Panda passing through the blazing Holi in Phalain village
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Villagers in Falain village, which has kept alive the tradition of coming out of the burning flames of Holi to realize Prahlad Leela in Kosikalan of Mathura, are busy making preparations for the Holi fair. Monu Panda will emerge from the flames of Holi at 4 am on March 25.
The tradition of the mythological story of Prahlad and Holika Dahan will once again come alive in village Phalain. Monu Panda is undergoing rigorous penance for a month to test his faith by passing amidst the burning embers of Holika. On the day of Holika Dahan, when the flame of the lamp will make his palm feel cool, then the panda’s feet will move forward, cutting through the flames of Holika.
On the day of Holika Dahan, Monu Panda will place his hand on the temple flame and wait for the auspicious sign. The 20 feet wide and 14 feet high Holika flame will give a feeling of coolness. On the signal of Panda, fire will be made to enter Holika. After this, after taking bath in Prahlad Kund, Panda will pass among the burning embers of Holika. Villager Charan Singh says that before the panda comes out of the fire, his sister offers him a stream of milk, which makes the fire cooler.
Fallen will reach Hurriyare
In the Panda Fair of Fallen, groups of Hurriyars will reach the village, where amidst the drums and drums, they will sing about the cows in every street and will rain colors and gulal and paint the sky in rainbow colors. Sugarcane Development and Sugar Mills Minister Chaudhary Lakshminarayan will participate in the fair.
The name is decided by mutual consent
Panda priest Bhagwan Sahay says that once the name is decided, a garland is given to the panda on the full moon day following Vasant Panchami. The Panda selected with this garland sits at the Prahlad temple situated in the village for bhajan puja. This time Monu Panda will come out of the fire at 4 am on March 25.
