Mandi sticks to age-old tradition, celebrates grand Holi a day in advance

Munish Sood
MANDI: Upholding a tradition that has been followed since the princely era, the people of Chhoti Kashi Mandi celebrated Holi a day earlier with great enthusiasm and vibrant colours.

Known for its unique blend of Shaivism and Vaishnavism, Mandi holds the distinction of celebrating Holi a day before the rest of the country.

Following this age-old custom, the people of Mandi celebrated Holi on Thursday (March 13, 2025) with full fervour. From children to the elderly, everyone participated in the celebration with joy and excitement.

Every street and neighbourhood echoed with laughter as people applied ‘gulal’ (colour) to each other and exchanged festive greetings. People danced to the beats of the DJ, while the entire town was immersed in colours and joy.

‘Rangotsav’ at Seri Manch turns attraction centre

As every year, a grand event, ‘Rangotsav’, was organised at Seri Manch, which became the centre of celebration.

While this event is traditionally hosted by renowned educationist Dharmendra Rana, this year young enthusiasts like Mukesh Thakur, Deep Kapoor, Kartavya Vaidya, Monika Thakur, Raja Singh Malhotra and Vinita Thakur joined hands to successfully organise the event.

This year’s celebration was grander and more vibrant, with enhanced arrangements and an upgraded DJ system, which kept the crowd entertained from 10 am to 2 pm. People danced to the tunes and enjoyed the festival of colours to the fullest.

Holi incomplete without Raj Madhav Rai

An essential part of Mandi’s Holi celebration is visiting the Raj Madhav Temple where devotees apply ‘gulal’ to the idol of Lord Krishna, who is revered as the King of Mandi.

It is believed that Holi celebrations are incomplete without offering colors to Raj Madhav Rai. People flocked to the temple to seek blessings and uphold this sacred tradition.

Grand procession marks conclusion of festivities

The Holi celebration concluded with a traditional procession, where Raj Madhav Rai was seated in a palanquin (palki) and taken on a parikrama (procession) across the town.

Amid the beats of dhol-nagadas (traditional drums) and the cheerful chants of devotees, the streets of Mandi were filled with joy and devotion. This unique tradition not only adds a divine charm to the celebration but also strengthens the cultural heritage of Mandi.

In view of the grand celebration, the district administration declared a local holiday across the district except Dharampur and Karsog sub-divisions where Holi will be celebrated on Friday.

All government offices and institutions remained closed, allowing people to fully immerse themselves in the festive spirit.