Public bonfire of evil tendencies to be held today

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

On the occasion of Phalgun Purnima, the festival of Holi will be celebrated across the city on Monday with traditional fervour.

Castor (erand) tree trunks have been erected at major squares, lanes, colonies and housing societies in various parts of the city.

The Holika bonfire will be lit in the evening following ritual worship. Several mandals have pledged to celebrate an eco-friendly Holi by using minimal wood, opting instead for cow dung cakes to reduce environmental impact. As every year, the Holi celebration at Gulmandi remains a major attraction for youth. The site has been decorated with electric illumination, and the bonfire will be ceremonially worshipped and lit at night by dignitaries. The Kshitij organisation will symbolically burn representations of evil tendencies, with placards attached to the castor branch. The bonfire is scheduled to be lit at 6.30 pm.

Traditional Holika Dahan ceremonies will also take place in Dhavani Mohalla, Rajabazar, Kunwarphalli, Kirana Chawdi, Diwan Deodi, Kharakuwa, Aurangpura, Nageshwarwadi, Samarthnagar, Cidco-Hudco, Pundaliknagar, Shivajinagar, the Satara area, as well as Mukundwadi, Chikalthana and Harsul.

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Ceremonial ‘Maanachi’ Holi at Rajabazar

The prestigious Holi bonfire will be lit in front of the Gramdaivat Sansthan Ganpati Temple at Rajabazar. At 7.45 pm, public representatives and the Police Commissioner will perform ritual worship and aarti, followed by the Holika Dahan. Thereafter, the city’s Rangotsav (festival of colours) will formally begin.