Dol Purnima

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Dol Purnima is the festivals of colors celebrated as a sign of warm welcome to the Kolkata spring season. It is also known as 'Dol Purnima', 'Dol Jatra' or the ‘Swing festival’ and involves much excitement and enjoyment. The rituals involve worshipping the idols of Krishna and Radha as well as spraying colors on each other.

The celebrations starts early in the day when students dressed up in saffron-colored clothes and wearing garlands are seen singing & dancing to the accompaniment of musical instruments. Idols of Krishna and Radha are then placed in a majestically decorated palanquin which is then taken around the city. The women are seen dancing and singing devotional songs around the palanquin which the devotees take turn to swing, all the while people spraying colors and color powder at them.

The ritual of spraying colored water and power upon each other is similar to the Holi festival celebrated in the northern parts of the country, although the reasons differ for both. However, the festival plays its part in bringing people breaking the social barriers of caste, creed and religions and embracing each other in the festive spirit and enjoying the fun filled moments.