Ranchi, March 2 -- The centuries-old ritual of Holika Dahan was performed on Sunday at the historic Phagdol Jatra ground in Chutia, Ranchi, continuing a unique 500-year-old Holi tradition in the state capital.
As per custom, the ceremony began late at night at an auspicious hour. The village Pahan, after taking a ritual bath and wearing new clothes, arrived at the Dol Jatra ground carrying a pot of water and a traditional axe.
In a customary act, he cut a castor branch in a single stroke without looking back and returned home, symbolically initiating the Holika ritual.
Thereafter, the Mahant of the Ram Temple performed the puja and formally lit the Holika pyre, followed by the aarti. Cultural programmes were organised before the ritual, ...