Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Rang Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the new moon after Holi. It is generally believed the festival has an association only with Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Dewas in Madhya Pradesh. But a few know that the people in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal also drench themselves in colours on this occasion.

The history of Rang Panchami in Indore is associated with the Holkar dynasty.

During the reign of the Holkars, the members of the royal family used to take part in the celebrations. The residents of Bhopal, too, celebrate this festival with zeal, but there are hardly any documents to tell the tale of the city’s historical connection with Rang Panchami.

Yet, it is more popular than Holi in the City of Lakes where processions or Yatras are taken out. According to some sources, the Nawabs of Bhopal started the tradition of celebrating Rang Panchami.

This was the time when people used to get acquainted with Nawab Hamidullah Khan by putting colours on him. This was called Sultani Holi or Royal Holi.

The Nawab used to sit at one place and the residents used to put Gulal on him. It happened on Holi as well as on the day of Rang Panchami. Nevertheless, there is another story behind Rang Panchami in Bhopal.  Sources say Hindu Utsav Samiti took out a Rang Panchami procession for the first time in the old city 78 years ago.

A large number of people, belonging to all religions, took part in it, though the country was passing through a volatile situation then. Communal riots were taking place everywhere in the country.

And Bhopal, too, witnessed it. Still, some believe the first Rang Panchami procession was taken out in Bhopal in 1960, nearly 65 years ago. The procession, organised by Hindu Utsav Samiti, started from Chowk Bazar, and passing through Loha Bazar, Jumerati, Somwara, and Lakherapura, terminated at Hanumanganj.

There may be differences of opinion over the date when the first Rang Panchami procession was taken out, but the residents of Bhopal have been celebrating this festival for years.

Maybe, 78 years ago, it was celebrated in a limited way because of the political situation the country was in. The people may have celebrated Rang Panchami in a bigger way in 1960. 

This is the story of old Bhopal’s connection with Rang Panchami. But New Bhopal celebrated this festival nearly 33 years ago, and it began from Shahpura where a resident Shaitan Pal Singh Pal took the initiative to celebrate it.

In the new city, the procession, organised by the Bhopal Festival Committee, starts from Shahpura Shaitan Singh Pal Chowk, and, passing through the thoroughfares near Campion School, Vande Mataram, Habibganj police station, and Ravi Shankar Nagar, it ends at New Market.

Gulal, a type of coloured powder, is widely used on this day. In some parts of Maharashtra, Rang Panchami is celebrated. The residents of Nashik celebrate this festival with Rahads, colourful pits, reminding a tradition of the Peshwa era. They perform traditional dances. A popular sweet dish Puran Poli is also prepared on the occasion. In Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Rang Panchami marks the end of 40-day Braj Holi.

In West Bengal, Rang Panchami is called Pancham Dol. It is celebrated in a few places in the state. Dol has originated from the Sanskrit word, Hindola, which means a swing. The idols of Radha and Krishna are kept in a swing and worshipped.

Afterwards, a procession is taken out. The royal Chattaraj family of Mithani village in Bardhhaman district of West Bengal started the tradition of Pancham Dol. The residents have been celebrating it for 200 years. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, was born on the day of Holi or Fagun Poornima (the full moon night of March).

So, the people of Gauriya Vaishnav community celebrate Holi twice – one on the occasion of Fagun Poornima and the other on the fifth day of the new moon – called Pancham Dol or Rang Panchami. There is a philosophy behind celebrating Rang Panchami or Pancham Dol.

Besides Dharma, Artha, Kam, and Moksha, there is another Purusartha, called Prem or love. So, the Pancham Purusartha Prem or love for Lord Krishna symbolises Rang Panchami. This is what Shri Chaitanya Kathamrita says.

So, the rustling noise of fallen leaves and the cooing of cuckoos from branches of deciduous trees portray the love of Lord Krishna. Mother Nature plays a strange music of eternal love in praise of the Lord.