7 days Holi celebrations begins at Rajouri with traditional Bhairav procession.

GNS ONLINE:
SHYAM SOOD
Rajouri :–Seven days long Holi celebrations begin here at Rajouri with the traditional annual Bhairav Devta procession was carried out at Jawahar Nagar on Thursday and on Friday in old Rajouri town.
Inhabitants of old Rajouri town celebrate the Holi festival for seven days by taking out Bhairav Devta processions on alternative days (except on Tuesday) at old Rajouri town & at Jawahar Nagar.
“Nobody at Rajouri knows since when the people have been celebrating the Holi festival for seven days by taking out the traditional processions, but Bhairav Devta procession symbolizes communal harmony at the Holi festival” said Nishu.
Holi at Rajouri gets altogether a different colour when a man painted in black, chases youth from all the communities who run along with him on the beats of the drums and feel blessed when hit by the man (Bhairav Devta) with forceps in his hand.
The Man who plays the role of Bhairon puts on only underwear and comes out of Kali Mata temple, followed by drummers, after painting his body with black soot and paints using oils.
He puts on a turban-like thing on his head with a ponytail attached to the turban. This ponytail is called ‘Paranda’ in the local language.
The procession starts from Kali Mata Mandir near Sanatan Dharam Sabha and passing through various bazaars/lanes in the old town culminates at Bhairon Mandir in Nabhan Mohalla where the man prays before ‘Bhairon Devta’ to forgive him for any mistake during the procession
Hindus and Muslims (especially youth) together, celebrate Holi in Rajouri town a week in advance by taking out such procession despite religious differences.
According to myth once the Rajouri town was gripped by an unidentified disease and people had approached a Sadhu who told them to paint a man with black paint and have a round of the town followed by them.
“The people in the town think that by celebrating this festival they are saved from evil. There is a temple in Rajouri which is dedicated to Bhairav Devta” said Vishal Dutta, President Bhairon Committee.
“According to belief, natural calamities struck the town whenever the procession was not carried out. So, ancestors evolved a tradition to organise a Bhairav Devta procession every year”, said senior citizens.
The Man impersonating Bhairav Devta does not hit women and children. The secular nature of this festival is its biggest point.
Bhairav Devta processions on the occasion of Holi festival bring joy to thousands of people in this town and solace to many with a hope that nothing would happen bad in the town.
Like every year, police and district administration had made elaborate security arrangements under the supervision of SSP, Mohammad Aslam.