Marathi community celebrates Holi with traditional fervour in Udupi
Udupi : Holi is not just a festival of colours but a celebration of cultural richness and tradition. In coastal Udupi, members of the Marathi community marked the festival with grandeur, preserving centuries-old customs and adding a unique cultural flavour to Tulunadu.
The vibrant celebrations were held at Cherkadi grounds, where thousands gathered to witness and participate in the festivities. The Marathi community in the region traces its roots back nearly three to four centuries to the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, when their ancestors are believed to have migrated from Maharashtra and settled in the forested belts of Karnataka. Despite the passage of time, the community has continued to uphold its original traditions and rituals.
As part of the celebrations, devotees performed ‘Gadduge Aaradhane’ in the name of their presiding deities, Goddess Durge Mahammai and Tulaja Bhavani, observing rituals with devotion and discipline. On the eve of Holi, they conducted ‘Kamadahana’, symbolising the destruction of evil forces and the triumph of virtue.
The highlight of the festival was the colourful display of traditional attire, which added visual splendour to the event. Men and women dressed in vibrant ethnic costumes participated in folk dances to the rhythmic beats of ‘Gumte’, a traditional percussion instrument associated with the Marathi and Kudbi communities.
More than 150 community groups and over 5,000 people took part in the celebrations at Cherkadi grounds, performing folk dances in unison and showcasing their rich heritage. The event turned into a grand cultural congregation reflecting unity and pride in ancestral roots.
Seers from Sringeri Sharada Peetham, regarded by many in the community as their spiritual centre, graced the occasion and conveyed blessings.
The celebration stood as a testimony to how migrant communities continue to preserve their identity while harmoniously blending into Karnataka’s diverse cultural landscape.
