Traditional 7 days Holi celebrations begins at Rajouri with Bhairav Devta Procession

GNSONLINE RAJOURI
SHYAM SOOD 

RAJOURI, FEBRUARY 27:–In a first-of-its-kind Holi festival, seven days long Holi celebrations begin here at Rajouri on Monday with the traditional annual Bhairav Devta procession carried out at Jawahar Nagar on Thursday.
Residents of Rajouri town celebrate the Holi festival for seven days by taking out Bhairav Devta processions on alternative days (except on Tuesday) in old Rajouri town & at Jawahar Nagar.
“Nobody at Rajouri knows since when the people have been celebrating this 7- day long Holi festival by taking out the traditional processions, however, the Bhairav Devta procession symbolizes communal harmony at the Holi festival,” said Nishu, an organiser.
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 temples 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 (Paranda) attached to the turban. Later the procession (after 6-7 hours) after 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
The highlight of Holi celebrations is its secular nature because both 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 the myth once the Rajouri town was gripped by an unidentified disease and people 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”.
“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 & Bhairav Devta processions bring joy to thousands of people in this town and solace to many 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.