Unmarried girls and boys take active part in the event with a wish for early settlement of marriage and to lead a happy wedding life.

After wearing colours on their faces with ash derived from the wood of Kama Dhahanam, all villagers, irrespective of gender and relation, spray colours on each other and even indulge in chiding and fighting with sticks. At the end of the day, they take liquor and eat delicious meat dishes.