দোল পূর্ণিমা, Dol Purnima 2023 Date, Dol Jatra
Dol Purnima or Dol Jatra is a major religious festival being celebrated in West Bengal, Odisha and Assam. Dol Purnima, also known as Phalguna Purnima or as Holi in many parts of the country is celebrated in honour of Sri Krishna. Dol Purnima also marks the birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji (1486 - 1534 C.E.), a great spiritual leader and the founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
Dol Purnima is the coming of the spring equinox. It's is also known as Vasant Utsav across India. The whole of India gets into a great festive spirit on Vasant Utsav.
Dol Jatra, the last festival of Bengali year celebrated since ancient times, includes worship of Radha and Krishna and fun with Gulal and 'pichkari' or throwing water with toy guns filled with coloured water. Color powder also known as 'Abir' is smeared on the idols of Sri Radha Krishna taken in a palanquin while chanting Hari Bol. The colour powder is known as Phag. It is seen that Children apply phag or colour powder on the feet of their elders as a respect and elder members apply the phag on the face of the younger people. Gujiyas, dahi vada, ladoos, buttermilk, thandai and 'bhang' are some of the Holi and Dol Jatra special food and drinks.
Music and dance form a big part of Dol Purnima in households and communities in West Bengal and Assam. Men and women dress up in bright spring colours of yellow and violet and the young and old put flowers in the hair. Generally Dol Purnima festival continues for one or two days but Dol festival or Holi festival is celebrated for 16 days in Mathura and Vrindavan as Sri Krishna belonged to these places.
How Is Dol Purnima Celebrated?
Milk items like home-made butter, cream, and panchamrit, are prepared, and are offered to people.
The first day of Dol Jatra is known as “gondh”. It is believed to be the day when Sri Krishna prepares to visit Ghunucha’s place (one of the wives of Krishna). Devotees make a bonfire in front of the “kirtan ghar” or prayer house. The idol of Krishna is then carried around the bonfire and various rituals are performed.
The second day of Dol Jatra is known as Bhor-Deul or Dol. It’s similar to Holi where people smear colours on each other. Throwing water balloons, smearing Abir”, or using “pichkaris” to spray coloured water is common. Sweets such as Rasgullas are prepared in most households. The Customary tradition of Visiting relatives’ or friends’ house is followed since long on this day. The younger people pay respect to the elders by placing a pinch of “abir” or coloured powder in front of their feet. And elders bless them with prosperity and happiness.
The third day of Dol Jatra is same like that of the second day. The fourth day of Dol is called Sueri. It’s believed that Sri Krishna goes back to his house from Ghunucha’s place on this day. A procession marking the return of Sri Krishna is arranged with hundreds of devotees participating which marks the end of the Dol festival. People throw abir on one another.
Basanta Utsav is celebrated at Shantiniketan which was started by Poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Celebrated in the eastern and north-eastern states of India, Dol Jatra, seen as a symbol of unity and happiness, remains a popular festival of Bengalis.
When is Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima 2023? - Dol Purnima 2023 Date & Time
Dol Purnima 2023 Date - 8th March, 2023, Wednesday
Purnima Tithi Begins - 04:17 PM on Mar 06, 2023
Purnima Tithi Ends - 06:09 PM on Mar 07, 2023
Dol Purnima Wishes
These are some of the Dol Purnima wishes to share:
"May the splash of colors bring joy in your life family. Have Dol Jatra and Vasant Utsav!"
"I not only wish to paint your face but also your life with the vibrant colors of love, happiness and joy. Happy Dol Purnima to you dear!''
''May your Dol Purnima be filled with vibrant colours, good health and prosperity . Happy Vasant Utsav!''
Happy Dol Purnima!
