East Singhbhum (Jharkhand): While the general idea of Holi celebration is often limited to playing with colours, there exists a place in Jharkhand, where people tend to avoid colours as participation in the festival of colours may end up getting one married or broke.
As part of an age-old tradition called 'Baha', people belonging to the Santhal tribe spread across a few remote rural areas of Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district believe that if a man happens to apply colour on a virgin girl on the occasion of Holi, he has to marry her otherwise all his property would go to the girl.
"If a man happens to apply colour on a virgin girl on the occasion of Holi, he has to compensate the girl along the terms decided by elder members of the society, and if he refuses, the society has the right to transfer all his property and asset in the name of the girl," Surendra Tudu, a village resident told ETV Bharat.
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While celebrating 'Baha' - also called the festival of flowers - the Santhal tribes people begin the day by worshiping their bow and arrow, which is followed by pouring water on each other in place of colours.
They dance and feast throughout the day.
